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Archive entry for November 2013

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November 2013

Traditional Cosy Set

TraditionalCosySet.jpg

The archetypal cosy design (maybe with a few too many pom-poms for historical verisimilitude but who's counting?). And - no idea why the British are quite so obsessed with hats for their eggs, but it does seem that there is always a matching egg cosy* to complete the set.

* I think with very fine wool and a bit of adaptation these could become knitted hats for the Big Knit - a campaign from Innocent Smoothies, who are again putting knitted hats on their bottles this year in aid of Age UK (helping older folk face the winter). The advertising says "knit a hat this November" however unfortunately the deadline for knitting is past as the campaign aims to have the hats in place during November - so maybe next year....
However, you can still join in by designing your own virtual hat and sharing on Facebook (10p donation from Innocent), or by buying a smoothie with a hat (25p donation by Innocent), or with a direct donation. Have a look on their website - there are free mini-hat patterns!

Instructions

The pleats are formed by each colour being drawn up across the back of the colour just used and keeping all the strands to the wrong side of the work throughout.

Tea Cosy (make 2 pieces)

With No 8 needles and light colour (L), cast on 98sts and knit 5 rows.

Join in Dark colour (D) and proceed in pattern as follows:

1st row: k1L, k6D; * k7L, k7D; repeat from * to last 7 stitches, k6L, k1D.
[Editor's note: Remember you are pulling the unused colour across the back of the knitting to draw up the pleats as you work - this is the reverse of the effect you are usually trying to achieve when you strand colours across the back.]
2nd row: k1D, k6L; * k7D, k7L; repeat from * to last 7 stitches, k6D, k1L.
3rd-6th rows: Repeat 1st and 2nd rows twice.
7th row: k1D, k6L; * k7D, k7L; repeat from * to last 7 stitches, k6D, k1L.
8th row: k1L, k6D; * k7L, k7D; repeat from * to last 7 stitches, k6L, k1D.
9th-12th rows: Repeat 7th and 8th rows twice.

Repeat 1st and 2nd rows until work measures 6 inches from beginning finishing at the end of 2nd row.

Shape top as follows:
1st row: k2togL, k3D, k2togD, * k2togL, k3L, k2togL, k2togD, k3D, k2tog.D; repeat from * to last 7 stitches, k2togL, k3L, k2togD

2nd row: k1D, k4L, * k5D, k5L; repeat from * to last 5 stitches, k4D, k1L.
3rd row: k2togL, k1D, k2togD, * k2togL, k1L, k2togL, k2tog.D, k1D, k2togD; repeat from * to last 5 stitches, k2togL, k1L, k2togD.
4th row: k1D, k2L, * k3D, k3L; repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2D, k1L.
5th row: k2togL, k1D, * k2togL, k1L,k2tog.D, k1D; repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2togL, k1D.
6th row: k1D, k1L, * k2D, k2L; repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1D, k1L.
7th row: (k2togL) twice, * k2tog.D, k2togL; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, (k2togD) twice.

Break off wool, thread end of Light colour through the remaining stitches, draw up and fasten off securely.

Make another piece in same manner.

To Make Up the Tea Cosy

Stitch side and top seams leaving openings for handle and spout.
Using Light colour make make 3 pom-poms and attach to top of cosy. With 2 strands of Dark, crochet a chain and arrange loops on top of cosy as in photograph.


Egg Cosy (make 1 piece)

With No 10 needles and light colour (L) in 3 ply, cast on 72sts and knit 3 rows.

Join in Dark colour (D) and proceed in pattern as follows:

1st row: k1L, k5D; * k6L, k6D; repeat from * to last 6 stitches, k5L, k1D.
[Editor's note: Remember you are pulling the unused colour across the back of the knitting to draw up the pleats as you work - this is the reverse of the effect you are usually trying to achieve when you strand colours across the back.]
2nd row: k1D, k5L; * k6D, k6L; repeat from * to last 6 stitches, k5D, k1L.
3rd-4th rows: Repeat 1st and 2nd rows.
5th row: k1D, k56L; * k6D, k6L; repeat from * to last 6 stitches, k5D, k1L.
6th row: k1L, k5D; * k6L, k6D; repeat from * to last 6 stitches, k5L, k1D.
7th-8th rows: Repeat 5th and 6th rows.

Repeat 1st and 2nd rows until work measures 2¾ inches from beginning finishing at the end of 2nd row.

Shape top as follows:
1st row: k1L, k2togD, k3D, * k2togL, k4L, k2togD, k4D; repeat from * to last 6 stitches, k2togL, k3L, k1D

Work from to as on Tea Cosy.

To Make Up the Egg Cosy

Stitch side seam.
Using Light colour make a pom-pom and attach to top of cosy. With 2 strands of Dark, crochet a chain and arrange loops on top of cosy as in photograph.

Materials

Tea Cosy: 3oz light colour (L) and 2oz dark (D) Double Knitting Yarn

Egg Cosy: 1oz light colour (L) and 1oz dark (D) 3ply yarn

A pair of No 8 (4mm) needles for the tea cosy and No 10 (3¼mm) needles for the egg cosy plus crochet hook.

Tension

22sts x 30 rows to 4 ins for the tea cosy and
30sts x 38 rows to 4 ins for the egg cosy over stocking stitch.

Size matters

To fit "a large sized teapot".
[Editor's note: Egg cosy size not specified!]

Abbreviations

k2tog: decrease by knitting 2 sts together.

For information on making pom-poms
click here
to see a previous entry on this site.

Disclaimer
(well...almost)

In transposing any pattern it is always a risk that errors will be introduced, in spite of dedicated proof reading.
If you have any problems with this pattern, please and I will try and assist.

© Christina Coutts 2007

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