Standard Holiday Warning: If you are a member of my family, I love you, but if you read any further do so knowing that you will ruin Christmas.
Yesterday, I finished the tea cozy. Or, I at least bound-off, but in this case that isn’t really finishing. First of all, I don’t like how it looks, so I’m going to have to rip it out anyway, which is annoying, but should be worth it in the end. Secondly, this thing is going to be lined, which will give it both structure and warmth, and that still needs to be done. Honestly, this tea cozy is never ending. (As before, photos at the bottom.)
I have a plan, though. When I bound off the first time, I used a three-needle bind-off and, honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking. I hate the ridge; I knew I would hate the ridge; I did it anyway. Stupid. So, I’m going to rip it out. I’m also going to take about a half-inch off the top (if you’re ripping, why not go big, right?) and try something else. I think this might be a little crazy, but I’m going to try shaping the top of this tea cozy the same way Elizabeth Zimmerman shaped the bottom of her moccasin socks. I know.
The thing is, I don’t want a rounded, almost-pointy top. I want to decrease to a point, and then have a sort of smooth flat-ish top (it sounds better in my head). The only trouble with that is how to shape it. I don’t want a rectangle – which I have now – so I’m casting about for ways to make it rounder – any ideas? I came up with the moccasin sock idea because (and I’m little embarrassed, so don’t judge) I was looking for a post-Christmas knitting project. I need a carrot to finish in time (or even early) and I like knitting socks for myself over the holidays, so I was planning. It’s just a little motivational push, and I think that’s mostly okay since it isn’t like I’m casting on or anything*.
Okay, that sad little admission out there and I’m going back to the tea cozy. And also the foot tubes, which are zipping along – I figured I needed to knit two inches a day to be done on time, and so far that has been entirely manageable. If I can get this tea cozy under control I might even cast on mittens today.
*I’m not casting on, but I am thinking about it a lot. I’m thinking I’ll either knit Monkeys in a red skein of indigodragonfly I have in my stash, or a pair of these in a green skein of SweetGeorgia’s Tough Love Sock (kind of similar, I know). What do you think?
Pans & Needles 
I love the colors and the trim on this cozy. It’s so darn cute! So decreasing until a point and then flattish…
I was thinking that you could knit decreases until your are happy with the height, and then knit a flat piece that you graft to the opening. That would give you a flat top. And if you did the three needle bind off from the inside (bind it off inside out), I don’t think it gives you that ridge (or does it?). If it does, you could even just seam it like a sweater from the inside.
This cute pattern is free, and it sort of follows the idea, but it leaves the flat piece separate as a cover for the lid. I think it’s cute: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lidded-tea-cozy
Otherwise, you could find a pattern for one of those goofy TP roll covers that decrease and then sort of flatten out to accomodate the shape of the roll, and then extrapolate the decreases in the pattern to your pattern.
I’m interested to see what you do! I personally kind of like the cozies that leave the tea pot lid uncovered (so they stop at the top of the kettle and then the lid and handle are visible on the top)…
An inside-out three-needle bind off was my backup choice. I ended up ripping out my Kitchener stich twice (!) before I got a smooth edge I was happy with. Honestly, I thought I was going to lose my mind.
I had already finished by the time you posted this, but I love that tea cozy pattern you suggested. I have a friend who has requested a tea cozy after the holidays, and since his tea pot has a funny lid, this might be the perfect way to accomodate it. Thank you so much for your helpful comments! If I can bring myself to reknit this thing for myself, I might write up the pattern…