The Knit Guru

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. Recently there has been some demand for this pattern to hit the web. This is the smallest of the covers (This is the 3rd pattern in this set).

The first 2 patterns are here:
Simple Hot Water Bottle Cover
Textured Hot Water Bottle Cover

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 all 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 40 stitches. Place a stitch marker at 20 stitches – the halfway point. This will make it easier to know the middle – as this cover is folded in half along this point, sewed cross the bottle, and seamed up at the side.
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 – (44 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 – (48 stitches)
Purl row

Stockinette stitch the next 30 rows – or if you hold this knitting up to your own mini hot water bottle – knit until you reach the point that the hottie starts to bend in towards the neck.

K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, k2 together, knit 2, slip marker, k2, knit 2 together, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (44 stitches)
Purl row
K2, Knit 2 together, knit to 2 before the stitch marker, knit 2 together, knit 2, slip marker, k2, knit 2 together, knit to last 2, Knit 2 together, k2 – (40 stitches)
Purl row

Knit 2, Purl 2 rib – Complete this over the next 4 rows

Knit 2 together, yarn over – repeat over the whole row. This creates a row of holes to lace a tie through. This row is completely optional.

Return to the Knit 2, Purl 2 rib for another 20.

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