Category: tea cosy

This is the fourth tea cosy in the Grandma collection, and is sure to charm.  The crochet mesh design means this pattern makes for a very quick hook up.  Ideal for beginners using just a half treble crochet stitch, this cosy is abidingly delightful and will trim any tea pot with joy.

Dedicated to the inspiration that is ‘Nanna Florence’ otherwise known as my Mom! 

The pattern makes a tea cosy that fits a standard 6 cup teapot.

I used less than 50g of Stylecraft special dk yarn in cream.    Please note that I have used a different colour yarn in the beginning of the photo tutorial below. 

You will also need a darning needle, a selection of 5mm wide ribbon, a 50cm length of fluff, a button, a pair of scissors and x4 stitch markers (or small safety pins or scraps of different colour yarn).  The use of a hot glue gun is optional, ribbons can either be glued into position or stitched.

  

Stitches used in this pattern refer to English terminology, however a conversion to US terminology is provided in brackets.

Ch – chain stitch 

slst – slip stitch 

dc –  double crochet (single crochet)

htr– half treble crochet  (half double crochet)

You will also need:

a 4mm crochet hook

 

Ok, here we go…

Using the cream yarn  Ch 4

Join with a slst to form a ring.

Row 1: Ch1 (does not count as a st), 6hdc into ring,

finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (6hdc).

 

Row 2: Ch1, (does not count as a st) 2hdc in same space, 2hdc in each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (12hdc).

 

Row 3: Ch1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next st, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next st* . Repeat * – * to end,  finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (18hdc).

 

Rows 4: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 2 sts, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next 2 sts*. Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (24hdc).

 

Row 5: Ch1 (does not count as st), 2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 3 sts, *2hdc in next st, 1hdc in next 3 sts*. Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (30hdc).

 

Row 6: Ch 1 (does not count as a st),   2hdc in same space, 1hdc in next 4 sts, *2hdcin next st, 1hdc in next 4 sts*.  Repeat *-* to end, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (36hdc).

 

Row 7: ch1 ( does not count as a st), 1hdc in same space and in each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (36hdc).  

 

Row 8: ch1 (does not count as a st), 2hdc in same space andin each st around, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (72hdc).

 

Row 9 and 10: Repeat row 7, finish with a slst in 1st hdc. (72hdc).  

You should have something that is starting to look a bit like a flying saucer!  This is a good point to check your measurements with your intended teapot.  Place your hooked disc on top of your teapot. You want the edges of the circle to be approx. 1cm from the handle of the teapot.

To mark out handle and spout holes, simply take x4 st markers (or cut short pieces of yarn in a different  colour as I did) and place/ tie first marker in the st behind where you joined last row.

Counting backwards (or to the right)miss x3 sts and place/tie second marker in next st.  This marks out your handle. 

 

From this second marker count backwards (or to the right) 30sts and place 3rd marker in the next st (31st st).  Return to the first marker and count forwards 30 sts (or to the left) and place 4th marker in the next st.

 

 You have now marked out the handle and spout positions for your cosy.  Marker #1 and #2 indicate the handle space and markers #3 and #4 indicate the spout space.

The next stage of the cosy is to construct the sides.  So, for the purposes of the pattern these will be referred to as side A  (between marker #1 and #4) and side B between marker #2 and #3). 

Side A row 1: In Cream yarn Ch 4 (counts as 1htr and 2ch), miss 2sts *htr in next  st, ch2, miss 2sts*

repeat * -* until you reach marker/ tie #4. 

NB/ last htr is completed in st marked by marker / tie #4

(x11htr, x10 ch2spaces)

Side A row 2: ch4 (counts as htr and 2 ch) turn work. 

Miss 2 sts, *htr in next st, ch2, miss 2 sts*

repeat * – * to end of row, placing last htr in top of ch2.

(x11htr, x10 ch2 spaces).

 

Side A row 3: We are going to increase the mesh at each end of the row. 

Ch 4 ( counts as htr and 2ch, turn work, htr into same st ( increase made), ch2, miss 2sts, *htr in next st, ch2, miss 2 sts*

repeat from * – * til end of row placing htr in ch2 of previous row, ch2, htr in same space (increase made). 

