Oh dear, oh dear! It's february...

gosh - not a great start to my blogging year - here is my make of the month for january! well i started it yesterday, does that count?  so - inspired by the sudden trill of birdsong which must mean spring is on its way - here is my nesting tea cozy pattern - i've never knitted a tea cozy before and i've suddenly realized how much i love them, i'm going to do another one, i have to,  what better thing to make - something cozy and warm for something that keeps you feeling cozy and warm - a nice cuppa!

Nesting-time tea cozy pattern

Yarn:

Tea cozy – 2 x 50g ball chunky (bulky) yarn  (60 metres/ 66 yards)

 - I used Debbie Bliss Como shade 03 Silver

Bird – 4-ply (fingering weight) yarn  - 3 different colours in small amounts for beak (B), head (H) and main body (MB)

- I used Jamieson’s  Shetland Spindrift shade 470 Pumpkin (MB) with shade 1160 Scotch Broom (H) and a tiny amount of grey black  4-ply

from my stash for the beak

Nest  - small amount chunky (bulky) wool yarn

- I used Berroco Peruvia Quick shade 9119 Mostaza and 9114 Chipotle plus a lovely green from my stash

Needles:

Tea cozy - set size 5mm (US 8) double pointed needles

Bird – set size 2mm (US 2) double pointed needles

Notions:

Tiny beads or toy eyes for bird’s eyes

Gauge:

Tea cozy – 22 rows and 14 sts to 4in (10cm), using MC and size 5mm (US 8) needles and rib pattern

Bird – tension for this project is not necessary as there is no limit to its size

Tea cozy pattern

Using yarn MC cast on 64 sts.

Slip 64sts p-wise and divide over three needles as follow: N1-21sts, n2-22sts, n3-21sts

With RS facing, keeping gauge fairly tight on first rnd, work in the rnd as follows:

Rnd 1 K64.

Rnd 2 [K3, p1] 16 times.

Rep last rnd 6 times more.

Divide for spout and handle

Rnd 9 (dec) Bind off 1 st, k1, p1, [k3, p1] five times, k3, bind off 10 sts in k3/p1 rib, k1, p1, [k3, p1] 6 times. 53 sts. Turn.

Work one side

Row 10 (WS) (dec) Bind off 1 st, p2, k1, [p3, k1] 5 times, p2. 26 sts.

Leave the other 26 sts on the needles.

Row 11 (RS) K2, [p1, K3] 6 times.

Row 12 (WS) [P3, k1] 6 times, p2.

Rep last 2 rows 4 times more. Cut yarn.

Work other side

WS facing, rejoin yarn to 26 sts from the other side, [p3, k1] 6 times, p2.

Row 10 (RS) K2, [p1, K3] 6 times.

Row 11 (WS) [P3, k1] 6 times, p2.

Rep last 2 rows 4 times more.

Join both sides

Row 21 (inc) K2, [p1, K3] 6 times, cast on 6 sts using Backward Loop method (instructions, if you need them, are at the end of the pattern), from other side of the cozy continue as follows: k2, [p1, k3] 6 times, backward loop cast on 2 sts, place marker, join in the rnd, cont as follows: 60 sts

Rnd 22 K2, [p1, k3] 14 times, p1, k1. Pull sts tightly as you knit across the junctions to avoid gaps.

Rep last rnd six times more.

Shape top

Rnd 29 (dec) K2tog, [p1, k1, k2tog] 14 times, p1, k1. 45 sts

Rnd 30 K1, [p1, k2] 14 times, p1, k1.

Rnd 31 (dec) Sl1, [p1, k2tog] 14 times, p1, k last stitch and slipped stitch from beg of rnd together. 30 sts

Rnd 32 [P1, k1] 15 times.

Rnd 33 (dec) [k2tog, p2tog] 15 times. 15 sts

Rnd 34 [K1, p1] 7 times, k1.

Cut yarn, thread end through all 15 sts, pull up tight to close up the hole and secure the end.

Weave in all loose ends.

Backward Loop Cast On - Hold the working yarn in your left hand with the needle in your right. Extend your left index finger parallel to the yarn, dip your finger under the yarn and towards you. Move the tip of the needle from the base of your finger so that the needle is through the loop with your finger. Remove your finger then tighten the loop on the needle.

Bird

Using yarn B, cast on 1 st.

Row 1 Knit into front and back of slip knot. 2 sts

Row 2 [Purl into front then knit into back of st] twice. (4 sts)

Row 3 Kfb, k2, kfb. 6 sts

Row 4 P.

Change to yarn H.

Row 5 Kfb, k2, kfb. 8 sts.

WS facing, slip 8sts p-wise and divide over three needles as follow: N1-3sts, n2-2sts, n3-3sts

RS facing, keeping gauge fairly tight on first rnd, work in the rnd as follows:

Rnd 6 Kfb, k6, kfb. 10 sts

Rnd 7 Kfb, k8, kfb. 12 sts

Rnd 8 K.

Rnd 9 Kfb, k10, kfb. 14 sts

Work st st (each rnd k) for 2 rows.

Rnd 12 K14, turn to shape back of head.

Rnd 13 P14.

Rnd 14 K14.

Change to yarn MB, cont in rnd as follows:

Rnd 15 K7, m1, k7. 15 sts

Rnd 16 K.

Shape body

Rnd 17 [K3, m1] 4 times, k2, kfb. (20 sts)

Rnd 18 K.

Rnd 19 [K5, m1] 3 times, k4, kfb. (24 sts)

Rnd 20 K.

Rnd 21 [K6, m1) 3 times, k5, kfb. (28 sts)

Rnd 22 K.

Rnd 23 [K7, m1] 3 times, k6, kfb. (32 sts)

Rnd 24 K.

Rnd 25 [K8, m1] 3 times, k7, kfb. (36 sts)

Work st st for 5 rows.

Rnd 31 [K2 tog, k15] twice, k2 tog. (33 sts)

Rnd 32 K2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (31 sts)

Rnd 33 K2 tog, k12, k3 tog, k12, k2 tog. (27 sts)

Rnd 34 K2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (25 sts)

Rnd 35 K2 tog, k9, k3 tog, k9, k2 tog. (21 sts)

Rnd 36 K2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (19 sts)

Rnd 37 K2 tog, k6, k3 tog, k6, k2 tog. (15 sts)

Rnd 38 K2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (13 sts)

Rnd 39 K2 tog, k3, k3 tog, k3, k2 tog. (9 sts)

Stuff the bird.

Rnd 40 K2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (7 sts) Turn.

Tail

Row 41 [p1, k1] 3 times, p1.

Row 42 [k1, p1] 3 times, k1.

Rep last 2 rows 4 times more.

Cast off in rib.

Sew on the beads, or snap on the toy eyes, and sew up the beak and beginning of the head.

Nest

Cut a single length of yarn to tie around the middle of the simple pompom and place it next to you - you will need this in a moment. Wind the yarn for the nest around your fingers, all four fingers at once. Wind about 10 times if you are using three strands of yarn at once as I did. When you have wound enough yarn, take the single length and slip it between your middle and ring finger and tie it around the bundle. Pull it tight to prevent the bundle from falling apart (for a great way to make tiny pompoms go to this link!) Cut the yarn along the sides – watch your fingers!

Sew the raggy pompom onto the top of the tea cozy, then sew the bird on the top of the nest.