Broken Rib Tea Cosy

I’ve adapted the pattern from a few different vintage patterns I have in my collection. It took approximately 2.5 skeins of Noro Kureyon, used double throughout. The pattern is a form of broken rib, which has just enough elasticity to hug the tea pot closely. The resulting fabric is very thick and quite stiff – dreadful for a pullover or scarf, but perfect for insulating a pot of tea.

Here’s the pattern. It will fit a medium sized teapot, but can easily be adjusted for larger or smaller pots. My teapot is 6.5 inches high and 17 inches circumference at its widest point.

You will need 2.5 skeins of Noro Kureyon or similar yarn, 4mm needles and a tapestry needle for sewing seams

Cast on 49 stitches, using a robust method which will give a neat edge. I used a crochet hook cast on.

Rows 1 – 45 – K2, P2 to last stitch, K1

After a few rows, measure the width of your knitting. It should equal half the circumference of your teapot. It won’t matter if it’s a little less because the tea cosy will stretch a bit. However, if it’s significantly larger, you will need to start again and cast on fewer stitches.

Measure your work at this stage. It should measure roughly half an inch less than the height of your teapot. You can easily knit a few more rows if you need to.

Row 46 – K2, then (P3tog, K1) until 3 stitches remain, P2, K1

Row 47 – K2, P2, then (K1, P1) across the row, ending with K1

Row 48 – K1, then (Sl1, K1, PSSO) until 2 stitches remain, K2tog

Row 49 – K1, P until last stitch, K1

Row 50 – K2tog until last stitch, K1

Cast off, using a method which will give you a neat edge. I cast off with the following method:

Knit stitch number 1, then knit stitch number 2. Slip stitch number 1 over stitch number 2, so that only stitch remains on your right hand needle. Knit stitch number 3. Slip stitch number 2 over stitch number 3, so that you are back to just one stitch again. Repeat this process for the remaining stitches. When you have finished and the last stitch is sitting in solitary splendour on your right hand needle, cut your yarn leaving a short tail. Draw that tail through your last stitch, then drop the stitch off the needle and pull the tail tight to secure it. Don’t pull too hard when using Noro Kureyon as it is a weak yarn.

That completes one side of your tea cosy. Repeat the whole process again for the other side.

All you need to do now is sew up the two seams, leaving gaps for the handle and spout of your teapot. You should find that the cosy curves naturally because the fibre is so stiff and because of the broken rib pattern. There will be a small hole at the top of the cosy, formed by the two cast off edges. You can draw this closed if you want to, but it’s intended for the knob on the teapot lid to poke through. If you draw it closed, you might find the knob distorts the cosy a bit.

Have fun!