(x13htr, x12 ch2 spaces).

 Side A row 4: ch 4 (counts as  htr and 2ch), turn work, miss 2 sts, *htr in next st, ch2, miss 2sts* 

repeat * – * til end of row. (x13htr, x12 ch2 spaces).

 

Side A row 5 – 15: repeat side A row 4.  Fasten off.  Side A completed.

 Side B: Join cream yarn in st to the left of st marker #2

repeat Side A instructions between markers 2 and 3.  Fasten off and sew in all loose ends.

Remove stitch markers. 

Place on your teapot to check the fit.

Now for the fun part! Weave the ribbons in and out of the mesh.

alternate each row ie, start weaving from under the post on one row and over the post on the next row.  NB/ on row 3 you will not need to alternate in order to keep the pattern of covered and exposed posts.

Repeat weaving ribbons for both Side A and Side B.  Once completed you need to secure the ribbons.  I used a hot glue gun to do this but you could just as easily machine sew. 

Turn work so that the wrong side is facing upwards and begin by securing the ribbons that end by going behind the post. In the picture below this would be the green ribbon, followed by the blue then the red ribbon.  Secure both sides being careful not to pull the ends of the ribbon to tight, you need to allow a little give in the ribbon.

Continue to secure the ribbons in this way.  You should now only have ribbons that  go over the post left to secure.  To do this split the side of the post stitch with your nail and thread through the ribbon.  In the photo below the top picture shows the blue ribbon already threaded and the bottom picture shows the red ribbon yet to be threaded with the place for it to be threaded through  indicated by the safety pin. 

NB/ this can be a bit tricky and may require a wee bit of patience! 

Once threaded, secure as before. 

Edging:  join cream yarn to the bottom corner (any side).

Ch2 (does not count as a st), htr into same space (to the right side of ribbon), ch1. 

NB/The next st is to be placed in between ribbon).

*ch1,htr in between ribbon*

repeat *- * until last ribbon at the top. Don’t worry too much about the ribbon seeming loose at the sides, just keep placing those htr’s between the ribbons! The last htr being placed to the left side of the last ribbon.

Dc in the sts across the lid of the cosy.

Now place htr to right of top ribbon on opposite side,*ch1, htr in between ribbon*. 

Repeat * – * to end. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Repeat the whole of the edging process on the other side of the cosy, but do not fasten off as this is where the tab is created.. 

Tab: To complete the tab ch2 (does not count as st) turn work, 

Tab Row 1: *htr in ch sp, htr in next st* repeat * – * x3 more times (8htr in total) 

Tab Row 2: ch2 (does not count as a st) turn work, htr in each st along (8htr) 

Tab Row 3: repeat Tab Row 2.

Tab Row 4: Turn work, slst in next 2 sts, ch8, miss 4 sts, slst in next 2sts, fasten off and weave in ends.

Attach button centrally on opposite side to tab.

Now to sew handle opening.  To do this sew the two edges on opposite side of cosy to tab and button.  Sew from bottom up to the 4th or 5th ribbon or until the bottom of your handle.

Finally to neaten the edges around the spout, join cream yarn to st just above the tab. 

Ch2, htr in each st around until st just above button, fasten off and weave in ends. 

Repeat the process to neaten the edges around the handle, this time joining the cream yarn to any st in the opening for the handle, ch2, htr in each st around, joining with a slst in top of ch2 to finish.  Fasten off. 

Finally to add the pompom. 

Now you could just make a pompom, but I just tied the first part of a bow over and over until I had a fluffy ball.

I threaded some yarn through it and secured it to the top of the tea cosy where it looked rather quite proud.

Et voila! A beautiful tea cosy to warm your brew!  

 

xxxxx

I REALLY HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED MAKING THIS PATTERN AS MUCH AS I HAVE ENJOYED CREATING IT FOR YOU.  IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT SOMETHING OR NOTICE ANY ERRORS PLEASE SHOUT UP.  EQUALLY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR Grandma Florence Tea cosy CREATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW or on social media using the hashtags #ayarnyrobin or @yarnyrobin…I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM!

Grandma Florence Tea Cosy is part of the Grandma Collection ©2018 designed by Nicola Florence @ayarnyrobin