The Knit Guru

Knitting projects, patterns and inspiration

, ,

Basic Hot Water Bottle Cover – Free Knitting Pattern

Published by

juanamac

on

 As far as old school cozy goes, it doesn’t get better than a hot water bottle. Back when I had surgery last year, all I wanted was the instant warmth of the hottie, and a snuggly knitted cover to boot. This is the simplest of the covers (There will be a total of 3 patterns in this set). Why have I not shared these as yet? Mostly because I figured, why would anyone else want one? Then more and more people have been interested, and I will admit to knitting more and giving them away to friends.

This pattern is also available for free over on Ribblr if you prefer that interactive format.

Hot water bottle covers don’t come easier than this

You will need:
– 4.5mm straight knitting needles
– DK or Aran weight yarn (100gm is more than enough)
– Darning needle

I used this here: Lincraft Cakes. (Not sponsored, but an idea of weight and length. The ball made 3 hot water bottle covers)

The instructions say to “make 1”. It does not matter how you do this. You can chose to knit into the front and back of a stitch to add a stitch. You could knit into the jog between the stitches. Whatever method you prefer. I’ll also be rather indescriminate whether I say knit or just k…. and the same with Purl or just p.

Cast on 60 stitches. Place a stitch marker at 30 stitches – the halfway point. This will make it easier to know the middle – as this cover is folded in half and seamed up at the end.
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
K2, make 1, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, make 1, knit 2, slip marker, k2, make 1, knit to last 2, make 1, k2 – (64 stitches)
Purl row
K2, make 1, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, make 1, knit 2, slip marker, k2, make 1, knit to last 2, make 1, k2 – (68 stitches)
Purl row
K2, make 1, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, make 1, knit 2, slip marker, k2, make 1, knit to last 2, make 1, k2 – (72 stitches)
Purl row

Stockinette stitch the next 50 rows.

K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, SSK, knit 2, slip marker, k2, SSK, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (68 stitches)
Purl row
K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, SSK, knit 2, slip marker, k2, SSK, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (64 stitches)
Purl row
K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, SSK, knit 2, slip marker, k2, SSK, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (60 stitches)
Purl row

Knit 2, Purl 2 rib – Complete this over the next 24 rows

Cast off with around 40cm of yarn tail remaining. Use this tail to stitch up the side and bottom of your cover.

The cover unsewn
Artsy shot of the neck decrease

32 responses to “Basic Hot Water Bottle Cover – Free Knitting Pattern”

  1. Judy Vallas Avatar
    Judy Vallas

    Great simple pattern – thanks! I think in your decrease rows from 72 to 68 stitches, you did a copy/paste and should have changed the “make1s” to either k2tog or SSK.

    Reply
    1. Dawn Avatar
      Dawn

      as a true beginner to knitting this seems like a mistake to me as well. Did you knit this project with the make 1’s as k2tog? How did it turn out?

      Reply
      1. juanamac Avatar
        juanamac

        Heya – it’s a typo. It should be fixed now. Thank you.

    2. Robyn Avatar
      Robyn

      the row should read

      k2, k2tog, k to 4 sts before marker, SSK, k2, sl marker, k2, SSK, k to last 4, k2tog, k2, (68)

      Reply
  2. Mia Avatar
    Mia

    Will chunky yarn be too thick?

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      It would depend…. I would recommend upping the needle size for chunky yarn to at least a 6mm and dropping the number of stitches and rows. If you have your hot water bottle with you, you can use it as a guide to change these things around. As it’s a hot water bottle, it would be a forgiving project to just have a go at pattern alteration if you wanted to use the chunky yarn.

      Reply
  3. Helen Avatar
    Helen

    Just finished making this and it turned out really nicely. I adapted slightly for the decrease rows and used SSK / K2tog to get left and right leaning stitches. Looks lovely!

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      That’s brilliant. And a wonderful alteration.

      Reply
  4. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    I’m trying adapt this for a smaller (mini) hot water bottle, but I’m getting a little confused as to how I could do this or whether it’s worth it. I really would appreciate it if you can help!

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      Ironically I have a mini hot water bottle pattern that I’ve been humming and haaaring about posting…. So I will have to sort myself out and post it for you.

