Rib and Pompom Tea Cosy

Rib and Pompom Tea Cosy by Sian Brown

What is Being Made

This is a knitted tea cosy designed to fit snugly over a teapot to keep tea warm. The finished cosy measures 22cm wide by 18cm deep and features a charming two-pompom design with a decorative plaited yarn tie threaded through eyelets at the top. The pattern creates two identical pieces that are sewn together to form the cosy, with custom openings for the teapot's handle and spout.

Knitting Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly project employs several fundamental knitting techniques. The main body is worked in rib stitch, which creates vertical columns of texture and provides gentle elasticity to hug the teapot securely. An eyelet row is incorporated near the top of the cosy, created using yarn overs and knit two together decreases, forming small decorative holes through which the plaited tie is threaded. The pattern demonstrates basic cast on and cast off techniques, along with simple shaping through stitch manipulation.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k): The fundamental stitch forming the base of the fabric
• Purl stitch (p): Used in alternation with knit stitches to create the rib pattern
• Yarn over needle (yon): Creates the eyelets for threading the decorative tie
• Knit two together (k2tog): A decrease stitch used alongside yarn overs to form the eyelet pattern
• Rib stitch: A repeating pattern of knit and purl stitches (k2, p2) worked throughout the main body and top border

Materials and Specifications

This project uses Rico Essentials Super yarn in super chunky weight, shade Yellow (034). One 100-gram ball provides sufficient yardage to complete the entire tea cosy. The pattern calls for size 9mm knitting needles, which are appropriately sized for the super chunky yarn weight. The recommended tension is 9 stitches and 12 rows over a 10 by 10 centimeter square of stocking stitch, though the rib stitch used in this pattern will naturally compress slightly more than stockinette.

Construction and Assembly

The cosy is constructed by knitting two identical rectangular pieces, each beginning with a cast on of 31 stitches. The main body is worked in continuous rib stitch for 15 centimeters from the cast on edge. An eyelet row is then introduced to create openings for the decorative tie. The top border continues in rib stitch for an additional 3 centimeters before casting off. Assembly involves making two pompoms and cutting them to size, creating a plaited tie from three 85-centimeter strands of yarn, pinning the cosy to the teapot, marking and cutting openings for the handle and spout, sewing the side seams together, and finally attaching the pompoms and threading the tie through the eyelets to complete the finished piece.