Monday, April 22, 2013

Tea, Anyone?

Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, and I have been wracking my brain over what to give my Mom. I was cleaning my nick-knacks in the kitchen yesterday, and took down the tea set I inherited from my grandmother. The light bulb went off!

Here is the gift I made for my lovely Mom, and in celebration of Mother's Day, a gift for you, too, the Mother's Day Teacup pattern.

p.s. Pat, please don't tell mom, okay? I'd like it to be a surprise!




   Usual disclaimer: This pattern has not been tested, comments, concerns, complaints are all welcome!

Mother's Day Tea Cup

Materials Needed:

Size 10 crochet thread in three colors;
MC = main color, I choose white.
C2 = second color of choice, I chose a rosy pink
C3 = third color of choice, I chose a soft green.

Size 5 (1.90mm) crochet hook

Needle to weave ends in and to sew the handle onto the cup.

Something to stiffen your cup and saucer, either a commercial fabric stiffener (I used Plaid's Stiffy), or a sugar solution. I have never used sugar to stiffen any of my crochet projects, so I'm afraid I can't share any recipes with you for this process.

Something to form your teacup and saucer on while it dries. I used an espresso cup saucer for my saucer, and a plastic Easter egg with a medicine bottle cap taped to the bottom to form my teacup. Plastic wrap to cover your forms and protect them from the stiffening agent.

Note: Gauge is not important in this pattern.

My tip: Read the entire pattern before you begin to crochet so that you are aware of any special stitches that you are not familiar with, and where they occur.


Abbreviations used:

sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
st = stitch
ss = slip stitch
sk = skip
ea = each
sp = space
sc inc = increase (do 2 single crochets in one stitch)
dc inc = increase (do 2 double crochets in one stitch)
Beg shell = Chain 3, double crochet, chain 1, 2 double crochet in the same stitch
shell = 2 double crochets, chain 1, 2 double crochets in the same stitch
V st = double crochet, ch 1, double crochet in the same stitch
FO = fasten off

Notes:
 Do not turn at the end of any of the rounds. 
The side facing you as you crochet is the right side.
Join all rounds with a slip stitch.
If you're not comfortable with using a magic ring, you can also start with the traditional method (chain two and work appropriate numbers of sc into second chain from the hook) but I find it leaves too big a hole for my tastes.


Tea Cup

With MC:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring
Rnd 2: * sc inc in next st* repeat from * to ** around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *1 sc in first st, sc inc in second st** repeat from * to ** around. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: *1 sc in first  2 st, sc inc in third st** repeat from * to ** around. (24 sc)
Rnd 5: *1 sc in first 3 st, sc inc in fourth st** repeat from * to ** around. (30 sc)
Rnd 6: *1 sc in first 4 st, sc inc in fifth st** repeat from * to ** around. (36 sc)
Rnd 7: Dc in ea st around. (36 dc)
Rnd 8: Beg shell, sk 2 st, *shell in next st, sk 2 st,** repeat from * to ** around, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch 3. (12 shells)
Rnd 9: ss to first ch 1 space, beg shell,  sk 2 st, *shell in next ch 1 sp, sk 4 st,** repeat from * to ** around, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch 3. (12 shells)
Rnds 10 and 11: repeat Rnd 9. FO MC
Rnd 12: Join C2 with ss in ch 1 sp of any shell, repeat Rnd 9. FO
Rnd 13: Attach C3 with a ss in ch 1 sp of any shell, ch one, sc, *ch 3, dc in 3rd chain from the hook, sc in next ch 1 sp**, repeat from * to ** around, joining with a ss in beginning sc. (12 bobble st.)
FO

Handle

With MC:
Chain 4, dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 1, 2 dc in same st. Turn
Rnd 2: ss into ch 1 space, ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc Turn
Repeat last row 7 times
FO and attach one end to the top of Rnd 7 and the other end to the top of Rnd 12.

Weave in all ends if you have not done so already.

Saucer

With MC:
Rnd 1: 12 dc in a magic ring (12 dc)
Rnd 2: dc inc in ea st around. (24 dc)
Rnd 3: *dc in first 3 st, dc inc in next**, repeat from * to ** around. (30 dc)
Rnd 4: *1 dc, ch1 in first 4 st, V st, ch 1 in fifth st*, repeat from * to ** around. (36 dc, 36 ch 1 sps)
Rnd 5: dc, ch 1 in ea dc st around (sk the ch 1 sp of rnd 4). (36 dc, 36 ch 1 sps)
Rnd 6:  ss to first ch 1 space, beg  shell,  sk 2 dc st, *shell in next ch 1 sp, sk 2 dc st,** repeat from * to ** around, join with a sl st in 3rd ch of begining ch 3. (18 shells)
Rnd 7: ss to first ch 1 sp, beg shell, ch 1, *shell in next ch 1 sp, ch 1**, repeat from * to ** around. (18 shells)
FO
Rnd 8: Join C2 with a ss to ch 1 sp of any shell, beg shell, ch 1,  *shell in next ch 1 sp, ch 1**, repeat from * to ** around. (18 shells)
FO
Rnd 9: Attach C3 with a ss in ch 1 sp of any shell, ch one, sc, *ch 3, dc in 3rd chain from the hook, sc in next ch 1 sp**, repeat from * to ** around, joining with a ss in begining sc.

If you have not done so already, weave in all ends.

Side note: If you are not comfortable working with thread and a small hook, this pattern can also be made with ww yarn. I tried it with Peaches & Creme, and a H hook (5mm). Pictured below is the result of that, next to my prototype teacup for size comparison. I like it, and plan on finishing the set to use as a planted pot holder! Thanks to Mama Faye for the idea!


36 comments:

twinfaye said...

