And here is the second in the hot water bottle cover collection that no one asked for…. but I was overly excited to bring to you. This one has a tie at the top to keep it on the bottle, and a textured middle section that feels lovely on your feet.

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 5, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 10, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 5.
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 6, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 12, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 6.

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 7, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 14, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 7.

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 7, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 14, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 7.

Main section:

Over the next 50 rows, knit all the right side stitches.
On the wrong side rows – continue the pattern. Purl 5, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 14, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 7.

Decreasing for the neck section:

K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, make 1, knit 2, slip marker, k2, make 1, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (68 stitches)
Purl 6, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 12, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 6.
K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, make 1, knit 2, slip marker, k2, make 1, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (64 stitches)
Purl 5, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 10, (Purl 2 together, without slipping these stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch.  Slip both stitches onto the right needle) repeat the bracketed section over 20 stitches, purl 5.
K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, make 1, knit 2, slip marker, k2, make 1, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (60 stitches)

Knit 2, Purl 2 rib – Complete this over the next 10 rows
Row of holes for the tie: Knit 1, (knit 2 together, yarn over) – repeat the bracketed section until the last stitch, knit 1.
Resume the ribbed pattern for another 15 rows.

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

For the row of holes, you have several options for the tie.
1. Use a length of ribbon
2. Chain a length of yarn with a crochet hook
3. Knit an icord tie

Here is my icord knitting tutorial: