Victorian Velvet & Thread in Feather Design. In America, tea cosies became quite the rage by the late 1800's. Especially in Boston (where they really know how to throw a tea party) when the November 1897 issue of the Boston Journal provided hints for women on how to construct their own cosy, suggesting the use of embroidered linen or heavy brocade. Currently, in Great Britain, where tea cosies are still popular, most are hand-knitted, resembling wool hats. On cashonandcompany.blogspot.com