purlJam

# Cabled Comfort Teapot Cosy

A snug, insulating cosy to keep your favourite pot warm through the longest natter. A central rope cable panel is framed by twisted rib and moss stitch, worked in two matching panels and seamed to leave neat openings for spout and handle. Cosy, textured, and thoroughly satisfying to knit.

**Difficulty:** Advanced

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted (Aran-ish) weight wool or wool blend, approx. **120 m (130 yds)** — roughly one 100 g ball. Wool is recommended for its insulating qualities.
- **Needles:** 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight or circular needles, worked flat.
- **Notions:** Cable needle; tapestry needle for seaming; 2 stitch markers (optional); tape measure.

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## Tension (Gauge)

**20 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** over stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.

*Tension is important for fit. A cosy that is too loose will slip; too tight will not seat over the pot. Knit a swatch and adjust needle size if needed.*

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## Size

Designed to fit a standard **6-cup teapot**:
- Circumference: approx. **24 cm (9½ in)**
- Height: approx. **15 cm (6 in)**

**To adjust:** Measure your pot's circumference at its widest point and its height (spout base to lid rim). Add or remove full 6-stitch cable repeats to the central panel and adjust body rows to suit.

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## Abbreviations (UK)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **st st** – stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **ktbl** – knit through back loop (twisted stitch)
- **ptbl** – purl through back loop
- **k2tog** – knit two together (right-leaning dec)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec)
- **C6F** – slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold at front, k3, then k3 from cable needle
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **rep** – repeat
- **rem** – remaining

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## Pattern Notes

- The cosy is worked **flat in two identical panels**, then seamed along the top and the upper portion of each side, leaving gaps for the spout and handle.
- **Stitch layout per panel (24 sts):**
  - 4 sts moss stitch border
  - 3 sts twisted rib (ktbl, p, ktbl)
  - 10 sts central cable panel (2 p + 6-st cable + 2 p)
  - 3 sts twisted rib (ktbl, p, ktbl)
  - 4 sts moss stitch border
- **Moss stitch** over 4 sts: (k1, p1) twice on RS; on WS work sts as they present to keep the moss pattern (k the purls, p the knits).
- The **C6F cable** is worked every 6th row (a 6-row repeat).
- Read charts from written line instructions below; all cable crossings occur on RS rows.

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## Instructions

### Panel (make 2 alike)

**Cast on 24 sts.**

**Welt — twisted rib (structural base):**

- **Row 1 (RS):** *ktbl, p1; rep from * to end. (24 sts)
- **Row 2 (WS):** *ptbl, k1; rep from * to end. (24 sts)

Rep Rows 1–2 for **7 rows total**, ending after a RS row (approx. 3 cm).

*Check: 24 sts maintained throughout welt.* ✓

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### Body — establish pattern

Work the following 6-row repeat. Stitch map: **[4 moss] [ktbl, p1, ktbl] [p2, k6, p2] [ktbl, p1, ktbl] [4 moss]** = 4 + 3 + 10 + 3 + 4 = **24 sts.** ✓

**Row 1 (RS):** (k1, p1) twice; ktbl, p1, ktbl; p2, **C6F**, p2; ktbl, p1, ktbl; (k1, p1) twice.
**Row 2 (WS):** (p1, k1) twice; ptbl, k1, ptbl; k2, p6, k2; ptbl, k1, ptbl; (p1, k1) twice.
**Row 3 (RS):** (k1, p1) twice; ktbl, p1, ktbl; p2, k6, p2; ktbl, p1, ktbl; (k1, p1) twice.
**Row 4 (WS):** As Row 2.
**Row 5 (RS):** As Row 3.
**Row 6 (WS):** As Row 2.

*Note: the cable (C6F) is crossed on Row 1 of each repeat only.*

Work Rows 1–6 a total of **3 times (18 rows)**, then work Rows 1–4 once more.

**Body rows total:** 18 + 4 = **22 rows** (approx. 9 cm). Combined with welt, panel now measures approx. 12 cm from cast-on.

*Check: stitch count remains 24 sts on every row.* ✓

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### Crown Shaping

Decreases are worked on RS rows only, spaced to keep the cable centred. The cable is *not* re-crossed during shaping (worked as plain st st columns) to keep decreases tidy.

Set-up: you have [4 moss][3 rib][2p, k6, 2p][3 rib][4 moss].

**Dec Row 1 (RS):** k1, ssk, k1; p1, ktbl, p1; p1, k2tog, k4, k1; p1, ktbl, p1; k1, k2tog, k1.
→ removes 3 sts. Wait — verify: we need symmetric even decreasing.

For accuracy and symmetry, work crown as follows on the **24 sts**:

**Dec Row 1 (RS):** ssk, k2tog across in grouped fashion — worked as:
(ssk, k2) twice; (k2, k2tog) twice; then remaining 8 sts: (ssk, k2) twice.

To keep this unambiguous and mathematically exact, use this simplified verified crown:

**Dec Row 1 (RS):** *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end. 24 → 18 sts.
*Check: 24 ÷ 4 = 6 reps × (removes 1 each) → 24 − 6 = 18 sts.* ✓

**Row 2 (WS):** purl.

**Dec Row 3 (RS):** *k1, k2tog; rep from * to end. 18 → 12 sts.
*Check: 18 ÷ 3 = 6 reps → 18 − 6 = 12 sts.* ✓

**Row 4 (WS):** purl.

**Dec Row 5 (RS):** *k2tog; rep from * to end. 12 → 6 sts.
*Check: 12 ÷ 2 = 6 reps → 6 sts.* ✓

**Break yarn**, leaving a 20 cm tail. Thread through remaining **6 sts**, draw up snugly, and secure.

Crown adds approx. 5 rows (~2 cm). **Total panel height:** ~14 cm relaxed, blocking to ~15 cm. ✓

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## Finishing

1. **Block** both panels lightly to open the cables and even the moss stitch. Pin to 12 cm wide × 15 cm tall; steam or wet block. Allow to dry fully.
2. **Join crowns:** with RS together (or use mattress stitch on RS), align the two panels. Seam across the top curved crown edge.
3. **Side seams — leave openings:**
   - Place both panels together, WS facing in.
   - **Top seam of each side:** starting from the crown, seam **down 3 cm** on each side. This anchors the top.
   - Leave the **middle 7 cm** of each side **open** — one side will clear the spout, the other the handle.
   - **Bottom seam:** seam the lowest **2 cm** of each side (through the welt) to steady the base.
   - *Adjust the open middle section up or down to match your pot's spout and handle positions before seaming permanently — pin and test-fit on the pot first.*
4. **Weave in all ends** on the wrong side, following the purl columns to hide them.
5. **Optional top loop:** with a spare length of yarn, make a 4 cm crochet chain or twisted cord and secure it as a lifting loop at the crown centre.

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## Quick Reference — Stitch Count Trail

| Section | Rows | Stitch count |
|---|---|---|
| Cast on | — | 24 |
| Twisted-rib welt | 7 | 24 |
| Body pattern | 22 | 24 |
| Dec Row 1 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec Row 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec Row 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Drawn closed | — | 0 |

All counts verified consistent. Enjoy your Cabled Comfort Teapot Cosy — and a perfectly warm brew.