Homemade Knit, Sew and Crochet: 25 Home Craft Projects

Yarn scraps in contrasting colours for the embroidery and pompom

4.5mm (UK size 7; US size 7) needles (you can change the needle size to make the cosy larger or smaller; the one pictured fits a six-teacup teapot)

Tension

10sts and 12 rows = 5cm (2in)

Abbreviations (#litres_trial_promo)

To make

• With 4.5mm (UK size 7; US size 7) needles and yarn, cast on 84sts and work 5 rows to form the border.

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: Purl.

Repeat these 2 rows once more then divide (work for spout and handle).

Row 5: K42 and keep remaining sts on a stitch holder.

Row 6: K2, p38, k2.

Repeat the last 2 rows 10 times more, ending on a purl row. Keep these sts on a stitch holder and repeat on the opposite side until the work measures the same front and back. End on a purl row.

Next row: Knit across the whole work.

Next row: Purl.

Then start decreasing as follows:

Row 1: K11, k2tog, * k12, k2tog *, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (78sts)

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K10, k2tog, * k11, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (72sts)

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: K9, k2tog, * k10, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (66sts)

Row 6: Purl.

Row 7: K8, k2tog, * k9, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (60sts)

Row 8: Purl.

Row 9: K7, k2tog, * k8, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (54sts)

Row 10: Purl.

Row 11: K6, k2tog, * k7, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 5 times, k1. (48sts)

Row 12: Purl.

Row 13: K1, k2tog across work to the last st, k1. 27sts remain.

• Cut your thread and then thread it through all the sts, pulling it tightly.

• Use this thread to sew the side seam as far as the opening for the spout, where the 2-st garter st edging finishes.

• Sew the bottom side seam to where the 2-st garter st edging begins.

• Work your motif (here, a teacup (#litres_trial_promo); see pattern) using chain st (#litres_trial_promo) and a contrasting colour of wool.

• Tack the shape first, if you like, working out from the centre of the tea cosy to ensure the motif is central. Work a box in running st (#litres_trial_promo) around the image in a contrasting colour of wool.

• Make a pompom (#ulink_bafe1a20-1ccb-5585-91f9-3d2dbb70a558) and attach securely to the top.

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Pompoms

Pompoms can be used in all sorts of fun and stylish ways; they lend a jaunty air to clothing and furnishings. Tie them to lengths of twisted wool to make attractive drawstrings for clothes, bags or gloves.

You will need

Cardboard circles. Decide what size pompoms you would like, then for each pompom cut two cardboard circles with that diameter. Cut out a smaller circle in the centre (to the proportions shown in the photograph, right)

Darning needle or bobbin

Yarn

To make

• With the yarn threaded through a large darning needle or bobbin, wind it all around the doughnut shape, tightly and thickly.

• When the cardboard is covered and you can hardly get your needle through the central hole, cut the yarn all around the outer edge of the circle and secure by tying another piece of yarn tightly around the centre of the pompom.

• Remove the cardboard and fluff up the pompom. Trim with a pair of sharp scissors to even it up into a perfect ball. This can also help the edges of the yarn to fluff up nicely.

• Attach your pompom securely with matching yarn to whatever you are making.

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Striped woolly scarf

This is just about the most simple scarf ever – and it looks great on men, women and children. Use contrasting colours for the cast-on and cast-off edge to add an attractive finish.