Combine a crazy pop of colour with a texture stitch and you have a tea cosy to brighten the gloomiest of days! Let this pattern ground you on days when anxiety is high; allow yourself time to focus on the pleasure of making the stitches pop, whilst occupying the working memory with the simple pattern.
You will need
Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic, approx. 295m/322yds per 100g/3½oz ball) DK (light worsted) weight yarn
1 ball each of:
Sunshine shade 1114 (A)
Spring Green shade 1316 (B)
Cream shade 1005 (C)
Black shade 1002 (D) L
Lavender shade 1188 (E) F
Fiesta shade 1257 (F)
4mm (US size G/6) crochet hook
Yarn needle
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: 22cm (8¾in) wide, 22cm (8¾in) tall
TENSION (GAUGE): Rounds 1 and 2 = 5cm (2in) diameter, using 4mm (US size G/6) hook.
SPECIAL ABBREVIATION: PC (4-tr popcorn): work 4tr all in same st, remove hook from loop and insert in top of first tr, pick up dropped loop again, yrh and join with a ss, pull tight so popcorn pops forward
Skill Rating: 2/3
For the tea cozy
SIDE 1
Using A, make a magic ring, or ch6 and join with ss in fi rst ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch3 (counts as fi rst tr throughout), 11tr into the ring. 12 sts.
Fasten off.
Round 2: Join C in any st, ch3 (counts as fi rst tr of PC throughout), complete PC in same st, *ch2,
PC in next st; rep from * to end, join with ss in 3rd of beg 3-ch. 12 PC + twelve 2-ch sps.
Fasten off.
Round 3: Join D in any 2-ch sp, ch3, complete PC in same sp, ch3, PC in same sp (first corner), *[ch2, PC in next st] twice, ch2, (PC, ch3, PC) in next 2-ch sp (next corner); rep from * twice, [ch2, PC in next st] twice, ch2, join with ss in first 2-ch sp of round. 16 PC + twelve 2-ch sps + four 3-ch sps.
Fasten off.
Round 4: Join E in any 3-ch corner sp, ch3, complete PC in same sp, ch3, PC in same sp (fi rst corner), *(ch2, PC) in each 2-ch sp to next corner, ch2, (PC, ch3, PC) in next 2-ch sp (next corner); rep from * twice, (ch2, PC) in each 2-ch sp to end, ch2, join with ss in first 2-ch sp of round. 20 PC + sixteen 2-ch sps + four 3-ch sps.
Fasten off.
Notice how the work is curving slightly to fit around the contours of your teapot.
Round 5: Using F, rep round 4. 24 PC + twenty 2-ch sps + four 3-ch sps.
Round 6: Using B, rep round 4. 28 PC + twenty-four 2-ch sps + four 3-ch sps.
Round 7: Using C and D, rep round 4 alt colours to work one PC in C and next in D, carrying yarn not in use and changing colour on first ch after each PC. 32 PC + thirty-two 2-ch sps + four 3-ch sps.
Round 8: Join A in any sp, ch3, 3tr in same st, complete PC in same sp, (ch2, PC) in each 2-ch or 3-ch sp around (no corners on this round), ending with ch2, join with ss in fi rst 2-ch sp of round.
Fasten off. 32 PC + thirty-two 2-ch sps.
Round 9: Join F in any sp, ch1 (does not count as st), 2dc in each2-ch sp around, join with ss in fi rst st. 64 sts.
With RS facing, using F, work surface crochet (see page 126) around outer edge of round 1.
Fasten off.
SIDE 2
Using B, make a magic ring, or ch6 and join with ss in fi rst ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Using B, rep round 1 of side 1.
Round 2: Using D, rep round 2 of side 1.
Round 3: Using C, rep round 3 of side 1.
Round 4: Using A, rep round 4 of side 1.
Round 5: Rep round 5 of side 1.
Round 6: Using E, rep round 4 of side 1.
Round 7: Rep round 7 of side 1.
Round 8: Using B, rep round 8 of side 1.
Round 9: Rep round 9 of side 1.
With RS facing, using F, work surface crochet around outer edge of round 1.
Fasten off.
Making up and finishing
Place both sides around the teapot with RS facing outward. Line up the ‘corners’ and, using F, sew them from the base to the bottom of the spout (approx. three popcorns). Leaving a space large enough to fi t comfortably over the spout, sew all the way round to the top of the handle. Fasten off.
Sew in all yarn ends carefully.
Make a pompom (see page 125) in F and sew onto the top.
(To make the cosy for a smaller teapot, omit rounds 5 and 6.)
For more projects to help you relax, refocus, and unwind, check out Mindful Crochet by Emma Leith. To get more fab blog posts like this one - direct to your inbox - be sure to sign up to our mailing list here.