Even though I like crochet, I always find myself chatting about knitting and saying I don’t knit, which turns into I can’t knit. So after saying this one time too many, and knowing I did knit as a child, I decided to challenge myself to make the traditional tea cosy I knitted as a child. I also have a vague memory of knitting them as egg warmers as well, mh…
I borrowed a set of size 6 knitting needles and pulled out two balls of yarn from my crochet basket. After careful consideration I decided that a small tea cosy would be best to start with, and remembering how to knit wasn’t actually that bad, it was a bit like my hands remembered and as long as I wasn’t too consciously trying to concentrate on the stitches they just did their own thing. Now I did have to rip the first attempt and start again but that was to be expected, and I am used to having to rework things as I am going.
Starting with the blue yarn
Cast on 34 stitches
Row 1 – knit a line of plain
Row 2 – knit a line of purl
Row 3 – knit a line of plain
Row 4 – knit a line of purl
Row 5 – knit 2 plain, join in the white yarn, knit 1 plain with the blue and white yarn together, knit 4 plain with the white yarn leaving the blue yarn behind, pick up the blue yarn and knit 4 plain with the blue only. Pick up the white and pull across the blue stitches and knit 4 plain with white only. Continue for 7 sections and you will have 3 stitches left, knit 1 plain with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 plain with only the blue yarn.
NB: The real part to concentrate on when changing from white to blue, is the yarn that crosses over the back is not pulled too tight and the tension remains the same throughout.
Row 6 – knit 2 purl, knit 1 purl with the blue and white yarn together, knit 4 purl with the white yarn leaving the blue yarn behind, pick up the blue yarn and knit 4 purl with the blue only. Pick up the white and pull across the blue stitches and knit 4 purl with white only. Continue for 7 sections and you will have 3 stitches left, knit 1 purl with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 purl with only the blue yarn.
Row 7 – knit 2 plain, knit 1 plain with the blue and white yarn together, knit 4 plain with the white yarn leaving the blue yarn behind, pick up the blue yarn and knit 4 plain with the blue only. Pick up the white and pull across the blue stitches and knit 4 plain with white only. Continue for 7 sections and you will have 3 stitches left, knit 1 plain with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 plain with only the blue yarn.
Row 8 – knit 2 purl, knit 1 purl with the blue and white yarn together, knit 4 purl with the white yarn leaving the blue yarn behind, pick up the blue yarn and knit 4 purl with the blue only. Pick up the white and pull across the blue stitches and knit 4 purl with white only. Continue for 7 sections and you will have 3 stitches left, knit 1 purl with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 purl with only the blue yarn
Rows 9 to 32 Continue with alternating plain and purl lines as above.
Finishing:
Row 33 – knit 2 purl, knit 1 purl with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 purl together with the white yarn leaving the blue yarn behind, knit 2 purl together, pick up the blue yarn and knit 2 purl together with the blue, knit 2 purl together. Continue for 7 sections, you will now only have 2 stitches in each colour section. You will have 3 stitches left, knit 1 purl with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 purl with only the blue yarn
Row 34 – knit 2 plain together, knit 1 plain with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 plain together with the white yarn leaving the blue yarn behind, pick up the blue yarn and knit 2 plain together with the blue. Continue for 7 sections, you will now only have 1 stitch in each colour section. You will have 3 stitches left, knit 1 plain with the blue and white yarn together, knit 2 plain together with only the blue yarn.
11 stitches left, leaving enough yarn thread a needle and sew through the stitches from the opposite side and pull together. Then sew securely in place.
Repeat for the second side.
Measure out where the tea pot handle and spout is and leave those sections un-sewn.
I put a little flower on top. I never knitted a flower before so I followed this video tutorial online.
It was definitely enjoyable knitting the tea cosy, and I quite surprised myself when I knitted the flowers, I am more used to crocheting them.
My Book – Sewing Animal Dolls
