A hot water bottle is an economical and environmentally friendly way to keep your toes or lap warm during cold winter nights. But who wants a rubbery old thing in his or her bed, even if it is nice and warm? Cover it up with a cuddly platypus cozy—because if there’s anything weirder than a platypus, it’s a platypus in your bed!

This cozy is largely knit in the round on circular needles. The head, tail and feet involve standard increases and decreases, picking up stitches, seaming, and short rows. This is a great pattern for beginners interested in a small project where they can pick up a variety of new techniques. Experts will find it an engaging knit and a good way to use up that last skein of brown- or blue-coloured aran or chunky yarn.

Jan. 2010: erratum has been fixed in updated download.
The last rows of the ‘feet’ section should read:
row 21 (RS): repeat row 11.
rows 22 to 41: repeat rows 2 to 21.