Hot Water Bottle Cover
A seamless cosy knit from the base up, with a folded rib neck that keeps the stopper covered.
- Yarn
- Worsted (4) wool: warm and safe near heat. Avoid acrylic.
- Needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16 in (40 cm) circular or long circular for magic loop
- Sizes
- Standard 2 litre bottle, about 8 × 13 in (20 × 33 cm) overall; the cover body is about 10 in (25 cm) to the shoulder
- Example gauge
- 18 sts and 24 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette
- Yarn needed
- About 230 yd (210 m) worsted.
- Stitch multiple
- 4
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stitches | (2 × bottle width + 1 in) × sts per in, to a multiple of 4 | 17 × 4.5 = 76.5 → 76 sts | Cast-On Calculator |
| Neck | decrease 76 → 48 in one round | the tool writes it | Increase & Decrease Evenly |
Materials
- Worsted (4) yarn (see yarn needed)
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16 in (40 cm) circular or long circular for magic loop
- Marker
- Tapestry needle
Gauge swatch
Swatch in the round.
Instructions
Base
Using Judy’s Magic Cast-On, cast on half the sts on each needle (example: 38 + 38). Knit 1 rnd.
Body
Knit until the cover measures the bottle’s body length (example: 10 in / 25 cm), trying it on the empty bottle.
Neck
Work the decrease round from the Increase & Decrease Evenly (example: 76 → 48). Work *k2, p2* rib for 4 in (10 cm). Bind off loosely in rib.
Finishing
- Weave in ends.
- Insert the empty bottle through the neck, then fill it. Fold the rib down over the stopper.
Designer’s notes
- Add a cable panel down the front: work a 6-st rope from the Rope Cable Beanie over 12 sts (p3, k6, p3).
- Never put a knitted cover in the microwave with the bottle.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: rounds.
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Want it on paper? This pattern is in Winter Warmers pattern collection, a printable PDF of 12 patterns with photos and row tallies ($8).
Tools for this pattern
- Gauge CalculatorEnter your swatch counts to get stitches and rows per 4 in (10 cm).
- Cast-On CalculatorEnter your width and gauge; it rounds to the stitch multiple for you.
- Increase & Decrease EvenlyEnter stitches now and stitches wanted; copy the written row it gives you.
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.