This cheerful design might just be the ultimate in kitsch: it is inspired by the plastic buckets that were popular for keeping ice cool during the 1960s, though fortunately this has the opposite effect!
Materials
● Patons Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK 100% wool (98yd/90m per 50g ball)
● 2 x 50g balls in 4960 yellow (A)
● Twilleys Freedom Spirit 100% wool (131yd/120m per 50g)
● Oddment of 514 Nature for crown (B)
● A pair of 5.5mm (US9:UK5) needles for main pieces
● A pair of 3.25mm (US3:UK10) needles for leaves
● Darning needle
Measurements
Height: 6in (15cm) excluding leaves
Lower edge circumference: 15in (38cm)
Tension
Approx 18 sts and 18 rows to 4in (10cm) over pattern using 5mm needles and yarn A double. Use larger or smaller needles to obtain correct tension.
Pattern note
Yarn A is used double throughout.
Side 1
With 5.5mm needles and A double, cast on 32 sts and knit 1 row.
Now work in pattern thus:
Row 1 (WS): Purl, wrapping yarn twice for each st.
Row 2: *Sl4 sts and drop extra wraps, replace these 4 long sts on left needle, (k4tog, p4tog) twice into long sts; rep from * to end.
Row 3: P2, p28 wrapping yarn twice for each st, p2.
Row 4: K2, *sl4 sts and drop extra wraps, replace 4 long sts on left needle, (k4tog, p4tog) twice into long sts; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2. These 4 rows form patt.
Rep until work measures approx 41⁄2in (11.5cm) ending with row 2 of patt. Adjust length if necessary by working extra rows in groups of 4.
Break off yarn and leave sts on a holder.
Side 2
Complete second side to the same point as side 1, but do not break off yarn.
Join for top
Next row: P2, purl across sts of side 2 wrapping yarn twice for each st, purl across sts of side 1 wrapping yarn twice for each st, p2.
Next row: K2, *sl4 sts and drop extra wraps, replace 4 long sts on left needle and (k4tog, p4tog) twice into long sts; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Next row: Purl, wrapping yarn twice for each st.
Next row (dec): *Sl4 sts and drop extra wraps, replace 4 long sts on left needle and (k4tog, p4tog) once into long sts; rep from * to end (32 sts).
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog to end (16 sts).
Next row: Purl.
Next row (eyelets): K2tog, *(yf, k2tog); rep from * to end (15 sts).
Work 3 rows in stst.
Cast off very loosely.
Crown
Lower set of leaves
With 3.25mm needles and B, cast on 6 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: **Sl1, k to last st, inc in last st (7 sts).
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Sl1, k to last st, inc in last st (8 sts).
Continue in this way until there are 11 sts on the needle.
Next row: Cast off 5 sts, k to end (6 sts).**
Rep from ** to ** six times more (7 leaves made).
Cast off rem 6 sts.
Middle set of leaves
With 3.25mm needles and B, cast on 8 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: **Sl1, k to last st, inc (9 sts).
Next row:Inc in first st, k to end (10 sts).
Next row: Sl1, k to last st, inc (11 sts).
Cont in this way until there are 16 sts on needle.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: Cast off 8 sts, k to end (8 sts).**
Rep from ** to ** five times more (6 leaves made)
Cast off rem 8 sts.
Top set of leaves
With 3.25mm needles and B, cast on 10 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: **Sl1, k to last st, inc (11 sts).
Next row:Inc in first st, k to end (12 sts).
Next row: Sl1, k to last st, inc (13 sts).
Cont in this way until there are 18 sts on needle.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: Cast off 8 sts, k to end (10 sts).**
Rep from ** to ** five times more (6 leaves made).
Cast off rem 10 sts.
Making up
Fold back the rows of stocking stitch at the top and catch in place to form a picot edge. Join from the top edge down to form holes for the spout and handle. Join the first few rows at the lower edge for about 1in (2.5cm).
Crown
Join each of the leaf sections into a circle. Layer one circle on top of the next with the shorter leaves outermost. Catch stitch layers together at lower edge, easing if necessary. Insert crown in top of work and sew firmly in place behind picot edge.