TEA COZY for MRS. SWANSON
by Penelope Stitchworthy
from: THE FIRST STITCH by Penelope Stitchworthy
www.penelopestitchworthy.com
“…As she handed me the tea cozy she said, „As we get older, we
need a sweater to ward off the drafts. Well, I think your old
teapot needs a sweater today, too.‟ And when I put that cozy on
the pot, I saw that she had added a bouquet of pink roses, just
like the roses Nels gave me on my wedding day. That‟s when
that old pot became new all over again.”
from THE FIRST STITCH by Penelope Stitchworthy
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Fits 4-6 cup teapot
Cozy begins in the round and is worked in the round through row 7,
then changes to back and forth knitting on rows 8 through 20.
Work resumes in the round with round 21.
Materials:
•
16” circular needle size 8, or size to obtain gauge
•
Double-pointed needle size 8, or size to obtain gauge
•
Two markers – Marker A and Marker B, each a different color
•
Point protectors (to secure stitches on straight needles)
•
Worsted weight yarn. Photo above features Lion Brand Cotton-Ease.
•
Embellishment for top and sides if desired
Gauge: 4 stitches = 1” (exact gauge not critical)
Abbreviations:
k2t: knit two stitches together
inc: increase one stitch by knitting into front and back of each stitch
yo: yarn over. Wrap yarn once before working the next stitch
p2t: purl two stitches together
smA or smB: slip marker (A or B)
T2: Slip two stitches (to the right): Knit into the front of second stitch on left needle
(but do not slip off needle!), then knit into front of first stitch on left needle, then slip
both stitches off left needle at same time. Another way to do it, with cable needle: Slip
first stitch from left needle onto cable needle and hold at back, then knit next stitch on
left needle, then knit stitch from cable needle.
C4: Cable 4 right: Slip next 2 stitches to back on cable needle, knit 2, then knit 2 from
cable needle.
T3B: Twist 3 back: Slip next stitch to back on cable needle, knit 2, then knit 1 from
cable needle.
T3F: Twist 3 front: Slip next 2 stitches to front on cable needle, knit 1, then knit 2 from
cable needle.
T3FP: Twist 3 front/purl: Slip next 2 stitches to front on cable needle, purl 1, then knit
2 from cable needle.
T3BP: Twist 3 back/purl: Slip next stitch to back on cable needle, knit 2, then purl 1
from cable needle.
To make Irish knot: (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, p1) all into same stitch, making 6 stitches
from one. Without turning, and with point of left needle, lift one-by-one the 5th, 4th
3rd, 2nd and 1st stitches over the 6th stitch. (One stitch remains on right needle.) Pull
knot to front and continue to work rest of row, taking care to work next stitch tighly.
DIRECTIONS
Cast on 84 stitches using the 16” circular needle. Mark beginning of round with Marker
A and work 6 rounds in stockinette stitch (knitting every round.)
Work next 6 rounds in 2X2 rib (*k2, p2*, repeat * to * to end.)
Next round: knit 42, place Marker B, knit 42. Front and back are now evenly divided
and sections are marked by Marker A at beginning of round and Marker B at half-way
mark. The first 42 stitches make up section A; the last 42 stitches make up section B.
Next round, begin patterning:
Round 1: Slip Marker A (smA), k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p5, C4, p5, k4, (p1,T2) twice, k4,
Slip Marker B (smB), k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p5, C4, p5, k4, (p1,T2) twice, k4
Round 2: smA, p4, (k2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4, smB , p4, (k2, p1)
twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4
Round 3: smA, k4, (T2, p1) twice, C4, p4, T3B, T3F, p4, C4, (p1, T2) twice, k4, smB , k4,
(T2, p1) twice, C4, p4, T3B, T3F, p4, C4, (p1, T2) twice, k4
Round 4: smA, p4, (k2, p1) twice, k4, p4, k6, p4, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4, smB, p4, (k2, p1)
twice, k4, p4, k6, p4, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4
Round 5: smA, k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p3, T3B, k2, T3F, p3, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4, smB ,
k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p3, T3B, k2, T3F, p3, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4
Round 6: smA, p4, (k2, p1) twice, k4, p3, k8, p3, k4 (p1, k2) twice, p4, smB, p4, (k2, p1)
twice, k4, p3, k8, p3, k4 (p1, k2) twice, p4
From this point forward patterning is worked flat. That is, in rows vs.
rounds. Section A is worked back and forth through Row 20 while Section B stitches
sit on the circular needle, to be worked later. Note: Work will resume in the round with
Round 21 after both sections A and B have been worked.
