Knit a christmas pudding tea cosy

'Tis the season to be jolly... and what could be more jolly than this Christmas pud tea cosy? Follow the pattern for a kitsch knit that will brighten the greyest of winter days and make every cuppa that extra bit more festive!

You will need

- Stylecraft, Life DK Chocolate (2326) and White (2300), 1 x 100g/ 298m ball of each
- Red and green oddments of aran yarn
- 5mm circular needle
- A pair of 4½mm needles

Tension

Yarn used knits as DK doubled to this tension:

16 sts and 21 rows to measure 4x4in (10x10cm) over stocking stitch using 5mm needles

For the pudding...

Cast on 70 sts using 5mm circular needles and the Chocolate yarn doubled.

Join into a round.

Round 1: Knit.

Row 2: Purl.

Rep these 2 rounds three more times. [8 rounds]

For the sides (using 35 sts)

Next row: K 35, turn.

Next row: P 35, turn.

Continue on these 35 sts in st st until 21 rows have been worked, break yarn.

Rejoin the yarn to the other side and rep as above to the second side. Do not break the yarn.

Rejoin into the round and work 1 round.

Change to 2 strands of white yarn.

Knit 1 round.

Next round: K12, k2tog; rep to end of round. [65 sts]

Next round: K11, k2tog; rep to end of round. [60 sts]

Next round: K10, k2tog; to the end of round. [55 sts]

Continue to decrease in this manner until 5 sts rem.

Break yarn and thread through the stitch and pull tight. Secure the loose end. Weave in any loose ends.