Rugby Player Tea Cosy

Rugby Player Tea Cosy Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

The Rugby Player Tea Cosy is a knitted fabric covering designed to insulate and decorate a teapot. This pattern creates a tea cosy sized to fit a 2 pint teapot or teapots that hold 6 to 8 cups. The finished piece combines colorwork and structured shaping to produce a functional kitchen accessory with decorative appeal.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project created by independent designer TeaCosyFolk. The pattern uses multiple knitting techniques to construct the tea cosy, including ribbed edging for structure and stocking stitch for the main body sections. The design incorporates colorwork by introducing different colored yarns at strategic points to create visual interest and pattern definition. A key technique involves working with double thickness yarn—the pattern specifies dividing certain yarn balls into two separate balls to create doubled strands that are then knitted as a single strand, adding density and warmth to specific sections.

Stitches Used

• Ribbed stitch: Created using alternating knit and purl stitches (K2, P2 repeat) for the opening edge, providing elasticity and a finished appearance
• Stocking stitch: The primary stitch for the main body sections, creating a smooth, classic knitted fabric

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This intermediate-level pattern requires DK weight yarn in five colors from Stylecraft Special DK:

• 28g Black (divided into double thickness)
• 20g Teal (divided into double thickness)
• 10g White (divided into double thickness)
• 17g Toy
• 12g Mocha

Needles and Notions

Two sizes of knitting needles are required for this project. The main construction uses 5.5mm needles (UK size 5 or US size 9), while finishing details use 4.00mm needles (UK size 8 or US size 6). The pattern also calls for stuffing to add structure and dimension to the finished tea cosy.

Pattern Structure

The main cosy begins by casting on 28 stitches using double thickness Black yarn and the larger needles. The opening edge is worked in ribbed stitch (K2, P2 repeat) for 20 rows to create a secure, stretchy opening. The pattern then transitions to the body by joining double thickness Teal yarn and working 2 knit rows to create a reversed row for the waistline detail. Stocking stitch sections are worked in multiple colors—4 rows in Teal, followed by 4 rows in White—building the colorwork design that gives this tea cosy its distinctive Rugby Player character.