purlJam

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# Classic Ribbed Tea Cozy
### A Beginner In-the-Round Knitting Pattern

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## Description

Keep your pot of tea warm and your table looking charming with this classic ribbed tea cozy. Worked in the round from the bottom up in a simple 2x2 rib, this cozy is stretchy enough to fit snugly over a standard 6-cup teapot. The spout and handle openings are shaped by briefly working each side flat, then the halves are rejoined for a neat gathered crown. This is the perfect project for a beginner who has learned knitting in the round and basic knit/purl stitches.

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## Finished Measurements

- **Circumference (unstretched):** approximately 12.75 inches (32 cm)
- **Circumference (stretched to fit):** approximately 14 inches (35.5 cm)
- **Height (excluding top loop):** approximately 8 inches (20.5 cm)
- **Fits:** a standard 6-cup teapot approximately 5–7 inches (12.5–18 cm) tall and 13–15 inches (33–38 cm) in circumference

> **Note:** Tea cozy fit is forgiving because rib fabric stretches. If your teapot is slightly larger or smaller, see the Pattern Notes section for easy adjustment guidance.

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## Materials

| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| **Yarn** | Worsted weight / #4 Medium |
| **Yardage** | Approximately 120–150 yards (110–137 m) |
| **Sample yarn** | Any smooth worsted weight yarn in your favorite color; wool or wool blend recommended for best insulation |
| **Needles** | US 7 / 4.5 mm, 32-inch (80 cm) circular needle (for magic loop method) **OR** two US 7 / 4.5 mm, 16-inch (40 cm) circular needles (two-circ method) |
| **Notions** | Stitch markers (2), yarn needle for finishing, scissors |

> **Needle Note:** This pattern is written for the magic loop method, but any preferred in-the-round method for a small circumference will work. If you prefer double-pointed needles, use US 7 / 4.5 mm DPNs, distributing stitches across 4 needles.

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## Gauge

**18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, unblocked**

**Effective rib gauge used for this pattern: approximately 20 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm) in 2x2 rib, slightly relaxed**

> Gauge in rib is tricky to measure because the fabric contracts. For this project, gauge is flexible — the rib stretches to accommodate your teapot. However, if your gauge is significantly off, see Pattern Notes for adjustments.

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## Abbreviations

| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **k** | knit |
| **p** | purl |
| **k2** | knit 2 stitches |
| **p2** | purl 2 stitches |
| **k2tog** | knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased) |
| **p2tog** | purl 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased) |
| **pm** | place marker |
| **sm** | slip marker |
| **CO** | cast on |
| **BO** | bind off |
| **RS** | right side |
| **WS** | wrong side |
| **st(s)** | stitch(es) |
| **rep** | repeat |
| **rnd(s)** | round(s) |

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## Pattern Notes

**About the construction:**
This tea cozy is worked in the round from the bottom (open hem) upward. After working the body in 2x2 rib, the stitches are divided in half. Each half is worked flat (back and forth in rows) to create the openings for the teapot's spout and handle. The two halves are then rejoined and worked in the round again to the crown, which is gathered closed with the yarn tail.

**Adjusting for teapot size:**
- Your cast-on must always be a multiple of 4 for the 2x2 rib to work out evenly.
- To make the cozy larger, add 4 stitches at a time (e.g., 68 or 72 sts).
- To make the cozy smaller, subtract 4 stitches at a time (e.g., 60 or 56 sts).
- Adjust the body height by working more or fewer rounds before the opening section.

**About the spout/handle openings:**
The two 32-stitch halves are each worked flat for 2 inches (5 cm). This creates two side openings — one for the spout and one for the handle. The cozy slips over the teapot from the top (or bottom), and the lid pokes out of the gathered crown opening.

**Joining yarn after openings:**
When you rejoin to work in the round above the openings, you may see a small gap at the join points. Simply weave these in neatly during finishing.

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## Instructions

### Section 1: Cast On and Bottom Ribbing

Using your preferred method, CO **64 stitches**.

*The long-tail cast on is recommended — it gives a neat, slightly elastic edge that looks great as the bottom hem.*

Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches. Place a marker to indicate the beginning of the round (BOR).

**Set-up Round (establish 2x2 rib):**
*\*K2, p2; rep from \* to end of round.*
*(64 sts — 16 complete repeats of k2, p2)*

Continue working in 2x2 rib as established — every round is: *\*k2, p2; rep from \* to end.*

Work in 2x2 rib until piece measures **5 inches (12.5 cm)** from the cast-on edge.

> **Tip for beginners:** In the round, 2x2 rib is simple — you always knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you. After a few rounds you'll see the pattern clearly.

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### Section 2: Spout and Handle Openings

At this point your cozy body is 5 inches tall. Now you'll divide the stitches in half and work each half flat to create the side openings.

