Photographer Tea Cosy

I think this was an idea request put forward by someone in the 'TeaCosyFolk Knitting Pattern Help Facebook Group'. The idea of creating a photographer tea cosy. I loved the idea of a Victorian photographer and watch the birdie! How did all those Victorians keep a straight face with the photographer hiding under the sheet? I'd have been giggling!

So this is an early photographer when the technology was new and when the person taking the photo had to control the light exposure himself - hence the need for the black out sheet.

I know my knitters enjoy a nice knitted bottom and this tea cosy will have the photographer bent over to take the shot, so I shall give him a meaty derriere.

I think I may have been over influenced by Michael Portillo in my sketch, but please rest assured that I will tone down the colours of the photographers clothing. When I was colouring the sketch I was aware of all the dark colours, the black sheet and the dark wood of the camera and tripod, so I do want to bring some colour in. I thought the birdie (although traditionally should be brass) could be a nice blue bird to lift the mood a bit. The Victorian era does seem to me to favour dark colours, which is a bit dreary for tea cosies.

Because the photographer is under a sheet, I may not make a head in the usual way. I just need to see if at any point you can see any of his face.

I think the tricky bit of this design is the sheet. I want it to be quite full but not too big, and I want it to hang nicely and not curl up like knitting has a tendency too.

I think it will be a fun tea cosy and people have always been interested in capturing their own image. We are still fascinated by it today, and websites like Facebook and Instagram are full of images we have taken.




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