Are you a teetotaler? Do you tote your tea with you? Maybe you’re a teetotaling tea toter! If so, you’ll need these handy wallets to keep your tea bags from shredding in the bottom of your purse. Knit flat and seamed up the sides, they even hold the larger sized Tazo or Numi tea bags. I made mine with kitchen cotton, but any worsted weight scraps will corral your tea bags just as handily.
materials: worsted weight yarn, US 6 needles, darning needle, button
abbreviations:
kfb= knit in front and back of stitch
co= cast on
directions:
To To Make Flap:
co 3
k3, turn
kfb, k1, kfb, turn
k across, turn
kfb, k3, kfb, turn
k across, turn
kfb, k1, p3, bind off one stitch purlwise, k1, kfb, turn
k4, cast on 2 stitches using backwards loop method, k4, turn
kfb, k1, p6, k1, kfb, turn
k across, turn
kfb, k1, p8, k1, kfb, turn
k across, turn
kfb, k1, p10, k1, kfb, turn
k across, turn
k3, p10, k3, turn
k across
To Make Tea Holding Part of tea toter:
repeat last 2 rows 18 times, turn
To Make Envelope Style indented front of tea toter:
k3, p3, k4, p3, k3, turn
k 3 rows, turn
k7, turn and knit back
k5, turn and knit back
k3, turn and knit back, turn
k to end of row, turn
k 7, turn and knit back, turn
k 5, turn and knit back, turn
k 3, turn and knit back, turn
bind off all stitches
fasten off
To Finish:
sew up sides, leaving flap free. Sew button to front to match up with buttonhole.
Now you can tote your tea in style!
Download Simply Notable’s Tea Toters PDF Pattern
Special thank you to Annemie Rook who has translated the Tea Toter pattern for our Dutch speaking Crafty Friends. Thank you Annemie!
Download Simply Notable’s Tea Toters PDF Pattern – Dutch Translation
Ā© Copyright 2012 Simply Notable
Fine Print: We are absolutely flattered that our crafty friends would want to make cute items from our original copyright patterns to sell in their online shops or brick and mortar stores. We are thrilled to grant that permission. We do, however, request that anywhere the item is for sale, (on each and every online listing OR on each item in your brick and mortar store that a Simply Notable pattern has been used), that you link back to us here at Simply Notable so others can enjoy the same free pattern you utilized. When you sprinkle the Simply Notable love back our way in the form of links, it lets us know how much you appreciate the free patterns weāve shared. The only hard line we draw here at Simply Notable is that the free patterns themselves absolutely cannot be sold.
This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing the pattern – I can’t wait to cast on for this! It will make very nice gifts as well. I can see giving some of theses, complete with tea bags, as holiday gifts!
I totally agree with Kristie!! I already have some friends who I can knit these for!! Great holiday gifts with tea and pretty tea cup or mug!!
So glad you were inspired, Kimmee! š
Those are adorable! I love tea. And I do carry it in my purse, lol.
These are so much prettier than the snack sized plastic bags I use to carry tea bags in my purse. Now I can put my small scraps of dishcloth cotton to good use. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea and pattern!
Great pattern and tutorial, thanks for sharing!
These are so cute! I crochet, but my mom knits. I’ll have to ask her to make me some!
Thanks so much, Lauren! That’s right – put Mom to work. That’s what Carli does to me. š
Downloaded your wonderful pattern
knit one up
and blogged about it here http://GerryART.blogspot.com
I’m of to raid my leftover stash pile for more Tea Toters
Hi Gerry! Your tea toter looks so cute. You’re tension is so perfect, too. I really love your blog! Thanks so much for taking the time to include us in a blog post. We appreciate it. š
My tension was neaten up by a quick soak and blocking :^)
These are going to be so fun to knit up.
I’ve sorted out some Noro yarn for my next attempt.
I’ll be back.
Earl Grey hugs
Gerry
I made this and put it on my blog. I also tweeked it and made it a bit larger for my single cup coffee bags. I had so much fun making them!!!
If it’s okay, my blog is http://jcearthangel.blogspot.com
I love your site!!!
Great idea, Paula! Thanks so much for linking to us on your blog. We really appreciate it. We’re really glad to have you following along. š
Hello. This is soooo brilliant and adorable.
Thank you for sharing.
I blog in Japanese. I would like to know if it’s all right to post the translated version on my blog. Of course, I am going to clarify that it’s from this blog and add link to here.
Thanks again and happy knitting!
Hi Eriko,
I’m sorry, but it’s important to us to keep the pattern itself on our own site. However, if you’d like to make a japanese translation of the pattern, we’d be more than happy to add it to our site on the pattern page and we’ll link to your site to give you credit for the translation. Happy Knitting to you, my friend! š
Hi, Thanks for the response.
I totally understand.
I will let you know when I’m done with the translation.
Happy Knitting!
Love this project, thanks so much for sharing!
You’re very welcome, Sabrina! Thanks for reading! š
This is an awesome pattern! Thank you so much for sharing, can’t wait to try it.
