You will need:
1 100g ball of yellow double knit yarn.
1 100g ball of brown double knit yarn.
Knitting needles size 6mm (UK 4. US 10).
Knitting needles size 4mm (UK 8. US 6) (to knit the bumblebees).
Filler to stuff the bumblebee.
Method:
Use the brown yarn. Cast on 35 stitches.
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row).
Change to the yellow yarn.
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch.
Change to brown yarn.
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch.
Change to yellow yarn.
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch.
Change to brown yarn.
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch.
Change to yellow yarn.
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch.
Bind off.
Knit two of these for the front and back of the tea cosy.
How to sew the tea cosy:
With right sides together use the yellow yarn and a knitters needle or embroidery needle to sew the sides seams. Make sure that the stripes match up. Start at the top and sew down 3 inches (7.5cm). Leave a gap. Now sew up 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the seam. This leaves a gap in the middle of the side seam (as shown) for the teapot spout and handle. Sew both the side seams the same.
Gather the top of the tea cosy using a piece of yarn and needle. Use a running stitch around the top edges and pull the yarn tight to close the gap on the top. Secure the ends.
Turn the tea cosy right sides out.
Make a bumblebee:
Knit a little bumblebee. The bee measures approximately 4.5 inches (12cm) long x 3.5 inches (9cm) high and is knitted in garter stitch (knit stitches, no purl).
You will need:
Yellow yarn.
Brown yarn.
Knitting needles size 4mm (UK 8. US 6).
Filler for stuffing.
Method:
Cast on 3 stitches with the brown yarn.
Knit 1 row.
Next row, increase to 5 stitches. Then increase on the following 3 rows. Increase stitches at the beginning and end of the rows.
Increase to 7 stitches.
Increase to 9 stitches.
Increase to 11 stitches.
Knit 1 row.
Change to yellow yarn.
Knit 8 rows.
Change to brown yarn.
Knit 8 rows.
Change to yellow yarn.
Knit 22 rows.
Change to brown yarn.
Knit 8 rows.
Change to yellow yarn.
Knit 8 rows.
Change to brown yarn.
Knit 1 row.
Next row, decrease to 9 stitches. Then decrease on the following 3 rows. Decrease stitches at the beginning and end of the rows.
Decrease to 7 stitches.
Decrease to 5 stitches.
Decrease to 3 stitches.
Knit 1 row.
Bind off.
Wings:
Cast on 6 stitches using the yellow yarn.
Knit 1 row.
Increase to 8 stitches.
Increase to 10 stitches.
Knit 5 rows.
Bind off.
Knit 2 wings.
Sew the bee:
With right sides together, fold the bee in two. Sew around the edges with yarn leaving a gap at the tail end for stuffing.
Turn right sides out.
Stuff the bee with filler. Stitch the gap shut.
Use a piece of yellow yarn to tie around the neck area of the bee to create a head and body shape. Tie it where the yellow and brown yarn join.
Sew eyes on using brown yarn.
Sew the wings on using yellow yarn.
Antennae:
Make the antennae with brown yarn.
Cast on 1 stitch and knit 12 rows.
Bind off. Secure the ends of the antennae with a double knot.
Sew the antennae on to the bee’s head.
The bee is now complete.
Sew the bee on to the top of the tea cosy.
Make an extra bee if you want. I made two.
