Saturday, 23 May 2015

Project Egg Cosy - Part 1

Project Egg Cosy - Part 1

This blog is to show you how to knit two different types of Egg Cosies. This is a self-made pattern and assumes that the reader has some knowledge of basic knitting. This is a pretty easy pattern to follow as apart from Casting on and Casting off, it only uses:

Garter Stitch (Plain)

Slip Stitch

Knit two stitches together (K2tog)

If you are not sure about these stitches stop now and look them up.

One point I have to make is that although we are using Garter Stitch (Plain) because we are working in a circular movement the end result will look like Stocking Stitch (Knit 1 Row, Purl 1 Row).

The Equipment required for a Basic Cosy is as follows.

4 Double ended needles

Yarn

Needle

Scissors

Marker (Optional)

Extras -
Creature Cosy Designs Equipment

You may need a selection of smaller Knitting Needles and knowledge of how to do Stocking Stitch (Knit 1 Row Purl 1 Row).

Equipment










I will show you how to make the 'Basic Cosy' first of all. Then it is up to you whether or not you add the extras. I am making 2 Cosies of each design, one purple and one green.

I am using Bamboo Cotton but you can use a different kind of yarn. Both patterns start exactly the same for the cast on and on the same size knitting needles. The needles for the basic pattern are size 4 mm by 20 cm.

If a good knitter you can jump to Quick Basic Pattern *(Twisted), (Bell) at the bottom of the page.

Take 1st needle and cast on one stitch using whatever method you prefer.

One Stitch Green










One Stitch Purple










Then cast on another 13 stitches making 14 stitches in total.

14 Stitches Green









14 Stitches Purple








Take the 2nd needle and cast on 13 stitches.

13 Stitches Green











13 Stitches Purple










Take the 3rd needle and cast on 13 stitches. You should now have 40 stitches spread over the 3 needles.

40 stitches Green












40 stitches Purple
 









Knit one complete row.

  








You will now have the free yarn at the same end as the Tail*. Do not worry about this as it is deliberate.

Take the 1st needle (The one with the 14 stitches on). Slip the 1st loop onto the 3rd needle.

Slip onto 1st needle Green










Slip onto 1st needle Purple
 









Important
At this point you take a 4th needle.

Slip the 4th needle through both the 1st stitch of the 3rd needle and the stitch you have just slipped from the 1st needle.

4th needle through both stitches










Knit the two stitches together (K2tog).










You can add a marker here if you wish so you can keep track of your rows. However as this is an easy pattern I haven't really bothered as the Tail* acts as a marker in itself.

Marker and Tail










Using the 4th needle carry on knitting the rest of the stitches from the 3rd needle. Then with the spare needle knit all the stitches from the 2nd needle. Then when the needle is empty knit all the stitches from the final needle. You will find that you have knitted one complete round (rows are called rounds when knitting is joined) and have 39 stitches (13 stitches on each needle).



That is the start for both the Bell shaped and Twisted shaped cosy. From now on the patterns will be different.


Twisted Pattern

At this point you have joined the stitches and have knitted 1 Round.

Now with the 4th needle knit the 1st 2 stitches together (K2tog).

K2tog 1st Needle










Knit the rest of the stitches on that needle. You now have decreased by 1 stitch and should have a knitted section of 12 stitches.

K2tog. Knit the rest of the stitches on that needle. You now have decreased by 1 stitch and should have another knitted section of 12 stitches. 

K2tog 2nd Needle










Repeat process for the last needle

K2tog 3rd Needle










This completes this round and you should have 36 stitches left – 12 per needle.

Knit one complete Round. (36 stitches)












Decrease 1 stitch per needle using the same technique as before leaving 11 stitches per needle. You now have 33 stitches in total.

Knit one complete Round. (33 stitches)

Continue this method until you have one stitch left on each needle.

We will now begin to cast off the last 3 stitches. You have the option of either knitting all the stitches on to 1 needle first or alternatively knit directly off each needle. I have used the latter process.

