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Tea cosy

As well as keeping your tea hot, a homemade tea cosy brings an air of warmth and originality to the kitchen table. Choose colours that work with your cups and kitchen décor.

You will need

 About 60g (2¼oz) yarn (this was knitted using Aran tweed but any Aran yarn would also work)

 Yarn scraps in contrasting colours for the embroidery and pompom

 4.5mm (UK size 7; US size 7) needles (you can change the needle size to make the cosy larger or smaller; the one pictured fits a six-teacup teapot)

Tension

10sts and 12 rows = 5cm (2in)

Abbreviations

To make

• With 4.5mm (UK size 7; US size 7) needles and yarn, cast on 84sts and work 5 rows to form the border.

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: Purl.

Repeat these 2 rows once more then divide (work for spout and handle).

Row 5: K42 and keep remaining sts on a stitch holder.

Row 6: K2, p38, k2.

Repeat the last 2 rows 10 times more, ending on a purl row. Keep these sts on a stitch holder and repeat on the opposite side until the work measures the same front and back. End on a purl row.

Next row: Knit across the whole work.

Next row: Purl.

Then start decreasing as follows:

Row 1: K11, k2tog, * k12, k2tog *, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (78sts)

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K10, k2tog, * k11, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (72sts)

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: K9, k2tog, * k10, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (66sts)

Row 6: Purl.

Row 7: K8, k2tog, * k9, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (60sts)

Row 8: Purl.

Row 9: K7, k2tog, * k8, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (54sts)

Row 10: Purl.

Row 11: K6, k2tog, * k7, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (48sts)

Row 12: Purl.

Row 13: K1, k2tog across work to the last st, k1. 27sts remain.

• Cut your thread and then thread it through all the sts, pulling it tightly.

• Use this thread to sew the side seam as far as the opening for the spout, where the 2-st garter st edging finishes.

• Sew the bottom side seam to where the 2-st garter st edging begins.

• Work your motif (here, a teacup; see pattern) using chain st and a contrasting colour of wool.

• Tack the shape first, if you like, working out from the centre of the tea cosy to ensure the motif is central. Work a box in running st around the image in a contrasting colour of wool.

• Make a pompom and attach securely to the top.