**Divide the stitches:**

Place a second marker after stitch 32. You now have:
- **Half A:** stitches 1–32 (BOR marker to second marker)
- **Half B:** stitches 33–64 (second marker to BOR marker)

*Note: You will now turn and work back and forth in rows, not in rounds.*

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#### Work Half A (First Side):

**Row 1 (RS):** \*K2, p2; rep from \* to second marker. Turn.
**Row 2 (WS):** \*K2, p2; rep from \* back to BOR marker. Turn.

> **Keeping rib correct on WS rows:** On wrong-side rows, the rib columns look reversed. To maintain the rib pattern, knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches as they face you — this keeps the vertical columns looking neat on the right side.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until Half A measures **2 inches (5 cm)** from the dividing row, ending with a WS row.

Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch (15 cm) tail for weaving in. Slip the 32 Half A stitches onto a length of scrap yarn or leave them on your needle cable to rest.

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#### Work Half B (Second Side):

Rejoin yarn at the second marker (the start of Half B stitches — stitch 33).

**Row 1 (RS):** \*K2, p2; rep from \* to BOR marker. Turn.
**Row 2 (WS):** \*K2, p2; rep from \* to second marker. Turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until Half B also measures **2 inches (5 cm)** from the dividing row, ending with a WS row.

*Do NOT cut yarn on Half B — you will continue knitting from this point.*

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### Section 3: Rejoin and Work Above the Openings

With the RS of Half B facing and your yarn attached, you will now rejoin both halves to work in the round again.

**Rejoin Round:**
Work across all 32 Half B stitches in rib as established, sm (BOR marker), then pick up the 32 Half A stitches and work across them in rib as established to the second marker.

*(64 sts total restored — join is now seamless in the round)*

> **Tip:** Give the yarn a gentle tug when you work the first stitch after rejoining to close the gap between the halves. The gap will tighten further when woven in during finishing.

Continue working in the round in 2x2 rib as established (\*k2, p2; rep from \* to end) for **1 inch (2.5 cm)** above the rejoining round.

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### Section 4: Crown Decreases

You will now decrease the crown over two rounds to gather the top of the cozy. Remove the second marker and keep only the BOR marker.

**Crown Decrease Round 1:**
*\*K2tog, p2tog; rep from \* to end of round.*
*(64 sts reduced to 32 sts — 16 repeats × 2 sts each = 32 sts) ✓*

**Crown Decrease Round 2:**
*\*K2tog; rep from \* to end of round.*
*(32 sts reduced to 16 sts — 16 repeats × 1 st each = 16 sts) ✓*

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### Section 5: Finishing the Crown

Cut yarn, leaving a **12-inch (30 cm)** tail.

Thread the tail onto your yarn needle. Pass the needle through all **16 remaining stitches** on the needle, slipping them off as you go.

Pull the tail gently but firmly to gather the crown closed. Pass the needle through the center of the gathered stitches once more to secure.

Do not cut the tail yet — see Finishing for how to form the optional top loop.

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## Finishing

### Weave In Ends
Using your yarn needle, weave in all ends securely on the wrong side of the work, taking care to close any small gaps at the points where the two halves were rejoined after the openings.

### Optional Top Loop
Instead of simply weaving in the crown tail, you can use it to make a small loop for lifting the cozy on and off the teapot:

1. Thread the tail on your yarn needle.
2. Pass the needle back down through the center of the gathered crown.
3. Bring it back up 0.5 inches (1.5 cm) away from center.
4. Repeat once more to form a loop about 0.75 inches (2 cm) tall.
5. Whipstitch around the loop several times to firm it up, then weave in the tail on the wrong side.

### Block (Optional)
Lightly steam block or wet block the finished cozy. Rib looks best when slightly relaxed after blocking. Shape it over the teapot itself while damp for a perfect fit.

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## Pattern At A Glance (Quick Reference)

| Section | Stitches | Measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Cast on | 64 sts | — |
| Body (rib in the round) | 64 sts | 5 inches (12.5 cm) |
| Openings — each half flat | 32 sts | 2 inches (5 cm) |
| Above openings (rib in the round) | 64 sts | 1 inch (2.5 cm) |
| Crown Decrease Rnd 1 | 64 → 32 sts | — |
| Crown Decrease Rnd 2 | 32 → 16 sts | — |
| Gather crown | 16 sts gathered | — |
| **Total height** | — | **~8 inches (20.5 cm)** |

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## Skill Summary — What You'll Practice

- 2x2 rib in the round
- Maintaining rib on wrong-side rows (flat section)
- Dividing and rejoining stitches
- Simple k2tog and p2tog decreases
- Gathering a crown closed

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*Pattern designed for a standard 6-cup teapot. Always check your gauge and teapot dimensions before beginning. Enjoy your cozy knitting!*

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