      Reply
  5. Pat brown Avatar
    Pat brown

    What is the length before you shape at the top.for normal size hottie.

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      Hiya – 23cm from the increase to the start of the decrease at the top on my ones. I hope this helps.

      Reply
  6. Mini Hot Water Bottle Cover – Free Knitting Pattern – The Knit Guru Avatar
    Mini Hot Water Bottle Cover – Free Knitting Pattern – The Knit Guru

    […] first 2 patterns are here:Simple Hot Water Bottle CoverTextured Hot Water Bottle […]

    Reply
  7. Bernadette Avatar
    Bernadette

    I’ve just started this pattern in a chunky yarn and it is knitting up beautifull. When it comes to finishing and sewing up, how do you get the bottle in? Does the bottle just get enclosed in it ?

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      Heya – the ribbing around the top pulls the top in around the top of the bottle nicely. I just bend the hot water bottle a little and they go in easily. The top opens pretty wide with the ribbing pulling it into shape.

      Reply
      1. Bernadette Avatar
        Bernadette

        Thank you so much for your reply. I think I’ll be making more of these.

  8. Jodie Elizabeth Cooke Avatar
    Jodie Elizabeth Cooke

    What ssize hot water bottle is this for?

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      It’s the standard size of hot water bottle – 2L I believe. I have a separate pattern for the smaller ones.

      Reply
  9. Teresa Avatar
    Teresa

    hi I’m making this pattern but I’m up to the part where I decrease and do the shaping but the pattern says I make 1 stitch 2 before the marker which I’ve done. But my stitches are not decreasing they are staying the same. If you decrease 2 stitches and add 2 stitches along the row you end up with the same amount of stitches. They don’t decrease. This must be a typo right?

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      You’re right – it’s a typo. It’s meant to be a knit 2 together.

      Reply
      1. Sandy Avatar
        Sandy

        hi Juanamac, I have ended up with 86 stitches! What have I done please ?

        Sandy

        rsharvey49@gmail.com

      2. juanamac Avatar
        juanamac

        Where in the pattern have you ended up with 86 stitches? I can try and figure out what’s going on then. 👍

  10. Elsie Avatar
    Elsie

    after the 50 rows of stockinette I moved the halfway marker up to the most recent row and put it at the 36th stitch so it was halfway. Is that right or should I leave it at 30?

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      Heya – the halfway marker should stay at halfway. There should be increases on either side of the marker keeping it at halfway. (But I’ll re-check the pattern)

      Reply
  11. Gloria Avatar
    Gloria

    I like this pattern but what I would like is a drinks bottle holder

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      I haven’t thought of making a water bottle holder in knitting…. I have a tutorial for a water bottle holder in crochet…. I might have to make a knit one.

      Reply
    2. Robyn Avatar
      Robyn

      i would only cast on 30 – 40sts depending on size of bottle. Place marker in center. Keep increases and decreases as for hot water bottle and adjust length to suit. Hope that helps

      Reply
  12. Andrea Gray Avatar
    Andrea Gray

    I’ve been knitting this hot water bottle pattern using the double stranding method (latest one in pink and cream) and it looks lovely. As our energy prices in the UK are so high, and our Government cut the winter fuel payment to pensioners, I’m knitting hot water bottle covers for a local charity, as people couldn’t afford to put their heating on over the winter, so thank you for sharing this easy to knit pattern.

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      That’s so wonderful. You’re a legend.

      Reply
  13. Hope Avatar
    Hope

    I’m somewhat new to knitting so idk if this is a silly question ! But I’m just through getting to the widest part of the project and this doesn’t look anywhere close to the width of the hot water bottle I’m thinking of (which I thought was a standard size). Will it stretch to be the size of the bottle or am I missing something else ?

    Reply
    1. juanamac Avatar
      juanamac

      All good – do you knit tight? The finished cover will be stretchy. They always look thin until it’s for the bottle in it. Have a look at mine on the video – I think I show it at the end with and without the hot water bottle in it. You’re probably fine – but if you are a very tight knitter and the fabric isn’t stretchy because of this, it might pay to use a knitting needle one size higher to help with the tension.

      Reply
  14. Knitted Hot Water Bottle Cover Free Patterns – Knit-Knit

    […] theknitguru […]

    Reply

Leave a comment

Previous Post
Next Post