Plum Pudding Cosy
A last minute novelty gift from 1960.
It is crocheted with a double thickness of wool; this can be a nuisance but it is a good way to get that tweedy pudding-mix effect.
"Quick-as-lightening fillers for amusing family presents."
InstructionsThe pattern includes a tea-cosy in the shape of a Christmas Pudding, and a tea-pot stand in the shape of a plate. CosyUsing wool double, with No 7 hook and using the brown and tan wools together (to make a tweedy effect), make 4 chain and join into a ring with a slip stitch. Work 8dc into ring. 1st round: (2dc into each dc) 8 times
[16 dc] Start opening for handle by turning the work and working backwards and forwards in rows. 12th row: with wrong side facing
1dc in next dc all across to back to start of round [56 dc]. Turn with
1ch. Start opening for spout, working each side of cosy separately. †† [Editor's note: Here's a picture of the cosy with one side worked, showing the coloured thread marking the early rounds.]
Rejoin wool at spout end to work the other side of the cosy. With right side facing, repeat from †† to ††. Join spout opening with one slip stitch. 1ch; turn the work. With right side facing, return to working in rounds. Work 3 rounds of dc, joining handle opening in first round. Turn the work, and crochet one round of slip stitches. Fasten off.
IcingWith number 7 hook and white bouclé wool used single, work as for first 6 increase rounds of the plate, [56dc]. Next round: * 1dc in next dc; 4 tr in next dc; 1dc into each of the next 3dc; repeat from * 9 times. Fasten off. [Editor's note: I extemporised with the crochet here. You can form "realistic" icing/snow either with extra rows of long and short crochet stitches, or by adding embroidery when you stitch the icing in place on the cosy.] Making up:Stitch icing to top of cosy, and use white bouclé wool to embroider
irregular shapes round edge of icing. Using black wool embroider spots
on cosy to represent currants as required. Sew in all ends. Plate (not shown)Using wool double, with No 7 hook and white, make 4 chain and join into a ring with a slip stitch. 1st round: 1ch, 8dc into ring; 1
slip stitch into top of 1st dc. Continue increasing in this way, 8 sts in every round, until 8 rounds
have been worked from the start [64 dc]. Next round: *
2 dc in next dc; repeat from * to end of
round [128 dc]. Work 2 rounds without shaping. Join in red, and work 1 round. Fasten off red wool. Turn the work and with wrong side facing, using white wool double, work 1 round of slip stitches into last round of dc. Fasten off white wool. Press plate lightly. Thread a length of white wool through last round of base - that is before the start of the rim - and fasten off securely. This will retain the shape of the plate. |
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Materials50g balls each in dark brown and tan double knitting wool, (used double throughout), and one ball of a white bouclé double knitting wool for the icing. Scraps of red and black for stripes on the plate. Holly sprig decorations in paper or plastic. One each Nos. 7 (4.5mm) and 10 (3¼mm) crochet hooks. Crochet abbreviations:ch = chain Remember these are English crochet instructions where dc is equivalent to US single crochet - see "Terminology" in the side bar. Tension4dc to an inch. Size mattersIntended to fit a 2 pint pot (that's UK pints which are each 20 fluid ounces not 16). Check out the diagram with the dimensions of my cosy. A word on the wool.I used a vintage tweed DK (used double) which was a perfect "pudding"
colour, being a rich brown and having flecks of different colours, so
I did not need to use two different colours to work together. Disclaimer
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Pattern adaptations:
If you would prefer to make a knitted cosy for the main body rather than crochet then here are some instructions for a ribbed cosy. You can still make the white top and holly using crochet as before, and fasten it only in the centre on top of the cosy, which will allow the ribs to adapt nicely to the shape of the teapot.
The cosy is worked in double knitting wool used singly on No 8 (4mm) needles. [The crocheted cosy is worked with two different coloured DK wools worked together to give a tweedy "pudding" effect. I used a flecked wool for my cosy which would work well for this knitted pattern.].
Measurements: width all tround 16 inches, height 6 inches.
Tension: 12 sts and 17 rows to 2 inches measured over pattern.
Instructions:
**
Cast on 47 sts and work in pattern as follows:
1st row: K3, *
p2, k2; repeat from * to end
2nd row: K1, *
p2, k2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p1,
k1.
These two rows form the pattern. Continue until work measures 5 inches,
ending with a second row.
Shape Top:
1st row: *
K2tog, k1, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts,
k2tog, k1. [35 sts]
2nd row: K1, *
p1, k2; repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
3rd row: K2, *
p1,k2; repeat from * to end.
4th row: as second row.
5th row: *
K1, p2tog; repeat from * to last 2sts, k2.
[24 sts]
6th-8th rows: *
K1, p1; repeat from * to last 2sts, k2.
9th row: K1,*
k2tog; repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
[13 sts]
10th row: K1, purl to last stitch,
k1.
11th row: K2tog 6 times, k1. [7 sts]
**
Break yarn and leave sts on a safety pin.
Work a second piece from ** to **.
Break yarn and leaving an end. Thread through sts on needle and then through
the 7 sts on the safety pin. Draw up tightly and fasten off.
Sew up the sides, leaving an opening for handle and spout.
[Editor's note: This
design allows you to sew the front an back seams, and allow handle and
spout openings to exactly match your teapot.]
Decorate with the crochet icing and holly as desired, but leave edges of icing free.
