Product Description
Would you like a nice cup of tea and a sit down? One of the most individual designs of tea cosy, this strawberry themed pot cover is sure to be a talking point at any tea party. The design suggests both a feeling of warmth and intimacy as well as light humour.
Materials: Small amounts of worsted or DK weight yarn in red, yellow, and green. Some possibilities: Rowan Handknit DK Cotton or Soft Baby Wool Mix, Knit Picks Swish Superwash or Wool of the Andes.
Strawberry Tea Cosy Knitting Pattern by Katya Frankel
What is Being Made
This is a free downloadable knitting pattern for a strawberry-themed tea cosy designed by Katya Frankel. The tea cosy is available in three sizes: Small (to fit 2 cup teapot), Medium (to fit 4 cup teapot), and Large (to fit 6 cup teapot). The cosy features a charming strawberry design created through simple colour work, making it both functional and decorative for keeping teapots warm.
Techniques Used
This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create its distinctive strawberry appearance. The pattern uses colour work throughout, incorporating multiple yarn colours to build the design. The cosy is constructed in two flat pieces that are later joined for knitting in the round, which is a common method for creating seamless garments. The pattern utilizes double-pointed needles for the top section, allowing the knitter to work circularly once the two sides are joined. Stitch markers are used to track the beginning of rounds during the circular knitting portion.
Stitches Used
The Strawberry Tea Cosy pattern primarily features the following stitches:
- Stockinette Stitch (St. st.) — This is the main stitch used throughout most of the pattern, creating a smooth, classic knitted fabric that serves as the base for the colour work design
- Garter Stitch — The pattern begins with 3 rows of garter stitch (knit every row) to create a finished edge
- Knit and Purl stitches — Used in combination to work the colour changes, with the pattern alternating between knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side
Materials
This pattern is designed to be worked with worsted weight yarn in multiple colours. The strawberry design requires at least three yarn colours: red (for the main body of the strawberry), yellow (for the small seed details), and green (for the leafy top section). The pattern calls for double-pointed needles in an appropriate size for worsted weight yarn, with the knitter needing either 3 or 4 needles depending on preference for the circular knitting section. Standard knitting supplies including stitch markers and scissors are also necessary to complete the project.