Section A:
Working through Row 20 using two #8 double pointed needles
Row 7: drop Marker A, k4, (T2, p1) twice, C4, p2, T3B, k4, T3F, p2, C4, (p1, T2) twice,
k4. Turn
Row 8: k4, (p2, k1) twice, p4, k2, p10, k2, p4, (k1, p2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 9: k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p1, T3B, k6, T3F, p1, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 10: k4, (p2, k1) twice, p4, k1, p12, k1, p4, (k1, p2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 11: k4, (T2, p1) twice, C4, p1, T3FP, k6, T3BP, p1, C4, (p1, T2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 12: k4, (p2, k1) twice, p4, k2, p10, k2, p4, (k1, p2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 13: k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p2, T3FP, k4, T3BP, p2, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 14: k4, (p2, k1) twice, p4, k3, p8, k3, p4 (k1, p2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 15: k4, (T2, p1) twice, C4, p3, T3FP, k2, T3BP, p3, C4, (p1, T2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 16: k4, (p2, k1) twice, p4, k4, p6, k4, p4, (k1, p2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 17: k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p4, T3FP, T3BP, p4, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 18: k4, (p2, k1) twice, p4, k5, p4, k5, p4, (k1, p2) twice, k4. Turn
Row 19: k4, (t2, p1) twice, C4, p5, C4, p5, C4, (p1, T2) twice, k4
Row 20: k4, (p2, k1) twice, p4, k5, p4, k5, p4, (k1, p2) twice, k4
Place stitch holders on each end of double pointed needle to ensure that stitches just
worked are secure on needle. Break yarn at 6”. Weave yarn back through first three
stitches to prevent stitches from stretching out while Section B is worked.
Join new ball of yarn and work Section B starting on right side and dropping Marker B.
Work Rows 7 through 20 as above, ending with a wrong side.
Rejoin, knitting in rounds.
After Section B is completed, work is resumed in the round.
Replace markers while working Round 21 as follows:
Round 21: Replace Marker A, k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4,
replace Marker B, k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4
Round 22: smA, p4, (k2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4, smB, p4,
(k2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4
Round 23: sm A, k4, (T2, p1) twice, C4, p5, C4, p5, C4, (p1, T2) twice, k4, sm B, k4, (T2,
p1) twice, C4, p5, C4, p5, C4, (p1, T2) twice, k4
Round 24: smA, p4, (k2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4, smB, p4,
(k2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4
Round 25: smA, k4, (T2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4, sm B, k4, (T2,
p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, T2) twice, k4
Round 26: smA, p4, (k2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4, smB, p4,
(k2, p1) twice, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, p5, k4, (p1, k2) twice, p4
Round 27: repeat Round 23
Round 28: repeat Round 24
Round 29: repeat Round 25
Round 30: knit entire round, dropping Marker B in the process; keep Marker A in place
to indicate beginning of round
Round 31: purl entire round
Round 32: knit entire round
Round 33: *knit 6, make Irish knot in 7th stitch*, repeat * to * to end
Round 34: knit
Begin decreases:
Round 35: *knit 5, k2t* repeat * to * to end
Round 36: *knit 4, k2t* repeat * to * to end
Round 37: *knit 3, k2t* repeat * to * to end
Round 38: *knit 2, k2t* repeat * to * to end
Round 39: * k2t* repeat * to * to end (= 12 stitches)
Round 40: *k2t* repeat * to * to end (= 6 stitches)
Cut yarn, pull tightly through remaining stitches, secure on wrong side. Attach
embellishment at top center. Weave in ends. Block lightly by placing cozy on pot of hot
tea!