Free Crochet Pattern - Extra Chunky Tea Cosy

I'm taking a break from pattern-writing for a little while (I just had 2 babies within a year, phew!) but here's a pattern I wrote a couple of years ago for a ribbed tea cosy. It's been available on Ravelry and my etsy shop for a while, but here's the pattern for free:

Extra Chunky Tea Cosy Pattern

Use extra-chunky yarn to work up a super-quick tea cosy. It fits an aberage 6-cup teapot.

UK / British Crochet Terminology. For USA terminology, click here.

You will need:

9mm crochet hook

100g Extra Chunky Wool (I used Sirdar Denim Ultra). Any super chunky will work, as long as it has an approximate tension of 9sts x 12 rows = 10 cm square.

Yarn needle

Stitch key:

dc = double crochet

bldc = back loop double crochet (crochet in the back loop of each stitch).

Instructions:

Chain 16

1. Dc in 2nd ch from hook. Dc across to end of row (15sts). Ch1, turn.

2. Dc in 1st st. BLDC in next stitch and all stitches to end of row. Ch1, turn.

3–18. Repeat row 2 until you have 18 rows (or until your work loosely covers one side of your teapot.)

19. Dc in 1st st. Ch 13. 1dc in last st of row. Ch1, turn.

20. Dc in 1st st. 13DC in chain space. 1dc in last st. Ch1, turn.

21-38. Repeat Row 2 until you have 18 rows starting from Row 20 or until your work loosely covers your teapot.

Break off yarn leaving a long sewing length.

Joining:

Fold work in half. Sew together first st from first row to last row, leave 13 sts open, and sew last st to last row.

Alternative method – crochet together first sts, slip stitch across 13 sts on one side only, then crochet together last sts. Leave a long sewing length then weave this in an out like a drawstring, pull tight.

Making the pom pom:

Wrap the yarn around your hand until you have lots of layers of yarn, approx 20 times. Cut off.

Cut a length of yarn about 10 inches and tie this around the middle of the bundle. Put scissors through the loops and cut so you effectively have a lot of short lengths tied in the middle. Attach this to the tea cosy using the long sewing length. Trim your pom pom to desired size.

Sew in ends.

Valentine Crochet Hearts Tutorial

Happy Valentine Hearts 
 

How to make some sweet crochet hearts filled with lavender, just in time for Valentine's day.

You will need:

3mm crochet hook

a button

a small amount of Double Knitting yarn

Toy stuffing

dried lavender (optional)

yarn needle.

British crochet terminology.

Instructions:

Front:

1.     Ch8, Dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each stitch across. Ch1, turn. (7dc)

2.     Dc in each stitch across, Ch1, turn. (7dc).

3-8.  As row 2.

9.     Skip 3 stitches, work 8 dtr in next st, skip next 2 stitches, slip stitch in last st. Do not turn.

10.   Working along the edge of the rows, skip 2 rows and work 8dtr in the edge of the 3rd row. Skip the next 3 rows and slip stitch in bottom corner (the start of foundation row).

Fasten off.

Back:

As front, do not fasten off.

Edging row:

Dc front to back, stopping at the 'v' between the two bumps of the heart. 

Stuff the heart with toy stuffing and lavender. 

Ch35, slip stitch in next st. Continue to Dc around edge back to the start.

Fasten off leaving 6" sewing length. Sew button to front.

Happy Valentine's Day!