Granddaughters Daisy & Flo

Granddaughters Daisy & Flo Tea Cosy by Alison Davis

What is Being Made

Granddaughters Daisy & Flo is an original knitted tea cosy design by Alison Davis, created to fit a standard 2-cup teapot. The pattern accommodates two teapot sizes: 450ml and 600ml capacities, with instructions provided for both dimensions. This downloadable PDF pattern allows crafters to knit a functional and decorative tea cosy to keep tea warm while adding a charming handmade element to the kitchen.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental and slightly advanced techniques to construct the tea cosy. The pattern utilizes garter stitch as a primary stitch pattern, which involves knitting every row to create a textured, reversible fabric. Shaping is achieved through increases and decreases, including make-one stitches (M1), knit-front-and-back increases (KFB), knit two together decreases (K2tog), and purl two together decreases (P2tog). The pattern also incorporates slip stitch decreases (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) for refined edge shaping. Assembly techniques include binding off by threading yarn through remaining stitches, sewing pieces together with a darning needle, and attaching details such as hair using a crochet hook, adding dimensional embellishment to the finished cosy.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (GS): Knit every row to create the primary fabric texture
• Knit (K): Fundamental knit stitch
• Purl (P): Fundamental purl stitch
• Knit Front and Back (KFB): Increase method working into front and back of single stitch
• Make One (M1): Increase created by picking up the bar between stitches and knitting into the back loop
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): Right-leaning decrease
• Purl Two Together (P2tog): Decrease worked on purl side
• Slip, Knit, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (PSSO): Left-leaning decrease for refined shaping
• Bind and Tie (B&T): Finishing technique threading yarn through remaining stitches, pulling tight, and tying off

Materials and Tools

This tea cosy pattern is worked in DK (double knit) weight yarn, specifically using Hayfield Bonus DK as the reference yarn for tension calculations. The pattern requires three sets of needles in different sizes to accommodate various stages of construction: 4.5mm needles, 4mm needles, and 3mm needles. Tension is established at 22 stitches and 28 rows over a 10-centimeter square when worked on 4mm needles using the reference yarn. Additional tools include a crochet hook for attaching hair details and a darning needle for sewing pieces together during assembly. The main shade (MS) yarn is used throughout the pattern, with the option to incorporate contrasting colors or embellishments for the hair details that characterize Daisy and Flo.