Super Chunky Tea Cosy, with 2 different looks.



Here you will find a free knitting pattern for a really thick tea cosy prepared from super chunky weight yarn.
This will be the perfect present for anyone who like me, gets easily distracted and finds that the pot of tea is cold and before they get back for the second cup.  Traditional tea cosies help, but you can find yourself throwing half the pot away.  I did get a lovely quilted tea cosy given to me, which solved the problem entirely as it encased the whole pot but this resulted in the handle becoming so hot it was difficult to pour the tea.  Conclusion: we needed a tea cosy which was much thicker but still leaves the handle uncovered so it does not become too hot to hold.

The free knitting pattern below produces a beautiful tea cosy, the back of which looks as pretty as the front, so it is up to you which way you choose to use it.  We have also found this tea cosy keeps a standard tea pot warm for between 2 and 3 hours (although if you don't like stewed tea you do need to remember to remove the tea bags).

print out PDF of pattern

Requirements:

100g Super Chunky Yarn (Colour A)
100g Super Chunky Yarn (Colour B)
1 x 5.5mm Knitting Needles

This tea cosies in the photograph were knitted with Serenity Yarn.

Instructions:

Abbreviations.
 
 Abbreviation
   
 Meaning
     
sts      Stitches      
P     Purl (number after it refers to how many stitches to Purl)      
    Knit (number after it refers to how many stitches to knit)
     
 K2tog     Knit two together (knit next two stitches together as if they were a single stitch (decreasing a stitch)
     
P2tog
    Purl two together (purl next two stitches together as if they were a single stitch (decreasing a stitch)    
[ ]
     instructions within square brackets to be repeated as specified after bracket
     


To make sides of tea cosy (need 2 alike):
Using 5.5mm needles and colour A cast on 39 stitches.
Row 1:  [K1, P1] repeat to last stitch K1
Row 2:  [P1, K1] repeat to last stitch P1
Row 3:  [K1, P1] repeat to last stitch K1

Change to colour B
Row 4:  Knit to end
Row 5:  [P1, K1] repeat to last stitch P1

Change to colour A
Row 6:  Knit to end
Row 7:  [P1, K1] repeat to last stitch P1
Row 8:  [K1, P1] repeat to last stitch K1
Row 9:  [P1, K1] repeat to last stitch P1

Repeat rows 4 to 9 a further 3 times.

Shape top:
Row 1:  (in colour B) K1 [K2tog, K5] repeat to last 3 stitches,  K2tog, K1  (33 sts)
Row 2:  (in colour B) [K1, P1] three times, K2 [P1, K1] twice P1, K2, P1, K1, P1, K2, [P1, K1] twice, P1, K2 [P1, K1] three times
Row 3:  (in colour A) K1, k2tog, K3, [K2tog, K4]repeat to last 3 sts K2tog, K1  (27 sts)
Row 4:  (in colour A) [K1, P1] repeat to last st K1
Row 5:  (in colour A)  [K2tog, P1] repeat to last st K1 (18 sts)
Row 6:  (in colour A)  [K1, P1] repeat to end
Row 7:  (in colour B)  K1 [K2tog] to last st, K1  (10 sts)
Row 8:  (in colour B)  [P1, K1] repeat to end
Row 9:  (in colour A)  [K2tog] repeat to end  (5 sts)
Row 10: (in colour A)  [K1, P1] repeat to last st K1

To make Pompom:
For details on How to make a Pompom
The Pompoms shown here were created on cardboard discs.  Dimension of inner circle = 3.5cm.  Dimension of Outer circle = 6.5cm.

To make Up:
Join top of tea cosy together.  If available fit around tea pot and mark the points at which the spout and the handle will need to fit through the tea cosy.  Remove from tea pot and join the sides together, leaving gaps where marked for the spout and handle.   Secure ends and sew in.  Securely attach Pompom to the top of the teacosy.


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