You’re so very welcome. Hope you enjoy it! š
Cool pattern! I have a question, though. I don’t understand how to, for example, k7,turn and knit back, turn or when it says to turn after every row. I thought you put your work in your left hand after you’re done with that row, so what does it mean?
Hi Madeline! when you’re knitting an item flat, (such as this item), after you finish knitting a row, you turn the work to knit the next row. I think that’s the same as what you mean by putting the work in your left hand when you’re done with a row. However, at the end of this pattern, you use what is called short rows, so you only knit part of the row, then turn the work and knit back in the other direction. This creates the indented shape, like an inside of an envelope. Hope that helps!
thanks for this cute pattern, making a few for gifts and myself.
You’re welcome, Jadee! Hope they come out well for you. š
Thanks so much for the pattern. This is a great thing to add to my Mom’s mothers day gift!
You’re welcome solina! Glad it worked out for you. š
Hi! I’m a new knitter and I just fell in love with this pattern! One question: I followed the pattern and mine would fit the size of a pack of sugar to put into my tea. LOL It’s not long enough. When you say repeat last 2 rows 18 times, does that mean each row 18 times or the 2 rows combined 18 times? Trying to figure out what I did wrong. Maybe I need to use the next size up in needles? Thanks for sharing a great pattern! I see many gifts for my tea friends! š
Hi Beth! It means repeat the combo of the two rows 18 times. What kind of yarn did you use? The kitchen cotton like Peaches & Cream (or is it Sugar & Cream?) that you buy at most large craft stores seems to knit up into a good size toter. š
Thanks for writing! Got it figured out and I just love this pattern! I am using the cotton that you use to make dishcloths out of. I already have my cotton balls lined up waiting to be knitted into tea toters! š Thanks again ~ I’m having too much fun with this pattern! I don’t know if I can wait till Christmas to give them out as gifts! š
he he!
Finally got it.:) Thanks Julie for the timely help and I am the proud owner of my newly knit teatoter+ coin purse + infinite possibilities.
hugs:))
Hugs back to you Prashanti! Good work! Happy Tea Toting. š
Could you please make a crochet pattern of this. i have a lot of friends that i would love to make this for. but my knitting sucks lol so please could you.
Thank you so much
Pam smith
I think this pattern is absolutely perfect. I’m going to make mine a bit longer so I can put my pendants that are on cards into it. That way my customers have a soft package that they can take them home in and store in if they choose. Thank you so very much for this lovely pattern.
Bonnie, I’m so glad to know it serves such a special purpose for your handicrafts! Very cool!
I’ve had two people ask for help with row 6, so here’s some clarification:
In row 6 you will have 7 stitches. You will kfb in the first stitch, k1 in the second stitch, purl in the 3rd, 4th and 5th stitch. Then you’ll bind off one of those purls by passing the second to last stitch over the last stitch. Then you’ll k1 in the 6th stitch and kfb in the 7th stitch. That will give you eight stitches to start the next row.
I just tried this pattern and wrote a review of it on my blog: http://knittingpatternreview.blogspot.com/2013/02/simply-notables-tea-toters.html
I so wish someone could make a pattern of this in Crochet i don’t knit but I would love one and i have some friends that would love one as a thinking of you gift please think about it. I just love the shape, and how cute it is.
Thank you
I’ll put that on my “to do” list, Pam. I’m not sure now how I’d accomplish it in crochet, but I’ll put on my thinking cap. š
lovely pattern got to give it a go x
Thank you so much for this. My mother wants me to make her a bunch so she can give as gifts. I am going to make a crochet pattern for them as well. I also like your color choices.
Ann
I am fairly new to knitting, so forgive me!! When knitting flat the pattern is very simple for me to follow up until you turn the work mid-row. I’ve tried looking up video tutorials, but none of them seem to be helpful. I understand the needles basically switch hands, but what do you do with the working yarn that’s left on the left needle? Also, when you say turn and knit in back (for example….)
k3, p3, k4, p3, k3, turn
k 3 rows, turn
k7, turn and knit back
k5, turn and knit back
k3, turn and knit back, turn
On the first row do you just turn by switching the needles in each hand? On the third row you would knit seven, turn the work, then knit into the back of the firs stitch only? Then for row four continue to knit five more stitches, switch needles, and knit in just the back of the first stitch? I’m sorry I know this has to be way simpler than I’m making it. I’m really lost. Help please!
Hi Ashley,
When you turn and knit back, you simply turn the work around so the other side of the knitting is facing you, and knit back the way you came to the end of the row. It’s the same way you always turn your work and knit the other way, only in this pattern you’re turning it as instructed, (like after 7 or 5 stitches), before the end of the row. Hope that makes sense!
Thank you..I was thinking maybe it meant to knit in the back of the stitch rather than knit until the end of that row. Thanks again!
