Why not knit this lovely tea cosy knitting pattern, it’s an easy knitting pattern that looks great knit in any colours of your choice.
The design is simple, with pleated panels in two colours that are stitched together leaving openings for the handle and spout.
This would be suitable for an advanced beginner as well as a seasoned knitter!
Scroll down for the free pattern or you can purchase a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.
A Traditional Tea Cosy
This is a traditional tea cosy that is easy to make and looks great, with added flowers or pom poms to decorate the top.
It has a 1950’s style and it is a retro pattern you may have seen before many times throughout the years!
The pattern is easy to follow, knitted flat on straight needles, using DK/Light Worsted/10 Ply yarn.
An Easy Level Knitting Pattern
This is an easy pattern for those of you who are advanced beginner level, and the techniques you will need to know are working in garter stitch and K2tog.
Using knit stitches, it will also introduce you to decreasing and shaping.
The tea cosy pattern is great for any advanced beginners who are looking for a more difficult beginner pattern.
You will also need to know how to carry yarn when working with the two colours in this pattern.
How Do You Carry Yarn On The Wrong Side?
Carrying the yarn across the row on the wrong side of the fabric is probably the easiest method to use when working with different colours.
To carry a strand on the wrong side of the fabric, work over the strand every few stitches (as given in the pattern) with the second colour.
Video Tutorial
Please see the video tutorial over on my YouTube channel here and don’t forget to subscribe!
The Yarn I Used
I have knit this tea cosy pattern in many different colours over the years.
You can use up leftover DK yarns (Lightweight Worsted/10 Ply yarns) in your stash and make lots of tea cosies in different colours.
The green and white yarn combination with pink knitted flowers on top are the most popular and for that, I used the following yarns:
- 2 x Debbie Bliss Rialto DK colour – Apple 100g Yarn A
- 1 x Debbie Bliss Rialto DK colour -Ecru 50g Yarn B
- (NB; any DK/Light Worsted/10 Ply yarn could be substituted)
- For the flower decoration:
- Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn in Rose (dark pink) Less than 50g – Yarn A
- Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn in Vintage Pink (light pink) Less than 50g – Yarn B
- 2 x buttons of your choice
More Tea Cosy Patterns
You may also like these free patterns for tea cosies:
- Cable knit tea cosy pattern
- Tea cosy pattern
- Tea cozy pattern | Monet’s garden
- Cupcake tea cosy pattern
- Bunny tea cosy knitting pattern
- Fluffy tea cosy pattern
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
This pattern is great for any advanced beginner knitters.
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
Tea Cosy Knitting Pattern
Purchase the inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.
Skill Level – Easy
Notes
This simple tea cosy pattern is knit in two pieces and stitched together to leave openings for the handle and spout.
The pleats are formed by each colour being drawn tightly across the back of the colour just used.
All strands are carried across on the WS and always carry colours to the end of the rows.
- Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
- If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
- You may sell items produced using this pattern.
- Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
- For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.
Size – To fit the circumference of teapot 18 inches.
Gauge – 22 sts in 30 rows to 10cm/4 inches
The Supplies You Need
Yarn
- 2 x Debbie Bliss Rialto DK colour – Apple 100g Yarn A
- 1 x Debbie Bliss Rialto DK colour -Ecru 50g Yarn B
- (NB; any DK/Light Worsted/10 Ply yarn could be substituted)
- For the flower decoration:
- Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn in Rose (dark pink) Less than 50g – Yarn A
- Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn in Vintage Pink (light pink) Less than 50g – Yarn B
- 2 x buttons of your choice
- Yarn weight guide
Needles
- 1 pair of 4mm (US 6) knitting needles
- 1 pair 3 1/4 mm (US 4) needles (for the flower decoration)
Notions
Pattern Instructions
Abbreviations >
- Approx = Approximately
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- Cont = Continue(ing)
- K = Knit
- K2tog = Knit next 2 stitches together
- Rem = Remaining
- Rep = Repeat
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
Make 2 pieces
With 4mm (US 6) needles and Yarn A cast on 98 sts and work 7 rows in garter st, ending with RS facing for the start of the pattern.
Join in Yarn B and work the pattern as follows,
- Row 1: K1A, K6B * K7A, K7B; rep from * to last 7 stitches, K6A, K1B.
