NEW Cowichan Tea Cozies
"A Toque for Your Teapot"
The vision of a Cowichan knit tea cozy has been with us for a long time... and we are thrilled to now be offering these genuine, hand-crafted pure wool Tea Cozies!
The artist and Cowichan knitter Maude Joe, designed and created these Tea Cozies specifically for Westholme Tea Company. Maude enjoys creating geometric shapes, drawing from the patterns woven into baskets by her Coast Salish ancestors. She incorporates native animals as well as non-traditional designs that inspire her.
For over a century, people of Cowichan have been knitting stories into their famous woollen creations. Cowichan Knits are distinctly patterned designs knitted from sheep wool in shades of blacks, greys, browns and creams. The wool is never dyed: the colouring is determined by the natural colour of the wool on the sheep from which it came.
Maude has been knitting since she was six years old, the tradition passed from the hands of her mother and grandmother. When Maude shared her creative process, she told us she saw a tea cozy like a toque for a teapot. However, she desired to add a little flair to set it apart from a traditional Cowichan toque. After praying on it, she received a message to “look to her roots.” Thoughts of Western Red Cedars and the traditional Cedar cone hats she grew up with came to mind. Maude then combined designs of a toque and cedar hat then wove a little loop for a handle…providing a cozy cover to keep your teapot warm for hours.
What makes these cozies even more special is that no two are alike! The wool is never dyed: the colouring is determined by the natural colour of the wool on the sheep from which it came.
Maude is proud to support small family farms and yarn merchants on Coast Salish territory. In addition to that, she will cart and spin much of her own wool. Cowichan knitting is passed through generations, so in buying an authentic product, you are supporting local families. Many have attempted to imitate the Cowichan designs, but an authentic Cowichan knit is always the result of unique knitting techniques passed from hand to hand.
We hope these cozies weave a sense of becoming steeped in nature into your teatime.
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