Merrin Shaw’s tea cosies are about so much more than
keeping a teapot warm. They’re an invitation for
storytellinganda laugh.Shelovingly
referstothemasher“beaniesfor
kettles”andsaystheyarefulltothe
brimofpersonalityandcharm.
Butthey’renoteveryone’scupof
tea...someofherdesignshavebeen
calledcrazy.ButMerrintakesthatas
a compliment.Herphilosophy is that the more experimental, the
better. “Over the years I have noticed that even
my wackiest piece finds its person who just gets it,”
says Merrin. “Delighted new owner – job done.”
There is one exception to this. “The very first tea
cosy I sold was bought as a revenge gift for a
mother-in-law's ugly gifts. That still bothers me.”
Her wild and woolly ideas develop in her
workroom, where there’s a large ‘inspiration pile’
of yarns and lots of clicking and clacking as
Merrin whips up her latest creation. When her
knitting needles are allowed a rest, she sticks
them in her hair where they resemble antennas.
“I usually forget they are there until I catch them
onsomething,” she laughs.
Herdesigns usually begin with a colour palette. “Once
colourshave been chosen I decide on the size and somehow,
duringtheprocess, a shape and design evolves.” Remarkably,
Merrindoesn’t work from a set pattern, preferring to let her
imaginationguide her, which results in unique and surprisingSelvedge
DESIGNER EDGE
MERRIN SHAW
20 Homespun