Mrs Snowlady tea cosy

Mrs Snowlady Tea Cosy by Alison Davis

What is Being Made

The Mrs Snowlady tea cosy is a knitted cover designed to fit a 6-cup teapot. This is an original design by independent designer Alison Davis that combines functional teapot insulation with decorative snowlady-themed embellishments. The cosy features a charming character design, making it both a practical kitchen accessory and a festive decorative piece.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft. The design is classified as intermediate difficulty, indicating it requires foundational knitting knowledge and comfort with various techniques beyond basic knit and purl stitches. The pattern incorporates multiple construction elements including the main cosy body, a separate head piece, a shawl component, a hat, facial features, and decorative leaves and flower accents.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Mrs Snowlady tea cosy employs a range of knitting stitches and techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters:

• Stocking Stitch (SS): Used for creating smooth, finished fabric surfaces on various components of the design
• Garter Stitch (GS): Created by knitting every row, this textured stitch is used for specific pattern sections
• Increases (KFB): Knitting into the front and then the back of a stitch to add stitches and shape the cosy
• Decreases (K2tog and P2tog): Knitting or purling two stitches together to reduce stitch count and shape the garment
• Yarn Over (YO): Bringing yarn to the front of work to create decorative eyelet details and lace effects
• Bind and Tie (B&T): A finishing technique where yarn is threaded through remaining stitches, pulled tight, and tied off, with a tail left for sewing up components

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This pattern is worked in DK (double knit) weight yarn, a versatile medium weight suitable for creating detailed garments with good stitch definition. The pattern has been tested with multiple DK yarn options, providing flexibility for crafters:

• King Cole Cuddles DK with tension of 28 rows x 20 stitches over a 10x10cm square on 4mm needles
• Hayfield Bonus DK with tension of 28 rows x 20 stitches over a 10x10cm square on 4mm needles
• Deramores Studio DK with tension of 28 rows x 22 stitches over a 10x10cm square on 4mm needles

The pattern requires three pairs of needles in different sizes to accommodate various components:

• 4.5mm needles: Used for knitting the main cosy body and head pieces
• 4mm needles: Used for the shawl component and as the tension gauge needle
• 3mm needles: Used for smaller, more detailed elements including the hat, carrot nose, leaves, and flower embellishments

The pattern notes that when using snowflake yarn, the purl side should be treated as the right side due to its fluffier texture, offering an alternative aesthetic option for crafters. This downloadable PDF pattern provides complete instructions for creating this charming, intermediate-level tea cosy project.