Mrs Mop tea cosy pattern

Mrs Mop Tea Cosy Pattern by Alison Davis

What is Being Made

The Mrs Mop tea cosy is an original knitted design by Alison Davis created to fit a traditionally shaped 6 cup teapot. This intermediate-level knitting project produces a decorative and functional cosy that insulates teapots while adding a charming handmade element to tea service.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is completed using the knitting craft. The design employs a two-strand construction method for the main cosy body, which creates a thicker, more durable fabric suitable for heat retention around a teapot. The use of doubled yarn adds both structural integrity and visual interest to the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The Mrs Mop tea cosy utilizes fundamental knitting stitches and techniques appropriate for an intermediate skill level:

• Garter Stitch (GS) — created by knitting every row, this stitch provides a textured, reversible fabric
• Knit Stitch (K) — the basic foundation stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl Stitch (P) — used in combination with knit stitches to create stitch variety and texture
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) — a right-leaning decrease technique used to shape the cosy
• Purl Two Together (P2tog) — a decrease worked on purl rows for shaping
• Knit Front and Back (KFB) — an increase technique that creates new stitches by working into both the front and back loops of a single stitch
• Slip, Slip, Knit (PSSO) — a left-leaning decrease created by lifting a slipped stitch over a knit stitch
• Bind and Tie (B&T) — the finishing technique where yarn is threaded through remaining stitches, pulled tight, and tied off, leaving a tail for sewing seams

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Mrs Mop tea cosy pattern calls for DK weight yarn (double knit), which is a medium-weight yarn suitable for creating garments with good stitch definition and drape. The pattern uses yarn in two different ways:

• Main cosy body: Two strands of DK yarn worked together simultaneously on 4.5mm needles, creating a thicker fabric with a tension of 15 stitches and 24 rows per 10cm square in stockinette stitch
• All other pieces: A single strand of DK yarn on 3mm needles, producing a finer gauge with a tension of 25 stitches and 34 rows per 10cm square in stockinette stitch

The pattern specifies Main Shade (MS) yarn, indicating a primary color for the cosy body. The use of doubled yarn in the main section creates a warm, insulating fabric ideal for protecting hands from a hot teapot while the single-strand sections allow for more delicate detailing on additional pattern pieces.