Knitted Cable Tea Cosy

This is a very simple cable pattern, very easy to follow and simple enough for a novice – this was my first attempt at cable and it really and truly is easy!  Because the wool is so very thick it will knit up in no time.

The pattern given is for a square which should suit most sized teapots.  I tucked the corners in to give it a more ‘shaped’ finish.

You will need

1 x 170g ball Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn, I used Oatmeal colour.

1 pair of size 9mm needles

1 large chunky button or toggle to decorate

1 cable needle (or broken bit of needle, the pointy end!)

The pattern is a simple six row repeat :

Cast on 24 stitches

Rows 1 and 3 :        K6 p2 k8 p2 k6

Rows 2 and 4 :        k8 p8 k8

Row 5 :                   k6 p2 c4f c4b p2 k6 *

Row 6 :                   as row 2

*c4f - To make the forward cable slip two stitches onto the cable needle and push to the front of the knitting, knit the next two stitches and then knit the two from the cable needle back onto the main needle.  Then, to c4b slip two more stitches onto the cable needle and push to the back of the knitting, knit the next two stitches and then the two from the cable needle back onto the main needle – and this is all there is to it!

Repeat the pattern five times and then cast off.

Sew up the side seams leaving enough of a gap for the handle and spout, sew up the top seams and finish off with a large chunky button, or toggle.