Festival Rules and Entry Information

1. Festival Date

The Scottish Tea Cosy Festival takes place on the Saturday before National Tea Cosy Day.
For 2027, the festival date is 22 May 2027.

2. Entry Categories

There are five competition categories:

• Child – open to entrants aged 16 and under
• Knitted
• Crocheted
• Sewn
• Miscellaneous – for entries that do not fit into the other categories

Entrants may enter as many tea cosies as they wish and may enter multiple categories.
Each tea cosy must have its own application form.

3. Eligibility

Professional designers are not eligible to compete, but may submit a tea cosy for the charity auction.

4. Tea Cosy Requirements

Tea cosies may be small, medium or large.
They may be traditional over‑cosies or designs with spout and handle openings.
Patterns may be used in full, in part, or not at all.
Please disclose pattern use on the application form.

5. Condition of Entries

• Tea cosies must be clean.
• No strong smells (smoke, damp, pets).
• No hazardous materials.

6. Submission Deadline

The closing date for entries is 1 April 2027.

7. How to Submit

Entries may be submitted in person at Spinning a Yarn wool shop, or by post to:

Scottish Tea Cosy Festival
Spinning a Yarn
7 High St
Wigtown
Dumfries and Galloway
DG8 9HH
Scotland

All entries must include a completed application form.
Postal entrants will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of their cosy; please ensure your email address is legible.

8. Entry Fees

It is free to submit a tea cosy to the festival.
If you submit a tea cosy for free, it will be entered into the auction after judging.
You will only be charged if you choose to have your tea cosy returned.

9. Returning Your Tea Cosy (UK only)

If you live in the UK and would like your tea cosy returned rather than auctioned, please include a cheque or postal order for £15 per cosy to cover administration and postage.
This fee also includes a donation to the charity.

10. International Entries

We cannot return entries from outside the UK.
All international entries will be included in the auction.

11. Auction and Charity

All submitted tea cosies will be entered into the Tea Cosy Auction to raise money for the chosen charity.
Information about the charity will be available on the website.

12. Judging

Three judges will assess all entries on the day of the festival.
Their decisions are final.

13. Judging Criteria

• Functionality
• Craftsmanship and construction
• Creativity and originality
• Design and aesthetic appeal
• Technical difficulty
• Sculptural quality
• Presentation
• Innovation
• Overall delight factor

14. Public Vote

Visitors to the festival will receive one voting slip each to vote for the Public Best in Show.

15. Festival Admission

Entry to the Scottish Tea Cosy Festival is free.
Refreshments will be available for donations to the charity.

16. Craft Fair

A craft fair will run alongside the festival.
If you wish to have a stall, please email us.
A donation to the charity is requested for each stall.
A table, chair(s), and a cup of tea will be provided.

17. Prizes

Prizes are sponsor‑donated. No cash alternatives. View the prize list on the Prizes page.