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Sunday, 28 November 2010

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!




                   

3 comments:

  1. How does one purl two together thru the back loop?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So normally when you purl two together, you push the right needle through the stitches from right to left, and you left needle is in front of the right needle. If you're purling through the back loops, you have your left needle to the back of the right needle, and push it through the loops from left to right.

      If you search "purl two together through the back loops" in youtube, you'll surely get a video to show you!

      Delete
  2. What size teapot does this cozy fit? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete