how to knit a handy hot water bottle cover
Cute, cosy and practical!
Hot water bottles are actually one of the world's greatest inventions. They deserve to be honoured with this handmade cover! For this project, we used Bendigo Woollen Mills ‘Elixir’ yarn, which you can grab 10% off with a frankie discount.
MATERIALS
1x 200g 16 ply ball of MC
1x 200g 16 ply ball of CC
8.00mm and 6.00mm knitting needles
A 6.50mm crochet hook
A sewing needle to sew in ends
ABBREVIATIONS
K = knit
P = purl
MC = main colour
CC = contrast colour
sts = stitches
M1L (make one left leaning stitch) = With the left needle, pick up the strand between the last stitch knitted and the next stitch from back to front and knit into the front of this stitch.
M1R (make one right leaning stitch) = With the right needle, pick up the strand between the last stitch knitted and the next stitch from back to front and knit into the back of this stitch.
TENSION/GAUGE
11 stitches and 16 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch, using 8.00mm needles. If there are more than 11 stitches to 10cm, use larger needles. If there are less than 11 stitches to 10cm, use smaller needles.
HOW TO
Finished measurements = 23cm wide x 28cm long (to neck), neck = 6cm
Carry colour not in use loosely alongside edge of work, twisting the yarn together every 2nd row (twist the yarn in the same direction every time, bringing the new colour in front of the previous colour) to keep the edges neat and to avoid having lots of ends to sew in.
Using MC and 8.00mm needles, cast on 22 sts.
1st Row: Using MC, purl to end.
2nd Row: Using CC, K1, M1L, knit to last 2 sts, M1R, K1. 24 sts.
3rd Row: Using CC, purl to end.
4th Row: Using MC, K1, M1L, knit to last 2 sts, M1R, K1. 26 sts.
5th Row: Using MC, purl to end.
6th Row: Using CC, knit to end.
7th Row: Using CC purl to end.
8th Row: Using MC, knit to end.
9th Row: Using MC, purl to end. (9 rows)
Repeat rows 6–9 another seven times, then the 6th and 7th rows once more (30 rows).
40th Row: Using MC, K1, slip 1, K1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit to last 3 sts, knit two stitches together, K1. 24sts.
41st Row: Using MC, P1, purl two stitches together, purl to last 3 sts, purl two stitches together through the back loop, P1. 22sts.
42nd Row: Using CC, rep 40th row. 20 sts.
43rd Row: Using CC, rep 41st row. 18sts.
Using MC and 6.00mm needles, knit 1 row.
Next Row: *K1, P1, rep from * to end of row.
Rep last row another 12 more times.
Cast loosely in K1, P1, rib.
With wrong sides together (right side facing outwards), using a 6.50mm crochet hook and using CC work a round of double crochet around entire item starting at the top of neck.
Sew in ends.
This article was produced in partnership with Bendigo Woollen Mills. Want to nab the yarn we’ve used in these projects? Get 10 per cent off any full-price yarn or accessories at the Bendigo Woollen Mills website.