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Knit your own tea cosy

I originally saw this idea in a knitting catalogue from the 1940s and wanted to come up with my own design that was a bit more modern. A perfect gift for your mum on Mother's Day!

Knit-ability rating: Advanced

Materials

1 x 50g ball of Rowan Calmer in each of two shades A and B.

Needles

1 pair of 5mm (US 8) needles.

Tension

21 stitches and 30 rows to 10cm/4in square over stocking stitch.

Note: When carrying yarn across back of stitches pull slightly tight to form 'pucker' and twist each shade after every 4th stitch. Always twist both yarns at the beginning of the row.

Pattern

Make 2 pieces. Using A, cast on 80 stitches

• Row 1: *Using A, knit 10, using B, knit 10, repeat from * to end of row
• Row 2: *Using B, purl 10, using A, purl 10, repeat from * to end of row
• Rows 3-10: Repeat rows 1-2, 4 times
• Row 11: *Using B, knit 10, using A, knit 10, repeat from * to end of row
• Row 12: *Using A, purl 10, using B, purl 10, repeat from * to end of row
• Rows 13-20: Repeat rows 11-12, 4 times
• Rows 21-30: Repeat rows 1-2, 5 times
• Rows 31-36: Repeat rows 11-12, 3 times
• Row 37: *Using B, knit 1, knit 2 stitches together through the back of the stitches, knit 5, knit 2 stitches together. Using A, k1, knit 2 stitches together through the back of the stitches, knit 5, knit 2 together, repeat from * to end of row (64 stitches)
• Row 38: * Using A, purl 1, purl 2 stitches together through the back of the stitches, purl 3, purl 2 stitches together, using B, purl 1, purl 2 stitches together through the back of the stitches, purl 3, purl 2 together, repeat from * to end of row (48 stitches)
• Row 39: * Using B, knit 1, knit 2 stitches together through the back of the stitches, knit 1, knit 2 stitches together. Using A, knit 1, knit 2 stitches together through the back of the stitches, knit 1, knit 2 stitches together, repeat from * to end of row of row (32 stitches)
• Row 40: *Using A, [purl 2 stitches together] twice, using B [purl 2 stitches together] twice, repeat from * to end of row (16 stitches) Cast off.

To make up

Join side seams together using mattress stitch, leaving holes for sprout and handle. Run a gathering thread through the cast off edge and pull up tightly. Secure ends.

Pompom

Using A, make a large pompom, and attach to top of cosy.

Projects taken from I Love Knitting by Rachel Henderson (Kyle Cathie, £12.99) with photography by Kate Whitaker.

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