Crochet Matryoshka Tea Cosy

MATRYOSHKA CROCHET TEA COSY

Tea Cosy inspired by Fred M Matryoshkas

Instructions are in American crochet.


2 Balls Patons Totem white

4.5mm Crochet hook

Felt to match wool

Embroidery cotton, wool, etc to embellish

Stuffing for head

Make a magic circle, 3 sc in it.

Round 2: 2 SC in each SC around. (6 SC) Place marker. 

Round 3: 2 SC in each SC around. (12 SC)

Round 4: 2 SC in each SC around. (24 SC)

Round 5: 2 SC INC in next SC, 1 SC in next SC. (36 SC)

Round 6-17: 1 SC in each SC around (36 SC)

Row 18: [1sc, 2sc in next] to marker.

Row 19: 2sc in1, 2sc

Row20-24: sc in each sc to marker.

Row 25: Split for spout and handle - count stitches, subtract 6 to give 3 for each side opening.

Divide the remainder in two. You will SC along these for each side. (Don't worry if you are uneven. I got 26/27 so added a stitch in middle of second row of the 26).

SC 5 rows 27 st in row.

Row 30/5 of back: SC across adding 3st to the row by doing an increase in 3 st about 6/7 stitches apart = 30 st total. 

Crochet 10 rows or adjust to your pot size. (You could work out another increase in these rows if your pot is fat) Bind off.

Repeat for front by joining on where you turned to split for back, leaving 3 stitches for opening. 

(The bottom should end where you can join up again at the break off tail of back.)

Place marker, chain 3 and join in last st of back. SC across, chain 3 join to front, SC to marker.

Next 2 rounds: SC around to marker (including in each chain= 66 st per round to marker).

Next round: SC first two tog= 1 dec. [SC 4, SC 2 tog] repeat to marker.

Next rounds: SC around to last two st before marker, sl st 3. Break off.

Openings:

Face template

SC in sides of rows and along the 3 st top and bottom. Slip st around in each sc. If your openings are too big either side, top or bottom, you could customise here. For example, I made a sc in top 3 rather than slst to close in more.

Adjust pattern size of face. Cut out felt face. Mark embroidery pattern. Embroider face and glue on or chain st hair. Blanket st around and sew to front of head.  (I made a chain for her hair edge and blanket stitched around her her face, then passed wool through the stitches. I french knotted her eyes (then changed and felted them), felted her cheeks and cut out her lips from felt and stitched them down with a backstitch as I did her nose)

Make a crochet disk or fabric circle to hold stuffing in head. Stitch to inside along the increase row that begins the shoulders, leaving an opening, stuff and close.

The face and motif can be done in may ways. Use lighter gauge cotton, use buttons or crewel work. Make a larger cosy and felt it, then add crewel work. Use COLOUR!! Have fun and show me what you do :)