I designed this hot water bottle cover when I wanted to make one each as gifts for my parents. Most patterns I found either rely on you rolling the hot water bottle up and inserting it in through the top or have button fastenings. I personally wasn’t keen on having buttons on a hot water bottle and rolling up a hot water bottle is quite difficult to do for me, let alone my elderly parents. Mum has arthritis in her hands and my dad (in his 90s) isn’t that good at fiddly stuff any more.

This is how the flip top of the cover evolved; for ease of use. The snug fit keeps it closed in use.

The pattern uses UK terminology throughout. It is 19 pages long and in full colour.

Beginners with a little experience of basic stitches should be able to use this pattern. If you can chain and do double, treble, half treble and slip stitches, you should have no problem. You make 12 granny squares (pattern included) and then join them together. There is a full step by step picture tutorial walking you through the joining technique, the flap opening and the tube section on the top. Everything is explained in detail. If you’ve never joined squares together before, this pattern is a good way of expanding your experience.

The finished size of the cover is 8.5 inches (22cm) x 12.25 inches (31cm) with the top tube opening extending a further 2.25 inches (6cm).

The pattern uses double knitting yarn. I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn for the items made in the photographs but you can substitute any DK weight yarn you like. Four colours are used, you will need 40g of the main colour and 30g each of three contrast colours so it’s ideal for using up scraps.

In the United States, I understand Double Knitting yarn is categorised as Light Worsted. In Australia it is called 8-ply.

A typical hook to use is 4mm (G). Depending on yarn thickness, you may have to adjust hook size to achieve the correct gauge.