Tea Cozy

Gord is a tea drinker and asked me to knit him a cozy for his teapot … something I’ve never made before. I found an easy “pleated” pattern online and adapted it. I’m happy with it considering it’s my first time. 

Some patterns had a pompom so I made one but we weren’t crazy about it.

I used 4 ply yarn (black and red) and 5mm needles. Gord's teapot holds 5 cups of water (40 ounces) so I'd say it's medium-sized.

I cast on 120 stitches and knitted 5 rows in garter stitch (knit/purl/knit/purl/knit) in black. Then I split the stitches onto two needles (60 on each) for the two sides which will be identical.

Body pattern - 60 stitches

1. First row (right side carrying the yarn in the back): Knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [knit 6 stitches with red, knit 6 stitches with black], knit remaining 3 stitches with black.
2. Second row (wrong side carrying the yarn in the front): Knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [knit 6 stitches with red, knit 6 stitches with black], knit remaining 3 stitches with black. When changing colour from black to red at the start of the row, twist the yarns round each other to avoid having a hole.

Repeat these two rows until you have the height you want. I did 40 rows.

Shaping the top

1. With right side facing and carrying the yarn in the back, knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [with red knit 4 stitches and knit 2 stitches together, with black knit 4 stitches and knit 2 stitches together], knit remaining 3 stitches with black
2. With wrong side facing and carrying the yarn in the front, knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [with red knit 5 stitches, with black knit 5 stitches], knit remaining 3 stitches with black
3. With right side facing and carrying the yarn in the back, knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [with red knit 5 stitches, with black knit 5 stitches], knit remaining 3 stitches with black
4. With wrong side facing and carrying the yarn in the front, knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [with red knit 5 stitches, with black knit 5 stitches], knit remaining 3 stitches with black
5. With right side facing and carrying the yarn in the back, knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [with red knit 5 stitches, with black knit 5 stitches], knit remaining 3 stitches with black
6. With wrong side facing and carrying the yarn in the front, knit 3 stitches with black, repeat [with red knit 5 stitches, with black knit 5 stitches], knit remaining 3 stitches with black
7. With right side facing and carrying the yarn in the back, knit 1 stitch and 2 stitches together with black, repeat [with red knit 2 stitches together and knit 3 stitches, with black knit 2 stitches together and knit 3 stitches], knit 2 stitches together and 1 stitch with black
8. With wrong side facing and carrying the yarn in the front, knit 2 stitches with black, repeat [with red knit 4 stitches, with black knit 4 stitches], knit remaining 2 stitches with black
9. With right side facing and carrying the yarn in the back, knit 2 stitches together with black, repeat [with red knit 2 stitches together and knit 2 stitches, with black knit 2 stitches together and knit 2 stitches], knit 2 stitches together with black
10. With wrong side facing and carrying the yarn in the front, knit 2 stitches together with black, repeat [with red knit 3 stitches together, with black knit 3 stitches together], knit remaining 2 stitches together with black
11. Cut off both yarns, leaving about 12 inches in length on each one. Thread the yarn through the 11 stitches

You have finished one side. Repeat for the second side.

Thread side two's yarn through the first one's 11 top stitches. Pull tight and bind off securely.

Turn the cozy inside out and put it on your teapot. Sew above and below your spout and handle to fit. With mine, I just had to sew a bit above them as the spout and handle were low enough to the bottom.