- Row 2: K1B, K6A * K7B, K7A, rep from * to last 7sts, K6B, K1A
These 2 rows form the pattern.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until work measures 5 1/2 inches (14cm) from beg, ending with row 2 and RS facing for next row.
Shape top
- Row 1: Yarn A K2tog, Yarn B K3, K2tog * Yarn A K2tog K3 K2tog, Yarn B K2tog, K3, K2tog, rep from * to last 7 sts, Yarn A K2tog K3, Yarn B K2tog. (70sts)
- Row 2: Yarn B K1, Yarn A K4, *Yarn B K5, Yarn A K5, rep from * to last 5 sts, Yarn B K4, Yarn A K1.
- Row 3: Yarn A K2tog, Yarn B K1 K2tog * Yarn A K2tog K1 K2tog, Yarn B K2tog K1 K2tog, rep from * to last 5 sts, Yarn A K2tog K1, Yarn B K2tog. (42sts)
- Row 4: Yarn B K1, Yarn A K2 Yarn B K3, Yarn A K3, rep from to last 3 sts, Yarn B K2, Yarn A K1.
- Row 5: Yarn A K2tog, Yarn B K1, *Yarn A K2tog K1, Yarn B K2tog K1, rep from * to last 3 sts, Yarn A K2tog, Yarn B K1. (28sts)
- Row 6: Yarn B K1, Yarn A K1, *Yarn B K2, Yarn A K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, Yarn B K1, Yarn A K1.
- Row 7: (Yarn A K2tog) twice, *Yarn B K2tog, Yarn A K2tog; rep from * to last 4 sts (Yarn B K2tog) twice. (14sts)
Break off yarn and thread through remaining 14 sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely.
Making up >
Do not press; join the side seams leaving openings for the handle and spout of the teapot.
Flower Decoration >
You will need:
- Sublime extra fine merino wool DK shade 0009 lot 18770 (dark pink) Yarn A
- Sublime baby cashmere merino silk DK shade 0048 lot 37172 (light pink) Yarn B
- 2 x buttons of your choice
- Needles: 1 pair 3 1/4 mm (US 4) needles
Flower 1 (Large)
Using 3 1/4 mm (US 4) needles and yarn of your colour choice (Yarn B)
Cast on 110 sts.
- Row 1: (WS) Knit.
- Row 2: *K1, cast off next 20 stitches (one st on right needle after cast off), rep from * 4 times more.
Break yarn and thread through rem 5 sts.
Pull up tight and fasten off securely.
Flower 2 (medium)
Using 3 1/4mm (US 4) needles and yarn of your choice (Yarn A), cast on 80sts
- Row 1: (WS): Knit.
- Row 2: *k1, cast off next 14 sts (one st on right needle after cast off) rep from * 4 times more.
Break yarn and thread through rem 5 sts.
Pull up tight and fasten off securely.
Flower 3 (small)
Using 3 1/4 mm (US 4) needles and yarn of your colour choice (Yarn B)
Cast on 50 sts.
- Row 1: (WS): Knit.
Row 2: *K1, cast off next 8 sts (one st on right needle after cast off), rep from * 4 times more.
Break yarn and thread through rem 5 sts.
Pull up tight and fasten off securely.
Making up your flower
- Do not press.
- Lay the small flower on top of the medium flower and then on top of the large flower and sew together in the centre.
- Attach a button to the centre of the flowers and sew into place.
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the tea cosy, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook group and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Happy Knitting! xoxo
Kim says
Hello! Can you tell me what size tea pot this pattern is suitable for? Thanks!
handylittleme says
Hello, the teapot that I used to model the cosy measures – 18.5 inches circumference, not including the handle and spout. I think it it is a 4 cup teapot. Hope that helps! 🙂
Barbra Fraser says
Love the mauve and off white combo. What are the exact colours used in this version. Looks like you added a darker coloured row after the border. Thanks.
handylittleme says
Hello Barbra, I don’t know if you can see in the photograph but I stitched some dark purple beads along the edge of the border, only on the lighter colour join. I used a lilac and a lime yarn, I don’t remember the exact yarn brand as I made it a long time ago but it was probably something like Sublime extra fine merino wool DK, or maybe the baby cashmere merino silk DK in 004 and 346 and I used size 4mm (US6) needles. I hope that helps and thanks for visiting my site! 🙂
Barbra Fraser says
Thanks for this. Love that you added the beaded detail. How did you do that?
handylittleme says
Hello Barbra, I added the beads just by hand stitching them into place…..no fancy adding them in when I was knitting! I had some small purple beads left over from another craft project and wanted to try and use them up, so added them to the tea cosy for a little bit of glamour! 🙂 They have a slight sparkle, so I was happy that they added a little bit of extra detail. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for taking a look around 🙂
Michelle says
Hi! Knitting your nice tea cozy!
