Free tea cosy knitting pattern

Add a splash of spring colour to your home with our free tea cosy knitting pattern by Val Pierce, first published in Knit Today issue 38. Or why not make your mum’s day by knitting it for Mother’s Day? Add as many flowers and leaves as you like to the top of the cosy. There are two kinds of spring flowers to choose from, daffodils and crocuses, both ideal for using up oddments of yarn from your stash.

This tea cosy uses a pretty slip stitch pattern, so for all you need to know about slip stitch knitting take a look at our beginner’s guide. You’ll let the bright green yarn peek through the cream by bringing the yarn around the slipped stitches – it’s an easy technique to get the hang of, but you could always practise on a swatch before you start. The result looks more elegant than stripes, and gives the tea cosy a dainty finish.

For more garden-themed tea cosies we think you’ll love, see our round-up of floral tea cosy knitting patterns. You can also find out how to knit an Easter tea cosy, and keep your morning coffee hot with our cafetiere cosy knitting pattern and Fair Isle mug hug.

To make the free tea cosy knitting pattern you’ll need:

• Patons Diploma Gold DK (55% wool, 25% acrylic, 20% nylon, 50g/120m)
  2 balls of Cream (6142)
  1 ball of each: Apple Green (6125), Lemon (6222), Blue (6220), Violet (6242) and Dark Green (6246)
  Buy this yarn from Deramores UK or Deramores US.
• Patons Fairytale Dreamtime DK (100% wool, 50g/90m), 1 ball of Orange (4951). This yarn has been discontinued but you could substitute any orange DK yarn.
• A pair of 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles Buy from The Knitting Network.
• A pair of 4mm (US 6) knitting needles Buy from The Knitting Network.
• A 4mm crochet hook Buy from The Knitting Network.

Free tea cosy knitting pattern

This pattern features our standard knitting abbreviations. Techniques you’ll need to know include how to cast on knitting, how to cast off knitting, how to do a knit stitch, how to purl in knitting, how to increase a stitch in knitting and how to decrease in knitting.

Tension is not crucial for this project.

Finished tea cosy size

To fit an average teapot

Tea cosy front and back

Cast on 133 sts for lower edge using using Apple Green and 4mm needles.
Break off Apple Green and join in Cream. Work as follows:
Row 1 *P3, K10; repeat from *, ending P3.
Row 2 K3, *P10, K3; repeat from * to end.
Row 3 *P3, skpo, K6, k2tog; repeat from *, ending P3.
Row 4 K3, *P8, K3; repeat from * to end.
Row 5 *P3, skpo, K4, k2tog; repeat from *, ending P3.
Row 6 K3, *P6, K3; repeat from * to end.
Row 7 *P3, skpo, K2, k2tog; repeat from *, ending P3.
Row 8 K3, *P4, K3; repeat from * to end.
Row 9 *P3, skpo, k2tog; repeat from *, ending P3.
Row 10 K3, *P2, K3; repeat from * to end.
Row 11 *P3, skpo; repeat from *, ending P3. [43 sts]
Row 12 K3, *P1, K3, repeat from * to end.
Row 13 Purl.
Row 14 Purl.
Row 15 Knit.
Row 16 Purl.

Join in Apple Green and begin patterning.
Row 1 Using Apple Green, (K3, sl1) to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 2 Using Apple Green, (K3, yb, sl1, yf) to last 3 stitches, K3.
Row 3 Using Cream, K1, sl1, (K3, sl1) to last st, K1.
Row 4 Using Cream, P1, sl1, (P3, sl1) to last st, P1.
Rows 5-8 Work in stocking stitch.
Row 9 Using Apple green, K1, sl1, (K3, sl1) to last stitch, K1.
Row 10 Using Apple green, K1, yb, sl1, yf (K3, yb, sl1, yf) to last st, K1.
Row 11 Using Cream, (K3, sl1) to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 12 Using Cream, (P3, sl1) to last 3 sts, P3
Rows 13-16 Work in st st.
Repeat last 16 rows once more, and decrease 1 st in centre of last row. [42 sts]

Shape tea cosy top

Row 1 (K2, k2tog) to last 2 sts, K2. [32 sts]
Rows 2-4 Work in st st.
Row 5 (K1, k2tog) to last 2 sts, K2. [22 sts]
Rows 6-8 Work in st st.
Row 9 K2tog all across row. [11 sts]
Row 10 Purl.
Row 11 (K2tog) five times, K1. [6 sts]
Break yarn and run through remaining stitches, pull up tight and fasten off. Work another piece to match.

Daffodils (make five)

Flower centre

**Cast on 14 sts using 3¼mm needles and chosen colour.
Work 4 rows in st st.
Change to 4mm needles.
Row 5 Purl.
Row 6 K1, (yf, k2tog) to last st, K1.
Row 7 Purl.
Row 8 Knit.
Change to 3¼mm needles.
Row 9 Purl.
Row 10 Knit.
Row 11 Purl. Break off the yarn, leaving a tail. Run this strand of yarn through the remaining stitches on your needle and draw up tight. Fasten off.**

Petals (make six for each flower)

Cast on 7 sts using 3¼mm needles.
Work six rows in garter stitch.
Now k2tog at beginning of next and each following row until 1 st remains, fasten off.

Make five more petals, as instructed above.

Crocus flowers (make six)

Using chosen colours, work as Daffodil from ** to **.

Leaves (make two light green and two dark green)

Cast on 5 sts using 3¼mm needles and either Apple Green or Dark Green.

Row 1 Purl.
Row 2 K2, M1, K1, M1, K2. [7 sts]
Row 3 and following alternate rows Knit.
Row 4 K3, M1, K1, M1, K3. [9 sts]
Row 6 K4, M1, K1, M1, K4. [11 sts]
Row 8 K5, M1, K1, M1, K5. [13 sts]
Row 10 Knit.
Row 12 Knit.
Row 14 K2tog, work to last 2 sts, k2tog. [11 sts]
Rows 16 and 18 As row 14.
Row 19 K2tog, K3, k2tog. [7 sts]
Row 20 K2tog, K1, k2tog. [5 sts]
Row 21 P3tog.
Fasten off.

To make up the tea cosy

Work in any ends, turn cosy pieces with the right sides facing inside. Sew the side seams, matching all colours and pattern stripes, but leaving long enough openings on each side for the handle and spout to come through. Turn the cosy right side out.

Using Apple Green and a 4mm crochet hook, work a round of double crochet (find out how to double crochet with our guide) around the handle and spout openings to neaten them, and fasten off.

Make the flowers. For the daffodils, sew the seam on the centre of the flower, then turn it back on itself to make a picot edging. Secure the edges with a few small stitches. Arrange the petals around the centre, and sew them into place, using the photo as a guide. Using orange Fairytale Dreamtime DK yarn, make a couple of French knots (see our how to do French knots tutorial) in the centre of each flower. For the crocuses, sew up the centres and make as instructed above for the daffodils. Embroider French knots in spare Diploma Gold DK yarn in Lemon in the middle of each of the flowers.

Arrange the flowers and leaves on top of the finished cosy, using the picture as a guide. Stitch each one into place with matching yarn or thread.

Download your free tea cosy knitting pattern:

To download your free tea cosy pattern, click on the link and it will open in a new window: Free tea cosy knitting pattern PDF

More flower patterns

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If you liked this free tea cosy knitting pattern, check out our knitting patterns and how to knit guides for more inspiration.