Dodgem Car Tea Cosy Design Sketch

The Dodgem Car tea cosy begins its journey with a lively design sketch that captures all the colour and excitement of the funfair. This first look sets the scene for a bumper car inspired knitting pattern filled with retro charm and playful energy.

Funny that no other time would you want to be in collision with another vehicle except on the bumper cars. The dodgem car ride as it was later known, to curb peoples reckless driving to actively bump the cars together, is probably one of the most iconic rides at the funfair, and attracted all the cool kids.

The new tea cosy is shaping up to be just as lively, only without the risk of whiplash. The main cosy will take the form of a bumper car. Once you look at the side view you realise it has a surprisingly slipper like shape. One of the things I love about funfairs is the artwork. The colours are bold, bright and full of energy, and the clashing shades create that sense of excitement you feel the moment you walk through the gates. I am planning to knit the car in Stylecraft Special DK Clementine and Fiesta which should give it a real fairground glow.

The car will have two passengers tucked inside. I am still working out how the top section will behave because the real cars have a hollow space above the seats and that is not something I can recreate in yarn. I may add arms to give the impression of fullness and disguise the fact that the top is solid. That part will come together as the design develops.

Dodgem cars run on electric power and have a tall pole at the back that connects to the overhead mesh. In knitting, tall narrow pieces can be tricky because they tend to flop rather than stand upright, so this feature will need a bit of internal support to keep it steady.

I am really excited about this tea cosy because it has a lovely retro feel. The big wheel tea cosy was a favourite with customers and it seems that fairground themed tea cosies tap into a shared sense of fun and nostalgia. This dodgem car design feels like it will fit right in with that playful spirit.








Tags: handmade tea cosy pattern