Make a Cozy Knitted Hot Water Bottle Cover — Striped Red, Orange & Yellow Pattern

Knitted cosy covers are a simple, satisfying way to add warmth and personality to a standard hot water bottle. This one-size pattern uses three contrast colours (red, orange and yellow) and combines garter stitch with a slipped-stitch honeycomb-like pattern for texture. The finished cover folds into a neat bag with a crochet-edged flap and ties to secure the bottle.

Example of the finished cover in the three contrast colours used in this pattern.

Materials

• Original pattern calls for three contrast colours (red, orange and yellow).
• Example shown is knitted in 4 ply - 1 x 50g ball of each colour.
• One pair each of No. 10 and No. 11 needles.
• Crochet hook.
• One hot water bottle "replacement core".

Tension

The wool should knit to a basic tension over st st of 28 sts to 4 inches (10 cm) on No. 10 (3¼ mm) needles.

Size

One size.

A word on the wool

Example used: Phildar Lambswool (a 4 ply wool/acrylic mix) leftover from another project.

Instructions

With No. 11 needles and main colour (red), cast on 58 stitches.

Knit 4 rows in garter stitch (every row knit), then one row purl.

Do not break off the main colour (red).

**Change to number 10 needles and commence pattern as follows, using second colour (orange):

Row 1: (right side) *K4, slip 2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 2: *P4, slip 2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, P4.

Row 3 and 4: As rows 1 and 2.

Break orange wool, and continue in red.

Row 5: knit

Row 6: purl

Row 7: Using the third colour (yellow) K1, *slip 2, K4; repeat from * to last 3sts, slip 2, K1.

Row 8: P1, *slip 2, P4; repeat from * to last 3sts, slip 2, P1.

Row 9 and 10: As rows 7 and 8.

Break yellow wool, and continue in red.

Row 11: knit

Row 12: purl

Rows 13-24: repeat rows 1-12.

Rows 25-30: repeat rows 1-6.

Change to number 11 needles and continue in garter stitch for 15 rows. Purl one row.**

Repeat from ** to ** three times, then rows 1-30 again.

Change to number 11 needles and work in garter stitch for 4 rows. Cast off.

Making up

Press the piece lightly on the wrong side under a damp cloth with a hot iron.

Fold the cover to form a bag as shown in the picture, and sew up the side edges on the inside, either oversewing or with backstitch.

Sew in all the ends on the wrong side.

Crochet edging

Using the main colour (red), work a dc edge around the flap of the cover with ties as follows:

With right side facing, starting at the side edge, work 6 dc up edge of the garter st band, 15 dc up the honeycomb edge, 2 dc up to corner, 3 dc into the corner st.

Then work across the cast-off edge making 2 dc into every 3 cast off sts approximately. After the first 6 dc (or where you want to place a tie) work the first tie by making 40 chain, then working 1 dc into each chain back down to the knitted edge. Continue to work dc into the cast-off sts, making a second tie in the centre of the flap, after approximately 14 dc. Work another 14 dc and make another tie (match the position of the first tie). Work to the edge, 3 dc into the corner st and then finish to match the other side of the flap.

Fasten off.

Work 3 more ties by making 40 chain, then working 1 row of dc into each chain. Sew the ties on to the cover to match the positions of the ties on the flap.

Notes & tips

• If your tension differs from the given gauge, adjust needle size to match the tension before starting.
• Use leftover 4 ply yarns for a lightweight, flexible cover or choose a chunkier yarn and larger needles for a thicker, warmer cover (this will change the finished size).
• Light blocking (as described) evens stitches and makes seaming easier.