Tea Cosy Knitting Pattern

Why not knit this lovely tea cosy knitting pattern, it’s an easy knitting pattern that looks great knit in any color of your choice.

The design is simple, with pleated panels in two colors 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 grab your 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 many times throughout the years and on the TV series Call The Midwife.

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 colors 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 colors.

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 color.

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 knitted this tea cosy pattern in many different colors 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 colors.

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 color – Apple 100g Yarn A
• 1 x Debbie Bliss Rialto DK color -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

Grab your inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern 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 color being drawn tightly across the back of the color just used.

All strands are carried across on the WS and always carry colors to the end of the rows.

Copyright Info

• 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 please read my Terms of Use.

Size – To fit the circumference of the teapot 18 inches.

Gauge – 22 sts in 30 rows to 10cm/4 inches

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

• 2 x Debbie Bliss Rialto DK color – Apple 100g Yarn A
• 1 x Debbie Bliss Rialto DK color -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

• Darning needle
• Scissors
• Tape measure

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)

Pattern

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,

1. Row 1: K1A, K6B * K7A, K7B; rep from * to last 7 stitches, K6A, K1B.
2. 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 the next row.

Shape top

1. 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)
2. 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.
3. 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)
4. 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.
5. 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)
6. 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.
7. 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 the 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 color choice (Yarn B)
Cast on 110 sts.

1. Row 1: (WS) Knit.
2. 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

1. Row 1: (WS): Knit.
2. 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 color choice (Yarn B)
Cast on 50 sts.

1. 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 them together in the center.
• Attach a button to the center of the flowers and sew it into place.

Share your work with us…

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