Random Stitch Tea Cosy

This is a small tea cosy I knitted up for my parents. It's about 25cm across but very stretchy, so it should fit any smallish teapot. The wool is from The Woolshed on Orkney, it's a very tweedy and rustic worsted weight . Being a bit of a maths obsessive, I designed the pattern algorithmically: it's a repeating pattern of four stitches across by four high, I tossed a coin to see whether to knit or purl each of the sixteen stitches. The pattern ended up being fairly close to 2x2 rib, but with a few knits and purls randomly mixed up, I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out...

Yarn Less than one ball (=50 g , about 100m) The Woolshed Worsted Weight North Ronaldsay Wool

Needles One pair 5mm/ US 8 needles.

Gauge 15 stitches x 20 rows = 10 cm x10 cm in stocking stitch.

Dimensions 25 cm across

Notation 

k = knit
p = purl
CO = cast on
k2tog = knit two stitches together
k2tog tbl = knit two stitches together through the back of the loops
p2tog = purl two stitches together
p2tog tbl = purl two stitches together through the back of the loops 


Directions

Rib Pattern:
Row 1:  *P3 K1* repeat to end.
Row 2: K2 *P1 K3* to last 2 stitches, P1 K1.
Row 3: *K1 P1* to end.
Row 4:  P2 *K1 P3* to last 2 stitches, K1 P1.


Make two sides, each one as follows:


CO 38 stitches.


Note:  The first and last stitches will always be in stocking stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side).


Work in rib pattern for 24 rows (= 6 repeats) always working the first and last stiches in stocking stitch.
i.e.
Row 1: k1, work in rib pattern to last stitch, k1
Row 2: p1, work in rib pattern to last stitch, p1
Row 3: k1, work in rib pattern to last stitch, k1
Row 4: p1, work in rib pattern to last stitch, p1


Repeat these four rows 6 times.


Now it gets a little interesting; decrease in pattern as follows:

Decrease row 1: k1 k2tog p1k1  *p3k1*  to last 5 stitches, p2  k2tog tbl k1


Decrease row 2: p2 *k1p1* to end of row

Decrease row 3:k1  k2tog  *k3 p1* to last 5 stitches,  k2 k2tog tbl  k1

Decrease row 4: p1  k1 * p3 k1*  to last 4 stitches,   p4

Decrease row 5: k1  k2tog   *p3k1*  to last 3 stitches, k2 tog tbl k1

Decrease row 6: p2   *k1p1*   to end of row.

Decrease row 7:k1  k2tog   k1 p1  *k3 p1* to last 3 stitches, k2tog tbl k1

Decrease row 8:  * p3 k1* to last 2 stitches, p2

Decrease row 9:k1  k2tog p1 k1  *p3k1*   to last 5  stitches, p2  k2tog tbl k1

Decrease row 10: p2  *k1p1*  to end of row

Decrease row 11:k1 k2tog    *k3 p1* to last 5 stitches, k2 k2tog tbl   k1

Decrease row 12: p1  k1  * p3 k1*   to last 4 stitches,  p4

Decrease row 13:k1   k2tog  *p3k1*  to last 3  stitches, k2tog tbl k1

Decrease row 14: p1   p2tog  p1    *k1p1*    to last 4 stitches, k1  p2tog tbl   p1

Decrease row 15: k1 k2tog  p1 *k3 p1*  to last 6 stitches, k3 k2 tog tbl    k1


Decrease row 16: p1  p2tog   * p3 k1*  to last 5 stitches, p2 p2tog tbl    p1

Decrease row 17:k1 k2tog  *p3k1*   to last 3 stitches, k2tog tbl    k1

Decrease row 18: p1  p2tog   p1  *k1p1*  to last 4 stitches,   k1 p2tog tbl    p1

Decrease row 19:k1  k2tog  p1  *k3 p1* to last 6 stitches, k3 k2tog tbl      k1

Decrease row 20: p1 p2tog  * p3 k1*   to last 5 stitches, p2  p2tog tbl   p1

Bind off 10 remaining stitches. 


Sew both sides together, and you're done!