Using the needle with the yarn knit the stitch off the next needle. You now have two stitches on one needle.

2 stitches on 1 needle
 









Slip the original stitch from behind and over the new one and off the needle. You have 2 Stitches left

2 Stitches Left 










Repeat this for the next stitch until you have one left on the needle. Cut the yarn leaving the tail a few inches long. Take a wool needle and thread with tail. Slip through last stitch and slip off needle.


Last Stitch on Needle
 



Pull through Needle










Complete Twisted Base










Bell Pattern

At this point you have joined the stitches and have knitted 1 Round and have 39 stitches.

Knit 4 more Rounds making 5 in total.

Next round knit 3 stitches.

Knit 3 Stitches  
 









Knit 2 stitches together (K2tog)

Knit 2 Together










Knit 3 Stitches, K2tog, Knit 3 Stitches. You have decreased by 2 stitches and should have 11 stitches on that needle.      
                                        
11 Stitches










Repeat this for the next two needles. You should have 33 Stitches in total.

Knit 4 rounds.

Knit 3 Stitches. Knit 2 together

Knit 2 together


Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together

11 Stitches 2nd Decrease










Knit 3 stitches. You now have 9 stitches on that needle.

9 stitches 
 









Repeat for next two needles leaving 27 Stitches in total

Knit 3 Rounds

Knit 2 stitches. Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together, Knit 2 stitches. You now have 7 stitches on that needle. Repeat for next two needles leaving 21 Stitches in total

Knit 2 Rounds

Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch. You now have 5 stitches on that needle. Repeat for next two needles leaving 15 Stitches in total

Knit 1 Round

Knit 2 together, Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together. You now have 3 stitches on that needle.

3 Stitches
 








Repeat for next two needles leaving 9 Stitches in total. Cut the yarn leaving the tail a few inches long. Take a wool needle and thread with tail. Slip through all 3 stitches and slip off needle.

Needle through Stitches
 







Repeat for the other 2 needles until you have tail through all 9 stitches

Through 9 stitches 








Pull through and sew in ends.

Twisted and Bell









This completes the Basic Cosy Patterns.

Extras

If you want to continue to add the extras to make a more advanced Egg Cosy see my next blog for the instructions. 

Quick Basic Pattern *(Twisted)
Double ended needles Size 4 mm by 20 cm
Cast on 14 stitches on 1st needle, 13 stitches on 2nd needle and 13 stitches on 3rd needle. 40 Stitches in total.

Row 1, Knit (K)
Row 2, Slip stitch from needle 1 on to needle 3. Knit together (K2tog) to join. Knit rest of round, 39 Stitches.
Round 3, K
Round 4, K2tog, K11. K2tog, K11. K2tog, K11, 36 Stitches.
Round 5, K
Round 6, K2tog, K10. K2tog, K10. K2tog, K10, 33 Stitches.
Repeat process from Round 3, until 3 stitches left. Cast off.


Quick Basic Pattern *(Bell) 
Double ended needles Size 4 mm by 20 cm
Cast on 14 stitches on 1st needle, 13 stitches on 2nd needle and 13 stitches on 3rd needle. 40 Stitches in total.

Row 1, Knit (K)
Row 2, Slip stitch from needle 1 on to needle 3. Knit together (K2tog) to join. Knit rest of row, 39 Stitches.
Round 3 – 6 K
Round 7, K3, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K3. K3, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K3.
K3, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K3. 33 Stitches
Round 8 – 11 K
Round 12, K3, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K3. K3, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K3.
K3, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K3. 27 Stitches.
Round 13 – 15 K
Round 16, K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2. K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2.
K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2. 21 Stitches.
Round Row 17 -18 K
Round 19, K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1. 15 Stitches
Round 20, K
Round 21, K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1. 9 Stitches.

Cut Yarn and pull through all 9 stitches and sew in ends.

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