You’re so welcome Ashley! So glad it helped! š
But when I turn the yarn is on the wrong needle. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Sharon! After you knit partway across the row, you just turn the needle and begin where you left off. This is called short rows. Check out our video on Knitting Origami Hearts to see the technique in action: https://www.simplynotable.com/2018/simply-notable-video-patterns/
I’m going to make some of these for my Mom. She takes packets of natural sweetener loose in her purse (to use in her ice Tea at restaurants). This will keep them nice and tidy š
Thank You for sharing this cute pattern
Excellent idea, Lori! And you’re welcome! š Thanks for visiting!
LOVED this pattern. I am a new self-taught knitter and I made this in 2 hours! Did I miss how to make the buttonhole, though? After I made it I noticed there was no hole for the button- I just made a loop with yarn instead…
Hooray Nikki! So glad it worked out well for you! š P.S.: just noticed I didn’t answer about the button hole. In the beginning of the pattern – where it has you bind off one stitch purlwise – that creates the buttonhole.
Happy Knitting! š
Thank you for posting the pattern. I tried it out this afternoon and it turned out well.
Just as the previous poster said that she missed the button hole, so did I but made a loop to adapt for the mistake.
Happy Holidays!
Thank you for this nice pattern.
I worked from the Dutch pattern and noticed that one row in this translation is missing. After you have 8 stitches on your needle, turn, k 4, cast on 2 stitches using backwards loop method, k 4, turn. Translated in Dutch: 4 r – 2 st meerderen volgens de lusjes methode – 4 r.
Thanks so much for the heads up, Ria!
hi thanks for sharing the pattern i have made these for a friend who is a tea drinker like me they hold 8 comfortably of the peppermint tea that i drink
hi i am going to add the ones i knitted to Pinterest but want to link it back to here but i dont know how to do that can you please help me thanks
hi i have worked out how to link back to you so you get the credit for the pattern thanks again for such a great little gift idea
Thank you for sharing your tea toter pattern; I can now carry my tea-bags without worry, thanks to your generous spirit.
You’re quite welcome Hazel. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. š
I have made a bunch of these as I used up odds and ends yarn and buttons. It was fun to add stripes and get better at counting rows! I did want to comment that the instructions say to k7 then k5, etc. I found that the “holes” created from stitching back were more centered if I k8, then k6, then k4. Hope that makes sense. Although I’ve given only a couple of these away, I have the completed ones — about a dozen — hanging like bunting until I decide what to do with them. Great for tea bags of course, but I am planning to put completed small pieces of jewelry in mine for gift-giving. This valentine’s I will use a few to tuck in candy and maybe some movie passes.
Thanks so much. As a beginner knitter it was a fun project and I felt more confidence with each on I completed. I’ve been browsing the web looking for a simple to make market bag that doesn’t take a special (dpn) needles or difficult methods (like picking up stitches or working in the round). I do best when I learn a little at time. If you have any suggestions along those lines I would love to hear from you.
Also wanted to say that I have made a lot of dishcloths and simple scarves and this was different and satisfying. Thanks again!
Hey! Thanks for sharing your mods, Tink! I love the idea of packaging jewelry, candy or movie passes as Valentine gifts. Clever!!! Do you crochet? I really enjoyed making the Summer Province String Bag. It’s easy and quick. I’ve used it for years now!
Thank you soooo much for the tea toters…..I will make some for my friends, and they can use for tea, but also for sugar substitute, or anything small……
Lovely pattern, will cast on for some totes today!
I’m Dutch and noticed that in the Dutch translation the followingrow is missing:
k4, cast on 2 stitches using backwards loop method, k4, turn
Perhaps you could have your traslator look into this?
Greetings,
Janneke
Thankyou Janneke! I will do that!
I use plastic most of the time when out shopping. However, at times I was glad to have a little paper as well as coins for a small purchase. These bitty little bags would be ideal for this and of course, would make superlative gifts,,, sure doesn’t take much yarn, either. Thanks so much for sharing your talent,,, plan to make several of these for some nice people who have done me a good turn SMILE Helen
What a nice thing to do, Helen! I love making little gifties like these to share with friends too. š
What does kfb mean? I’ve looked it up under knitting abbreviations and can’t find it…..
Hi LuAnn! It means to knit in the front and back of the same stitch. We have a post that lists all the knitting abbreviations we use in our patterns here. Hope that helps!
This item (Tea Toter) is also great for carrying/storing your rosary in. I am not Catholic, buy my late aunt was, and I got her rosaries… that were stored in little pockets just like this!
I am totally confused with the end of the tea holder doesn’t make any sense to me …bind off stitches do you mean cast off … do you join wool to do other side of the stitches left on the needles this is totally different to what I am used to knitting
Hi Kim,
Yes, bind off is the same as cast off and no, you do not add wool.
Hope that helps!
-Carli
Thank you for sharing this cute pattern! Iām a beginner and I came across it on Ravelry. Easy to follow, quick to knit, and adorable! I know a few people who are going to be receiving these for the holidays!! Iām even wondering if I could learn how to put an initial or motif on them – maybe duplicate stitching? I love projects that make me want to learn more!
So glad it has been helpful to you, Michelle!