Bloomsbury Cosies

Bloomsbury Cosies: Spectacle Case & eBook Cosy

What is Being Made

Bloomsbury Cosies is a downloadable knitting pattern set by designer Anna Elliott featuring two protective cases: a Spectacle Case and an eBook Cosy. Both projects showcase vibrant, bold colourwork inspired by the artistic designs and colour palettes of the Bloomsbury Set, an influential group of early 20th-century artists and writers. The designs are bookish in nature, making them ideal for literary enthusiasts. The finished projects measure 16 cm or 20 cm in length depending on the chosen size.

Techniques Used

The primary technique featured in Bloomsbury Cosies is colourwork knitting, which allows crafters to create intricate, multi-coloured patterns within a single piece. The colourwork is worked using the magic loop method, a popular technique for knitting small circumference projects in the round without requiring a full set of double-pointed needles. This method is particularly suited to creating fitted, seamless garments and accessories. The bold, vibrant colour combinations are central to the design aesthetic, drawing directly from the artistic heritage of the Bloomsbury Set.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is stocking stitch (also known as stockinette stitch), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side. Stocking stitch is the foundation for the colourwork patterns, allowing the colour changes to be clearly visible and visually striking. The tension for this project is 31 stitches and 38 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) in stocking stitch, which is important for achieving the correct finished dimensions.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Approximately 10g of 4ply yarn is required in seven colours. The sample Spectacle Case uses one mini skein each of black, charcoal, navy, blue, soft blue, slate, and undyed from Knitting Goddess. The sample eBook Cosy uses one mini skein each of red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, and purple, also from Knitting Goddess. These colours are available as a Rainbow Set from The Knitting Goddess website.

Needles and Notions: The pattern requires 2.75mm double-pointed needles (dpns) or a circular needle for the magic loop technique. Additional supplies include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a stitch marker to track the beginning of rounds, and bobbins (optional) for managing multiple yarn colours during colourwork.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience. The combination of magic loop construction and multi-colour colourwork requires solid foundational skills and familiarity with tension management across colour changes.