Egg cosies

There aren't enough egg cosies in this world. I'm sure that the decline of the egg cosy is linked in a parallel manner to the decline of people saying "thank you" when you hold a door open for them and giving up their seat on buses without being asked. Let's make more egg cosies and maybe all the politeness will come back into the world as well. It's worth a try.

To knit an egg cosy you will need oddments of DK yarn and two No 8 knitting needles.

Cast on 29 sts.

1st and 2nd rows: K to end.
3rd row: * P1, K3; repeat from * 6 times more; P1.
4th row: P to end.
5th row: same as 3rd row.
6th row: K to end.
7th to 22nd row: Repeat from the beginning of the 3rd row to the end of the 6th row 4 times.

Break off the wool. Thread the end through the 29 sts on the needle and fasten off securely.

The loop: cast on 14 sts. Do not knit any rows but cast the sts off straight away.

To make up: Using a flat seam, join the side seam. Stitch the loop into place at the top of the cosy.

From P and B Wool's Second Stage Simple Knitting from the late 1950s.

1950s tea cosy and egg cosy knitting pattern

Welcome in the spring with this cute 1950s knitted tea-cosy in the shape of a dove cote, and a sweet dove-shaped egg cosy.

You will need: 1oz blue and 2oz white double knitting yarn, 1 pair no 9 knitting needles, padding and lining.

Measurements: Tea cosy, round base 18 inches, 7 inches high.

Tension: 6 sts and 7 and a half rows to 1 inch.

The tea cosy: cast on 55 sts with Blue (B). K 4 rows. Proceed thus:

1st row: K (11 B, 11 W) to last 11 sts, 11 B.
2nd row: P as first.
Repeat these 2 rows 6 times more. Work 2 rows, working B over W and W over B. WOrk 14 rows as before. Now reverse colours again. Work 18 rows, then turn up wrong side of work and K tog 1 st from needle and 1 from the 1 st row worked in corresponding colour on the wrong side, thus making a tuck to represent the eaves of the roof. P 1 row, keeping continuity of colours. Work 8 rows, then dec in next and every 4th row following, thus:

9th row: (K 2 tog, K 7, K 2 tog tbl) 5 times.
13th row: (K2 tog, K5, K 2 tog tbl) 5 times.

Proceed thus until 15 sts remain. Work 3 rows. Next row: K 3 tog 5 times. Break wool, thread through remaining sts, draw up and fasten off.

Work second side of cosy in same way, reversing colours.

To make up: Join seams, leaving openings for spout and handle. Pad and line the cosy. Embroider the doorways.

The egg cosy: Cast on 32 sts with W. K 4 rows. Work 2 inches st st.

Next row: (K2, K 2 tog) to end (24 sts). P 1 row. Work 10 rows st st.

Next row: (K1, K 2 tog) to end. P 1 row.

Next row: K 2 tog to end. P 1 row. Break wool, thread through remaining sts, draw up and fasten off.

Join seam. Pad head and gather round neck. Embroider eyes and add felt beak.

Egg cosies

Does anyone actually use egg cosies any more? I remember them occasionally being used for a weekend breakfast during my childhoodbut haven't seen one pressed into service for years. Now is the time to start the egg cosy revival with this knitting pattern to match the tea cosy from the Harmony Odd Ounce book.

When you use an egg cosy, do you have to boil your egg for slightly less time than you would sans cosy? Will it thicken slightly as it is left on the table, snug under its knitted dome? And how long can you leave it there before the cold sets in? We need answers!

To knit an egg cosy you need scraps of DK wool, in main (M) and contrast (C) colours, and UK size 7 knitting needles.

Cast on 32 sts. Join in contrast (C) and work as follows, making sure that C is twisted over M before starting next row. Note: Yf (yarn forward) in this pattern always refers to the colour used for last 8 sts.

1st row: * K8M, draw C across back of work to 3/4 inch and k8C, draw M across back of work in same way; rep from * to end. Twist M over C before commencing next row.

2nd row: *K8C, yf, bring M across front of work, draw up to 3/4 inch and take to back of work, k8M, yf, bring C across front of work, draw up to 3/4 inch and take to back of work; rep from * to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until cosy measures 4 inches, ending with a wrong side row.

Shape top:

1st row: Keeping pattern correct *sl 1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog; rep from * to end.

2nd row: *Sl 1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog; rep from * to end.

3rd row: *Sl 1, k1, psso, k2tog; rep from * to end.

4th row: K2tog to end.

Thread yarn through the remaining stitches, draw up and fasten off. Join seams. Crochet round 2 small curtain rings to decorate the top - or maybe add a pompom or some buttons.