sunny, zesty and charlie

Zingy spots and stripes decorate Zoë Halstead’s cheerful cotton cosies

Tea and egg cosies are homey accessories for relaxed weekend breakfasts, and are a quick and satisfying must-do project for every knitter! Zoë Halstead’s set retains the old fashioned charm, but gets a modern twist with plush Rowan cottons in contemporary colourways. So put on the kettle and butter up some soldiers – it’s going to be a great day!

ZESTY PATTERN

Using 3.75mm needles and yarn A, cast on 30 sts
? Row 1: p1, (k1, p1) to last st, k1
? Row 2: p1, (k1, p1) to last st, k1. These two rows form rib
? Rows 3 and 4: rep rows one and two
? Rows 5 and 6: change to 4.5mm needles and yarn B and beg with a k row, work two rows in st st
? Rows 7 and 8: change to yarn C and work two rows in st st
? Rows 9 and 10: change to yarn D and work two rows in st st

These six rows form the stripe sequence. Rep the stripe sequence and cont as folls

SHAPE TOP
? Row 11: k2, (k2tog, k4) four times, k2tog, k2. 25 sts
? Row 12: purl one row
? *Row 13: k1, (k2tog, k3) four times, k2tog, k2. 20 sts
? Row 14: purl one row
? Row 15: k1, (k2tog, k2) four times, k2tog, k1. 15 sts
? Row 16: purl one row
? Row 17: (k2tog, k1) four times, k2tog, k1. 10 sts
? Row 18: purl one row
? Row 19: (k2tog) five times. Five sts
? Row 20: purl one row
Break yarn, thread through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off *

To make up
Weave in all ends and sew centre back seam. Make a pompom, measuring approximately 3.5cm in diameter, in yarn A. Sew to the centre top of the cosy.

CHARLIE PATTERN (MAKE TWO)

Using 3.75mm needles and yarn A, cast on 40 sts
? Row 1: p1, (k1, p1) to last st, k1
? Row 2: p1, (k1, p1) to last st, k1
? Rows 3 and 4: rep the last two rows once more
? Rows 5 and 6: change to 4.5mm needles and yarn B and beg with a k row, work two rows in st st
? Rows 7 and 8: change to yarn C and work two rows in st st
? Row 9: change to yarn D and k one row

SPOT PATTERN
? Row 10: p7 D, (p1C, p11 D) twice, p1 C, p8 D
? Row 11: k7 D, (k3 C, k9 D) twice, k3 C, k6 D
? Row 12: p6 D, (p3 C, p9 D) twice, p3 C, p7 D
? Row 13: k8 D, (k1 C, k11 D) twice, k1 C, k7 D
? Row 14: p1 D, (p1 C, p11 D) three times, p1 C, p2 D
? Row 15: k1 D, (k3 C, k9 D) three times, k3 C
? Row 16: p3 C, (p9 D, p3 C) three times, p1 D
? Row 17: k2 D, (k1 C, k11 D) three times, k1 C, k1 D
? Row 18: purl one row in yarn D
? Rows 19 and 20: change to yarn B and work two rows in st st
? Rows 21 and 22: change to yarn C and work two rows in st st
? Row 23: change to yarn D and knit one row
? Rows 24 – 28: repeat pattern rows 10 to 14

SHAPE TOP
? Row 29: k1 D, k3 C, k2 D, k2tog, k5 D, k3 C, k3 D, k2tog, k4 D, k3 C, k4 D, k2tog, k3 D, k3 C. 37sts
? Row 30: p3 C, (p8 D, p3 C) twice, p8 D, p3 C, p1 D
? Row 31: k2 D, (k1 C, k10 D) three times, k1 C, k1 D
? Row 32: p one row in yarn D
? Row 33: change to yarn B, k5, (k2tog, k10) twice, k2tog, k6. 34 sts
? Row 34: p one row
? Row 35: change to yarn C, k5, (k2tog, k9) twice, k2tog, k5. 31 sts
? Row 36: p one row
? Row 37: change to yarn D, k4, (k2tog, k8) twice, k2tog, k5. 28 sts
? Row 38: p one row
? Row 39: change to yarn B, k4, (k2tog, k7) twice, k2tog, k4. 25 sts
? Row 40: p one row
? Row 41: change to yarn C, k3, (k2tog, k6) twice, k2tog, k4. 22 sts
? Row 42: p one row
? Row 43: change to yarn D, k3, (k2tog, k5) twice, k2tog, k3. 19 sts
? Row 44: p one row
? Row 45: change to yarn B, k2, (k2tog, k4) twice, k2tog, k3. 16 sts
? Row 46: p one row
? Row 47: change to yarn C, k2, (k2tog, k3) twice, k2tog, k2. 13 sts
? Row 48: p one row
? Row 49: change to yarn D, k1, (k2tog, k2) twice, k2tog, k2. 10 sts
? Row 50: p one row
? Cast off

To make up
Weave in all ends. Sew the side seam with the opening for the teapot handle from the bottom edge up for approximately 6cm, then leave approximately 10cm open for the handle. Continue sewing above the opening to the top of the tea cosy. Sew the side seam with the opening for the teapot spout up from the bottom edge for approximately 6cm, then leave approximately 6cm open for the spout. Continue sewing above the opening to the top of the tea cosy. Please note: these measurements may vary for your own teapot. Make one pompom, approximately 3.5cm in diameter, in each of yarns A, B, C and D. Sew the yarn B, C and D pompoms to the top of the cosy in a triangle formation and then sew the yarn A pompom in the centre on top of the other three.

SUNNY PATTERN

Using 3.75mm needles and yarn B, cast on 30 sts
? Row 1: p1, (k1, p1) to last st, k1
? Row 2: p1, (k1, p1) to last st, k1
Change to 4.5mm needles and yarn D and cont as folls (or follow chart if preferred)

SPOT PATTERN
? Row 3: (k5 D, k1 C) five times
? Row 4: p2 C, (p3 D, p3 C) four times, p3 D, p1 C
? Row 5: k1 C, (k3 D, k3 C) four times, k3 D, k2 C
? Row 6: (p1 C, p2 D) ten times
? Row 7: k1 D, (k3 C, k3 D) four times, k3 C, k2 D
? Row 8: p2 D, (p3 C, p3 D) four times, p3 C, p1D
? Row 9: (k2 D, k1 C) ten times
? Row 10: p2 C, (p3 D, p3 C) four times, p3 D, p1 C

SHAPE TOP
? Row 11: k1 yarn C, k1 yarn D , k2tog yarn D, (k3 yarn C, k1 yarn D, k2tog yarn D) four times, k2 yarn C. 25 sts
? Row 12: (p1 yarn C, p4 yarn D) five times Work as for Striped Egg Cosy from * to * using yarn D only

To make up
Weave in all ends and sew centre back seam. Make a pompom, measuring approximately 3.5cm in diameter, in yarn B. Sew to the centre top of the cosy.

Colour fun
If you’re new to intarsia, or chart reading, the spotted egg cosy is a great first project. And the tea cosy is just as easy, only bigger! Use small amounts of contrast yarn for the spots and simply twist the yarns at the back of the work where the two colours meet to avoid any holes. A chart has been provided for the egg cosy – start in the bottom right corner and read it back and forth in the same direction as you work your knitting.

Egg Cosies: Approximately 7.5cm wide and 8cm high (excluding pompom)

Tea Cosy: Approximately 22cm wide and 20m high (excluding pompoms) To fit a 4-6 cup round teapot