Here's a free pattern for the owl tea cosy.
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These tea cosies have been crocheted in Patons Lite Inca yarn, available from   http://stores.ebay.com.au/Creativity-to-Go 

           

Owl Tea Cosy

Worked in crocodile stitch and double crochet.

You’ll need a 4 mm crochet hook, and 2 x 50g balls of 8 ply yarn, plus a small quantity of a lighter colour yarn for the eye circles.

2 purchased eyes. Bead or toggle button for the beak.

First side.

With a 4 mm crochet hook and 8 ply yarn, make 29 chain.

Row 1. Work 1 treble in the 5th chain from the hook, *miss 2 chain.

In the next stitch, work 1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the row.

Note that there are now 9 V-shapes.

Turn.

Row 2. Right Side. Work 3 chain. This counts as the 1st treble. Working down the right- hand side of the first V-shape, work 4 more treble, 1 chain.

Note that the treble are worked such that the Wrong Side of the treble stitches forms the Right Side of the work. The stitches sit nicely when worked this way.

Rotate the work so that you can now work 5 treble up the left hand side of the V-stitch. This completes one crocodile scale. Continue along the row: *miss the next V stitch; work 5 treble, 1chain, 5 treble into the next V-stitch.* Work from * to * to the end of the row. (5 scales.)

Note: When working the last treble of the last scale, instead of working it over the shaft of the V-stitch, work it into the 2^nd last chain stitch; this will avoid making a hole larger than the others.

Turn.

Row 3. 3 chain; work a V-stitch (1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr) in each of the 1chain spaces of the first row. Work the hook under the join between the crocodile scales as well as the 1 ch space, as you work every second V-stitch. Finish with 1 tr into the third of the 3 ch that was worked at the beginning of row 2.

Turn.

Row 4. Slip stitch into the first 2 treble and into the 1 ch space of the first V-stitch. *Into the next V-stitch, work 5 tr, 1 ch, 5 tr. Miss the next V-stitch.* Repeat from * to * until 1 V-stitch remains. Slip stitch into the 1 ch space, into the last treble, and into the 3^rd of the 3 chain. Turn. (4 scales)

Row 5. As for row 3, except that the last treble will be worked into the treble of the previous row.

Row 6. 1 ch, 5 tr down post of first V-stitch, 1 ch, 5 tr up other side of V-stitch. Miss 1 V stitch. Repeat to the end of the row. Slip stitch into the 3^rd of the 3 chain.

Repeat the last 2 rows until 7 rows of scales have been completed; ending with a row 6.

Decrease.

Row 1. For the next V stitch row, 3 chain, miss the first 1 chain space; V stitch into each of the next 7 1-chain spaces; miss the last 1-chain space; 1 treble into the last stitch of the row.

Row 2. Work 4 crocodile scales.

Break off yarn.

Second side.

Work as for the first side; don’t break off the yarn.

Sew the lower edges together, for approx. 2 cm.

Working in rounds with right side facing, 4 chain, 1 treble into the same spot as the 1^st chain, catch the top corner of the other side of the tea cosy as you work this stitch. Continue around with a ‘row 3’ as before, catching the two top edges of the other side of the tea cosy as you work around. End with a slip stitch into the 3^rd of the 4 starting chain.

Next round, slip stitch across the next 1 chain space and into the second 1 ch space.

Work one round of ‘scales’. End with a slip stitch into the first treble.

Head.

Round 1. 6 dc into a magic ring.

Round 2. 2 dc into each dc. (12 stitches)

Round 3. (1 dc into 1^st stitch, 2 dc into next stitch) repeat x 6. (18 stitches)

Round 4. (2 dc into 1^st stitch, 1 dc into next 2 stitches) repeat x 6. (24 stitches)

Round 5. (1 dc into each of the next 3 stitches, 2 dc into the next stitch) repeat x 6. (30 stitches)

Round 6. (1 dc into each of the next 4 stitches, 2 dc into the next stitch) repeat x 6. (36 stitches)

Round 7. (1 dc into each of the next 5 stitches, 2 dc into the next stitch) repeat x 6. (42 stitches)

Rounds 8-18. Work 1 dc into every stitch.

Rounds 19.  1 dc into the back loop only of each stitch.

Round 20. (5 dc, decrease.) 36 stitches.

Round 21. (4 dc, decrease.) 30 stitches.

Round 22. (3 dc, decrease.) 24 stitches.

Round 23. (2 dc, decrease.) 18 stitches.

Round 24. (1 dc, decrease.) 12 stitches.

Round 25. Work 1 dc in each stitch…..12 sts.

Finish off, leaving a 15 cm tail of yarn.

Eye circles.

Make 2.

Using a 4mm hook and a lighter colour, work 4 chain, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1. 1 chain, 8 dc into the ring……. 8 stitches

Round 2.  2 dc into each dc of the previous row…….. 16 stitches.

Round 3. (2 dc in next dc, 1 dc into next dc), repeat x 8……… 24 stitches

Round 4. (1 dc into each of next 2 dc, 2 dc into next dc) repeat x 8…… 32 stitches

Finish off; leave a 30 cm tail of yarn.

Pin the eye circles in place; the lower edge of the circle should be just touching the 16^th row. The circles should nearly meet at the centre front.

Attach the purchased eyes through the centre of the circles and through the head.

Stuff the head softly, so that the base (area below the 19^th row) sits flat.

Using the tail of yarn at the lower end of the head, stitch a row of running stitches around the opening.

Pull the gathering thread tightly and fasten off the opening.

Slip stitch the eye circles onto the head, using the yarn tail. Finish off.

If desired, stitch a fluffy yarn around the outer edge of the eye circles to give a feathery look.

Sew on a bead or toggle button for the beak.

To make the owl more ‘owlish’, needle sculpt the face as follows:

Thread a large darning needle with yarn in the same colour as the eye circles .Insert the needle through the middle of the base of the head; let it come out close to the inner side of one eye. Take a tiny stitch, and pull the needle through close to the insertion spot. Pull the ends to make the eye go deeper into the head. Anchor the stitch securely. Repeat for the other eye.

Head ‘feathers’

Please note…these are not ears.

Work 11 chain. Treble into the 5 chain from the hook. *Miss 2 chain, work 1 treble, 1 chain, 1 treble into the next stitch.* Repeat from * to*. 3 chain, turn.

Work 2 crocodile stitch scales as before. Fasten off.

Fold horizontally. Attach the head feathers, using the photo as a guide.

Finish off

Join the head to the crocodile stitch body. The centre front of the head is in line with the centre front of work. The openings for the handle and spout of the teapot line up with the sides of the head.

Slip stitch the top of the body to the loops along row 19 of the head.

Finish off ends

Copyright © Lorraine Dunbar