Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Coffee Bean Cafetiere Cosy

Coffee Bean Cafetiere Cosy


Ravelers go here for a neat and tidy PDF.





Knit flat, then seamed above and below the handle. Stitches are picked up under the handle so you can button it up. If you like, you can omit the spout hole.

This design is based on an 8 cup cafetiere. It's basically a rectangle, so adjustment for different sizes should be straightforward...

It is helpful to measure your cafetiere with a tape. You will need to know the circumference, height from base to spout, height from spout to the top of the lid (or radius of the lid) and the height from the bottom of the cafetiere to the bottom of the handle, and the top to the top of the handle. It sounds a lot, but every cafetiere is different and knowing these measurements will ensure a good fit.


I used some ‘fluffy’ yarn around the base of the cafetiere, but normal yarn will do just as well.

With 4mm needles, cast on 80 stitches. (or adjust to your size of circumference measurement , just keep it an even number. NB, the coffee bean pattern is a multiple of 10 stitches) If you are using fluffy yarn, you may need to cast on fewer stitches and then increase to 80 when you switch to normal yarn, if the fluffy yarn is a lot thicker.

Work 2 cm in K2, P2 rib, ending with a WS row.

Work about 7cm in st. st. Stripe however you like.

Starting with a RS row, attach 2 different yarns (A and B) to begin coffee bean pattern. (Alternatively, continue striping for 11 rows)

NB diagram available on Ravelry pattern- not sure how to put it on here sorry!

Coffee bean pattern:-

Row 1: *K12A, K12B* repeat 3 times more, to the end of the row

Row 2: * P4A, P2B, P4A, P4B, P2A, P4B* repeat 3 times more

Row 3: *K3A, K1B, K1A, K2B, K3A, K3B, K1A, K1B, K2A, K3B* repeat 3 times more

Row 4: *P2A, P2B, P2A, P2B, P2A, P2B, P2A, P2B, P2A, P2B* repeat 3 times more

Row 5: *K1A, K3B, K1A, K4B, K1A, K1B, K3A, K1B, K4A, K1B* repeat 3 times more

Row 6: *P1A, K3B, K2A, K3B, K1A, K1B, K3A, K2B, K3A, K1B* repeat 3 times more

Row 7: *K2A, K3B, K2A, K1B, K2A, K2B, K3A, K2B, K1A, K2B* repeat 3 times more

Row 8: *P2A, P1B, P2A, P3B, P2A, P2B, P1A, P2B, P3A, P2B* repeat 3 times more

Row 9: *K3A, K1B, K2A, K1B, K3A, K3B, K1A, K2B, K1A, K3B* repeat 3 times more

Row 10: *P4A, P1B, P5A, P4B, P1A, P5B* repeat 3 times more

Row 11: *K12A, K12B* repeat 3 times more, to the end of the row


Tricky bit done!

Work another 2 or 3 cm in st. st. stripes (this should be to the bottom of the spout)

To shape for spout:

With a RS row: K40, cast off 1,turn

Next and every alternate row: Purl all stitches to end, turn.

- K18, cast off 2 stitches, turn

- K16, cast off 2 stitches, turn

- K14, cast off 3 stitches, turn

- Purl to end of row, cut yarn and slip stitches onto a stitch holder

Attach yarn at the other end of the row, cast off 1 stitch, knit to end of row

Next and every alternate row: Purl all stitches on needle, turn

- Cast off 2 stitches, knit to end of row

- Cast off 2 stitches, knit to end of row

- Cast off 3 stitches, knit to end of row

- Purl all stitches on needle, cut yarn

Slip stitches on holder back onto the needle, attach yarn at beginning of the row.

Knit to the spout shaping, cast on 16, knit to end of row.

Work about 2 cm in st. st. stripes , to reach the top of the cafetiere (bottom of the lid).



Shape for top:

*K18, K2tog* repeat to end of row

Purl all stitches on every purl row

*K17, K2tog* repeat to end of row

Continue shaping evenly in this way for about 5 or 6cm. (This is the radius of the top of the cafetiere, reduce/increase this length as necessary)

Next Row: *K2tog* repeat to end of row

Next Row: Purl all stitches

Eyelet row: *K4, yf K2tog* repeat to end of row.

Work another 2cm in st. st. stripes. Cast off.

For the finishing touches, it is helpful to have the cafetiere to hand as you can ‘try it on’ and make as much ribbing as you need. If you aren’t the lucky owner of said cafetiere, the following instructions should do the trick anyway...

With 3 dpns, pick up and knit 10 stitches on either side of the spout opening, and 16 stitches across the top. Work 4 or 5 rows in K2, P2 rib. Cast off.

Sew up seam from the top of the cosy to about where the top of your handle begins (anywhere between 2 and 10 cms!)

Sew up seam from the bottom of the cosy to about where the bottom of your handle begins (around 2-4 cm)

Pick up and knit around the handle with 4 dpns (4 stitches top and bottom, about 30 stitches at the sides)

Work 3 rows in K2, P2 rib.

Keeping to rib pattern, create button hole in the centre of one of the sides by *yf, K2tog*

Work another couple of rows in rib (enough to join up with button under your handle) Cast off.

Sew on a nice, shiny button.

Knit a 3 stitch I-chord to fit through the eyelets. (knot at each end to stop it falling out)

Get the kettle on! (and a cake.. you deserve it after all that hard work :-) )


Monday, 30 November 2009

Procrastiknitting

Why is it that when you have time on your hands (actually, can't remember when the last time that was!) you don't feel like doing/making anything- but when you have a 5000 word report to write in 4 days, followed by some horrendous Matlab assignment for the following week- your thoughts turn to anything but?

So today I have been daydreaming about Banana loaf (would have been tucking in now, but for lack of orange juice) and ooh! wouldn't it be nice to have some mince pies as its December tomorrow? Then I think- Argh! December tomorrow! I have so much stuff to do!

Then I think - December = Christmas, think of all the lovely woolly fun that can be had! I've got a bag full of aran wool from Oxfam that would make some toasty mittens...(it still smells of Oxfam though...)

But alas, back to psychoacoustics! Which, by the way is ear-based crazyness and I like very much. But do I HAVE to write about it? Its all there in the books!

Perhaps I'll dig out the Christmas tree this evening.... Slap my wrists! my word count is suffering!

Sunday, 15 November 2009

Slip for Lippy Make-up Bag

Ravelers go here for nice shiny PDF:




This will make a great quick-knit gift, uses up less than 50g each of 3 different coloured yarn so great for left-overs!

You will need:
DK weight yarn in 3 colours (less than 50g each)
4mm needles
6" zip
fabric for lining (remnants are great for this)





Slip Stitch Pattern

  1. With A, cast on 46 stitches


  2. With A (wrong side) K all stitches


  3. With B K3 *sl1 wyb, K2, repeat from * to last stitch, K1


  4. With B K3 *sl1 wyf, K2, repeat from * to last stitch, K1


  5. With C *K2, sl1 wyb, repeat from * to last stitch, K1


  6. With C *K1, sl1 wyf, K2, repeat from * to end of row


  7. With A K1,* sl1 wyb, K2, repeat from * to end of row


  8. With A *K2, sl1 wyf, repeat from * to last stitch, K1


Repeat rows 3-8 until work measures about 10 inches

With A, knit two rows

Cast off

To make up:

Fold the bag in half with right sides together and seam using whipstitch (or whatever you fancy, really)

Sew in zip and line- easy peasy lemon squeezy :-)









Hello World!

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my procrastiknitting blog thingy!

Watch this space for free knitting patterns, chocolate covered things and general rambling.

Raben :)