Knitting and Tea...Seriously...

I have to start by saying that I have been in a seriously good space "professionally" lately. OK, so my current two professions - blogging and being a stay-at-home mom - don't generate income, but they're pretty fantastic gigs. I also feel like I've been having some moments of crystallization toward that all important "what do I want to be when I grow up" question.

A quick follow-up on yesterday's post: I am continuing to work with that First Flush Darjeeling to try to coax something interesting out of it. No luck. I used more leaf and played with steep times. It just really isn't very impressive. I also broke out a Second Flush Darjeeling from Equal Exchange and have pretty much the same response. Too bad. Their Ceylon Green was quite good. I think this one is going to be used for some blending experiments. Stay tuned...

One other note - We're going to have another interview here at Tea Pages. This particular piece may be one of my favorites. I have found tea people who are just as sarcastic as I am. Quite refreshing. :) I was able to interview the guys over at Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Teas. I need to disclose that I have not yet tried their teas. I think their site, blog, and this interview will convince me that I need to give them a try. (Who says marketing doesn't work?)


Today's post is about a newly released book called "Knitting and Tea: 25 Classic Knits and the Teas That Inspired Them" by Jane Gottelier. I have previously mentioned my obsession with knitting and you all know how I feel about tea. When this book arrived at my doorstop it was like manna from heaven.

This is a stunning book. It's a glossy hardcover filled with spectacular photos of tea plantations, tea shops, and gorgeous knit pieces. The book is divided into six chapters, each devoted to a particular "type" of tea: Ceylon Tea, Somerset Single Estate Tea, Green Tea, Afternoon Tea, "Builder's Tea," and Rose Pouchong Tea. The chapter begins by exploring the history and cultural side of the tea type being discussed, followed by several knitting patterns inspired by the tea. Interspersed in the chapters are random bits of history and information about the region being explored. The final page of each chapter highlights one specific location that is representative of the chapter that interested readers could visit. The locations covered are split between Sri Lanka (where Ms. Gottelier's husband was raised) and England (where she grew to love tea as a child.)

The knitwear is lovely in this book - diverse and covering a wide skill level. Jane and her husband Patrick opened their own knitwear company in 1977 so this project was certainly a labor of love. There is a focus on vintage design. Among my favorite patterns were the Ceylon Cardigan, a lovely shaped open front cardigan with seed stitch edging; the Boy's Fair Isle Planter's Vest; the Cricket Sweater; and the Biker's Jacket, a soft knit take on an edgy jacket. This book even included a pattern for knee high argyle socks with ribbons inserted through the top, long bows in the back and gunmetal grey glass beads knit into the front. The one pattern that did make me very worried was the Summer House sweater that called for threading THREE THOUSAND sequins onto your yarn. I was getting freaked out just thinking about it.

If you are a knitter who loves tea, this is a must have book. If you are a tea lover who doesn't (yet) love knitting, it's worth a peek at a friend's copy. It's a breathtaking book to behold.

Taken from http://teapages.blogspot.com/