Just getting to the shaping of the top and I am confused with the instructions. Each right side row begins with one stitch color A and ends with one stitch color B, and one B and A for wrong side row. For the top shaping start Row 1 it reads “Yarn A k2tog, Yarn B k3, k2tog * Yarn A k2tog k3 k2tog, Yarn B k2tog, K3, k2tog, rep from * to last 7 sets, Yarn A k2tog k3, Yarn B k2tog (70 sts). If my right side row starts with one color A, six B, how do I k2tog of A? Do I knit that first color A stitch, then the six color B stitches, then start the first row pattern?
Thanks for your help!
handylittleme says
Hello, so at the start of that row you have one A and 6 B stitches – you can K2tog with one A and one B, then K3, K2tog. This is so you follow the pattern and make those decreases. If you need further help, please email me or use the contact form. I hope that helps and thanks for your comment 🙂
Michaela Morton says
Hiya,
I’m getting a bit confused.
When you say that all strands are carried across on the ws, well what about when you’re knitting on the right side??
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Michaela, when you work the right side, you carry the yarn across the back of the cosy (WS), so that you don’t see any strands on the RS. When knitting on the right side – you move the working yarn to the front when you need it, then move it to the back after you have knit the stitches you need to with that colour. After that, you move that strand to the back, while you move the other colour strand to the front to knit with. This means the yarn is carried across the back of the work. I hope that helps 🙂
mary lou cullen says
I found your free tea cozy. Cant find how to print pattern. I don’t wish to give you my credit card at this time. Is that the only way to get your FREE pattern
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Mary Lou, the free version of the pattern is available to view on the website, this is not a PDF or printable.
If you want the PDF version of the pattern so you can easily print it out – that is for sale in my shop.
The shop link is in the pattern post.
Thanks,
Louise
Hilary says
Loved making the tea cosy but can’t get the flowers right, I only end up with 5 stitches not 10?
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Hilary,
Yes, you are right, you will be left with 5 sts remaining not 10.
I will amend that in the pattern.
Thanks for letting me know!
Louise
Vicky Janes says
Hi , I’m quite confused making the flowers , which I don’t seem to be able to get the hang of …. following the instructions , I do end up with ten stitches remaining !! Please help , where am I going wrong . Is there a you-tube tutorial ?
Thank you
Vicky
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Vicky,
Sorry I don’t have a YouTube tutorial for the flowers.
For the large flower – you will *K1, cast off next 20 stitches* then rep that 4 more times (5 times in total) – meaning you will have used up 105 sts, and have 5 left.
You cast on 110 – So 5 x 21 = 105 / with 5 sts left.
The same for the other flowers – once you have repeated the pattern instructions you should be left with 5 sts.
I hope that helps!
Louise
Rosemary says
don’t see on pattern where the buttons go can i do with out buttons?
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Rosemary,
The buttons are in the ‘making up your flower’ section of the pattern – you can sew a button into the center of the flowers.
You don’t have to add the buttons it is up to you!
I hope that helps,
Louise
Rebecca Clarke says
Such a sweet vintage inspired pattern! Thank you so much! I am however having trouble with the flowers. What is the purpose of the 5 sts remaining? I get a little spiral in the centre of each flower layer. Is that intentional? Also it calls for two buttons, so does that mean it us intended to have two finished flowers one top, each one with three layers and a button on the smallest layer? Many thanks!
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Rebecca,
The remaining 5 stitches help you to fix the flower into place, and yes it is fine to have a little spiral in the center of each flower.
When you place the flowers on top of each other, starting with the largest on the bottom, the medium in the middle, and the smallest on top, you can secure all 3 by placing a button into the center of the smallest flower then stitching through to secure them.
Or you can secure one by one and place the button into the center of the last flower you place on the top.
As you can see in the photos, there are two sets of 3 flowers placed on the top of the tea cosy for decoration.
I hope that helps!
Louise