Kingfisher Tea Cosy - Knit Now issue 125

Did you know that kingfishers have bright scarlet feet? No, me neither until I started researching my latest pattern: Kingfisher Tea Cosy! 

Brought to you in association with RSPB, and published in the latest issue of Knit Now (issue 125, buy your copy here), the Kingfisher Tea Cosy celebrates the majestic kingfisher. It was a delight to be able to create this kingfisher that you can admire while you enjoy your breakfast.

The Kingfisher tea cosy is knitted flat in two pieces from the bottom up. The Kingfisher motif is worked using the intarsia technique (twist yarns at the colours changes to avoid holes). The pieces are seamed and the i-cord edging and hanging loop added. The tea cosy is lined with cotton fabric and wadding – this only requires basic hand-sewing skills and you use the knitted parts of the tea cosy as the template, so there’s no need for a printer, or to cut up your magazine.

Never made an i-cord before? They’re really easy. You work an i-cord on DPNs, creating a tube of fabric by taking the working yarn behind the work at the end of the row to start the new row, rather than turning the work. They’re really clever, and create an excellent neat finish.

The Kingfisher Tea Cosy is knitted in West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK,* a fantastic British yarn that comes in a great colour palette. There are quite a lot of small areas of colour in this design, so you might want to work with lengths of yarn approximately 1 m long and untangle them at the end of the row (if you want to use longer lengths of yar, I would definitely suggest using yarn bobbins* – these ones from Pony are my favourites).

Want to knit your own Kingfisher Tea Cosy? The pattern can be found in Knit Now issue 125, which is on sale now! If you can’t make it to the shops, you can order a print copy here.

Looking for the Ravelry pattern page so you can queue and favourite the pattern? You can find it here.**

*Affiliate link.

**Ravelry links may affect people who are photosensitive. Proceed with caution.

Images copyright Practical Publishing.