A bit of a Twit

I have been looking for a coffee cosy pattern that has a bottom and a handle, that I can make from DK acrylic stash, without success. I tried my hand at designing one, and this is what I came up with (after much ripping back and tangles!)

I used a 4mm circular needle and DK weight yarn. You will also need a cable needle and a coffee cup! This is worked mainly in the round, bottom up.

Abbreviations:

• Kfbk = Knit front and back of the same stitch
• C4B = slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work. K the next 2 sts from needle, then K the 2 sts from cable needle
• C2B = slip next st onto cable needle and hold at back of the work. K the next st from needle, then K the st from cable needle
• C4F = slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at the front of the work. K the next 2 sts from needle, then K the 2 sts from cable needle
• C2F = slip next st onto cable needle and hold at the front of the work. K the next st from needle, then K the st from cable needle

Cast on 4 stitches

1. Kfbk 4 times (8sts)
2. Knit across
3. (Kfbk K1) 4 times (12)
4. Knit across
5. Join to knit in round. (Kfbk K2) 4 times (16)
6. Purl around (making garter stitch in the round)
7. (Kfbk K3) 4 times (20)
8. Purl
9. (Kfbk K4) 4 times (24)
10. Purl
11. (Kfbk K5) 4 times (28)
12. purl

work 6 round in garter stitch, increasing 2 sts evenly in last round. (30)

Main body of cosy:

1. (P7 K8) twice
2. As row 1
3. (P7 C4B C4F) twice

Rows 4 - 8 as row 1
Row 9 as row 3
Rows 10 - 13 as row 3
Row 11 P7 C2B K4 C2F
Purl 2 rows
Beginning with a K row, work 6 rows in garter stitch

Divide for handle:

K3 K2tog K13 and turn work
K14 and turn. Leave remaining 15 sts on a stitch holder and continue on these 14 sts for 1st handle.

K2 tog K to last 2 sts K2tog
Knit around
Repeat last 2 rows until there are 8 sts on needle. Continue working in garter stitch until the handle is half the required length. (I did 15 rows) Cut yarn and slip these 8 sts on holder.

Slip the 15 sts on holder back onto needle. Rejoin yarn. K2 tog. K to end
Knit around.

K2 tog K to last 2 sts K2tog
Knit around
Repeat last 2 rows until there are 8 sts on needle. Continue working in garter stitch until the handle matches the first half. Graft or kitchiner stitch the two sides of the handle together.

Sew the gap in the base where from the initial increases and weave in ends.

Embroider eyes onto the cabled owls, or sew on buttons / beads

Fill a cup with coffee or buy a starbucks!