You're welcome child!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful job!! Mom will be very happy and thrilled!!

hugs,
carol

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the beautiful pattern! I'm a Red Hatter and the name of our chapter is T.E.A. (Totally Eccentric Adventurous) Red Hatters. I hope to make this for some of my closest RH friends.

I know your mom is going to love her gift!
Red Hat Hugs, Linda

CrystalStrade said...

When I did the "bobble" stitch edging for my tea cup, it seemed to drawn in the opening some. I didn't switch needles, the weight is still crochet cotton size 10. I know single crochets tend to be tighter than doubles, but wanted to know if that was okay? Thank you

Karen said...

Thank you for sharing the pattern! This is sooo cute---a must-try, indeed.

Anonymous said...

thanks for the pattern i make bells for my Christmas tree and have tried the sugar water half and half and boil till thin syrup. it works fairly good. and you can always wash items when they get two dirty and then stiffen them again.

TurtleDoveCoo said...

CrystalStrade - You do want the top to stand up straight, but not to draw in. I would suggest if it's drawing in, to try adding an extra chain stitch between, or maybe even using a half double instead of the single crochet. Having said that I found that when I placed my teacup on the form, with the stiffening agent, it stretches to fit the form, so unless it is cupping too much, I wouldn't worry about it.

CrystalStrade said...

Thank you! That helps a lot! I did add an extra stitch in, but I hadn't stiffened them yet, I have made 3 sets so far. Have a very blessed Mother's Day!

tdburf said...

I have been looking for a pattern for a teacup and saucer. When I was 5 yrs old an elderly lady in her 80's gave me a set of 4 for my birthday; I still have them 53 years later!

TurtleDoveCoo said...

Teri, you are a lucky lady, indeed! I cherish what little I have left from my childhood, and I hope your new teacups and saucers make you as happy as the set you recieved as a child!

AnnMF said...

Thank you for the pattern. I'm going to make one for my mother. She & I used to have tea together when I was little and I remember getting to pick out which tea cup to use.
Ann

CarolAnn said...

I love this teacup and saucer. I found the pattern through Pinterest. I am just finishing up my first one and I know I will make many more. Thanks for the pattern.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your pattern. It's so cute! I made the tea cup but I'm stumped on the saucer. From round four. I don't understand you directions on how to ch in the stitches. When I do what I think you are saying, the count doesn't come out right. Can you please explain it to me. Thank you. Katy

Anonymous said...

i love this and made with old threadlooks good i wouldlike to have ateajug pattern please

Unknown said...

Thank you for the pattern i will have to get makeing ti THANK'S

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the pattern. It's very beautiful :-)
Else Marie

Unknown said...

Thank you so much !! I am living in Argentina South America ,this will make a wonderful gift for my sister ,when I go back home !!! I don't know how to save it on the computer ( I am 60 years old ) Technology is not for me !! ha ha ha

justalooming said...

Thank you for the beautiful pattern. My sister and I are very fond of tea sets so this will be a nice add to our collection. I do have a question about the handle. Every time I try to make it ...wel it comes out looking as a knotted mess. Just don't know what I am doing wrong. Do you have any pictures of just the handle part? That might help me figure out what I am doing wrong.
Thank again it is a beautiful and fun project to make (up to the handle)

Unknown said...

Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeats it. See the link the below for more info.


#repeats
www.ufgop.org

joyce said...

ThanK you! I'm making one for my daughter with small variegated blue..it's beautiful! I hope she likes it...I sure do!

joyce said...

ThanK you! I'm making one for my daughter with small variegated blue..it's beautiful! I hope she likes it...I sure do!

Anna Schafer said...

Here is the gift I made for my lovely Mom, and in celebration of Mother's Day, a gift for you, too, the Mother's Day Teacup pattern.buy matcha powder melbourne

molly55 said...

Very pretty! I'm going to give this a try after our move is complete. All my stuff is in storage. Is there a way to save this to my Pinterest so I can easily find your pattern again?

Unknown said...

When it says to ch in next four st what do I do??

Unknown said...

When it says to ch in next four st what do I do??

Unknown said...

Same as Steven's issue with the saucer. I'm having trouble from round 4, understanding what I'm supposed to do. Just can't figure it out. Help! I love my cup, now I need the saucer. :)

Unknown said...

My mother had one when i was little and it was sugar coated and I ate it. She will be 77 years old this sat March 4 and I am giving it back...cannot wait to see her face. She taught me to crochet over 40 years ago...Thank you so much for the pattern!!!

ravenbard said...

My dear beloved grandmother, who raised me, also taught me how to crochet when I was 9 years old. She never knew how to read instructions but instead would borrow some crochet item that she liked and count the stitches and make one identical. She made many cup and saucers and would stiffen her crochet items with a sugar solution and they would get hard as a rock. This brings back many memories since she has been in Heaven now for many years. Your pattern is just a tad different but almost the same as hers. She taught me how to make these also but of course I have long forgot but with your instructions, I will be able to do it. Thanks for the memories.

I am making doilies now because I do not want to forget this art.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I love this pattern. Thank you. Where can I share a pic of the finish project?

Erica said...

In the saucer row 4 it means *DC then CH 1 four times. Hope this helps

Anonymous said...

How can you possibly get 36 V stitches with 30 Dc stitches to work on?? Round 4 of the saucer is really unable to understand and so I ask please reprint it with a clearer explanation - a bit more detail please. The pattern is so cute and I have the cup finished.

Unknown said...

HELP ME TOO!!! I love my first finished tea cup but cannot figure out ROW 4 of the saucer!!

Unknown said...

This happened with mine as well

Unknown said...

Thank you! Just finished one set

Anonymous said...

I want to purchase this product how can I get it