Tea Cosy with Mountain Devil Flower

Mountain Devil Tea Cosy by TigsTogs

What is Being Made

This is a knitted tea cosy featuring a decorative mountain devil flower motif. The design measures 65 cm in lower circumference and 23 cm in height when stretched (or 18 cm with the hem curled). The tea cosy celebrates the Lambertia Formosa plant, commonly known as the mountain devil flower, which inspired the designer during childhood visits to the Blue Mountains and continues to grow in their south coast garden.

Primary Techniques and Construction

The tea cosy is primarily constructed using knitting as the main craft, with crochet incorporated as a secondary technique. The project is rated at intermediate difficulty level, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques.

The main body is worked in the round using circular needles, requiring knowledge of joining stitches and working seamlessly on circular needles. The design incorporates i-cord construction, which is created using double-pointed needles and adds a decorative cord element to the finished piece. The mountain devil flower embellishment is created using crochet, introducing texture and dimensional detail to the design.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern employs standard knitting stitches worked in the round on circular needles. Construction begins with casting on 77 stitches and joining them in the round. The design utilizes stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping throughout the project. I-cord is created using the specialized technique of working stitches on double-pointed needles, which produces a hollow cord perfect for decorative edging or trim. Crochet is used to construct the mountain devil flower elements, adding textural contrast to the knitted base.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The tea cosy pattern calls for multiple yarns in different weights and fiber content:

• Main body: 1 ball of Heirloom Merino Magic 10 ply in shade 505 (blue) – a worsted weight yarn providing the primary color and structure
• I-cord and leaves: Small amount of Noro Silk Garden colour 403 (green) – a specialty yarn adding color variation and texture
• Mountain devil flowers: Small amount of Heirloom Color Works 8 ply in Lipstick – a DK weight yarn in a vibrant shade for the focal flower motif

The project requires specific needle and hook sizes: one 4.50 mm circular needle (60 cm length) for working the main body in the round, one pair of straight 4.50 mm needles for flat sections, one pair of 4.50 mm double-pointed needles for i-cord construction, and one 3.50 mm crochet hook for the flower embellishment. Additional tools include a yarn needle for finishing and weaving in ends, a stitch marker for tracking pattern placement, and scissors.

Design Inspiration and Personal Significance

The mountain devil flower motif carries personal meaning for the designer, TigsTogs, referencing childhood memories of creating stick figures from Lambertia Formosa seeds, pipe cleaners, and tulle during visits to the Blue Mountains. The design honors this botanical memory while celebrating the continued presence of these flowers in wild growth and the designer's own south coast garden.