Wednesday, 13 November 2019

RAINBOW TEA COZY


Sweet Nothings crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a rainbow colored tea cozy,  photo of the tea cozy,
RAINBOW TEA COZY

This is a really special project for a good friend.  Very few people take the time to enjoy a cup of tea – a cup of tea or coffee is just something to kick-start a day.  I was really happy to know that there are some who still take the time out to sit down and enjoy a cuppa.  This brilliant tea cozy will just make that moment so much more fun.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used local unbranded 4-ply cotton yarn with a 3 mm crochet hook
You could use Anchor or Red rose knitting cotton as well
General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

Difficulty level : Easy to Intermediate
         
Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)
lp(s) : Loop(s)                   hdc : Half Double crochet
sc : Single crochet            sp : Space                               
sl-st : Slip stitch                ch : Chain
st(s) : Stitch(es)                hk : Hook
yo : Yarn Over                  sk : Skip

Stitches used : Using US terminology
Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA 

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps.  One sc made.  Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc :  yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps.  One hdc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg
  

Instruction information

Sweet Nothings crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a rainbow colored tea cozy,  photo of the tea cozy,

Please note that I start all rows with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.
Please also check the top of this blog for neat video tutorials of all stitches used in today’s pattern sheet.

The beauty of today’s creation is that you can work it with any stitch you desire.  
I have used only sc and hdc.  
However, if you crochet tight, you could even work with a dc. 
This pattern looks gorgeous mainly because of the yarn colors used.  
You do not need to increase or decrease once you start for the centre shaping.  
You could just start and then shape just for the top and end it all off.

Sweet Nothings crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a rainbow colored tea cozy,  photo of the tea cozy,

Sweet Nothings crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a rainbow colored tea cozy,  photo of the tea cozy,

I found a really interesting measurement chart that works for standard teapots.  
So first off measure your teapot and see if it fits in one of these measurements.

Sweet Nothings crochet free crochet pattern blog,chart for tea cozy sizes,

We work side to side making two identical halves for the front and back of our teapot.  We then neatly need to join the sides and block for a neat finish.

Work with any colors that you like.  Make it as colorful or multi colored as you desire.  I will not indicate color changes as that will ruin your creativity.  
Here are a few video tutorials on working with multiple color yarns.

How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly.  

How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours. 

 The one thing that I did that I think made it easier for me to keep track of the colors, is work both sides of my tea cozy at the same time.  So if say I started with my fsc row with red, I joined the next color for the tea cozy on Side 1, and then worked the red row for Side 2.  This meant that I was working on both front and back at the same time.. so it was easy for me to remember whatever I had done for the first side.  Hope this helps.

Of course, all of this is just for you to keep your creativity going – so you could also make a note of it and work one side at a time J

Sweet Nothings crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a rainbow colored tea cozy,  photo of the tea cozy,


Start with as many fsc as needed for the length of your tea pot as per the measurement given on the chart above.  So for a 2-cup, we start with fsc measuring 9” ; for a 3-cup we work 11” across ; 12” for a 4-5 cup teapot and for the largest 6-8 cup teapot, we start with a fsc chain measuring 13”. Turn.

Row 1 : hdc in the 1st fsc and in each fsc till the end.  Turn.

Row 2 : hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc till the end.  Turn.

Row 3 : sc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc till the end.  Turn.

Row 4 : hdc in the 1st sc and in each sc till the end.  Turn.

Row 5 : Rep Row 2.

Row 6 : Rep Row 3.

Rep Rows 4 – 6 till you are about 2” (or about 7 rows) from the height needed for your tea cozy, ending with Row 6.

At this point, I have used the 2-tog and 3-tog decrease stitches to shape the top bit.  Here are video tutorials for all these stitches.

Single crochet 2-together : sc 2-tog :  
Insert hk into st, yo and pull up a lp (2 lps on hk) ; insert hk into next sc, yo and pull up a lp (3 lps on hk); yo and draw through all 3 lps.  One sc 2-tog complete.  Visit this video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whlsMemDHLc

Half double crochet 2-tog : hdc 2-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp] (3 lps on hk) ; insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp (4 lps on hk) ; yo, draw through all 4 lps on hk.  One hdc 2-tog made.
Check the video tutorial at https://youtu.be/jdaXTr7Lcig

Single crochet 3-tog : sc 3-tog :   Here is an easy video tutorial at

Half double crochet 3-tog : hdc 3-tog :   Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/E-WbOP531a4

Decrease Row 1 : hdc 3-tog over the 1st 3 sts ; hdc in each st till the last 3 sts ; hdc 3-tog over the last  3 sts.  Turn.

Decrease Row 2 : hdc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sts ; hdc in each st till the last 2 sts ; hdc 2-tog over the last  2 sts.  Turn.

Decrease Row 3 : sc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sts ; sc in each st till the last 2 sts ; sc 2-tog over the last  2 sts.  Turn.
Rep Decrease Rows 1 – 3 once more.
Rep Decrease Row 1 once more.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Important neatening note : Now before I ended and fastened off that yarn after my last row, I have worked one row of sc all the way down the sides of the tea cozy.  As there is no specific count for the number of rows, I just worked 1 sc in each st all the way down, ensuring that it did not pucker.  I kept a note of how many stitches I worked down one side and matched the stitches on the other side.   This helped me neatly find stitches to join.
That said, it is not imperative that you neaten the edges and you can always join the sides without it as well.

Joining and finishing : After you have finished both sides of your tea cozy, use one of these finishing

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Now before joining, please find your centre stitch on the top of your tea cozy IF you wish to have that little ‘tab’ holder bit.  There are two ways to work this small tab.

1)      Join the two halves till I reached that centre stitch.  At that point work 6 fsc, turned and work sc in each st back till the start.  Once done, continue down the till the end of the top and down the side, joining as you go.

2)    The other way to first join all the way to the end.  Then holding both front and back together, work 1 sc through both parts (giving a edge finish) till you reached that centre marked stitch.  Work 6 fsc at that centre point ; turn and work sc in each sc till the start.  Then continue down the other side of your tea cozy, once again working through both halves of the cozy at the same time.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Blocking : With the tea cozy a simple light wash, pat dry and iron out works.  The tea cozy will take the shape of the tea pot with use.

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