Thursday 22 November 2012

Hot water bottle cover

My friend Sarah was enquiring a couple of months ago about commissioning a blanket as a Yule gift for her cousin and her cousin's daughter.  Unfortunately, she didn't get back to me in time and with all the other things I'm working on for Yule, I haven't the time!  So instead she's asked if I can make a hot water bottle cover...As I've never made one before, I had a quick look on the internet but couldn't find a simple free pattern that I liked so I came up with my own.


It's made in three pieces, worked in single crochet throughout apart from the edges of the flap which I've added a small shell stitch to.  It's fastened by small pink buttons and I used Patons 'Smoothie' acrylic DK yarn.

I'll try and put down the pattern here-be patient though as I've never typed up a pattern before and I hope it makes sense!

(For this pattern, I changed colour every four rows)

Yarn- Patons Smoothie DK (acrylic)
4mm crochet hook
1cm width buttons (4)
(turning chain of 1 at start of each row)

Side One

chain 37

(Rows 1-36)
sc from 2nd chain on the hook (36 in total)
ch1 and turn
sc across each row

Row 37-Decrease, 32 sc, decrease (34 in total)
Row 38-Decrease, 30 sc, decrease (32 in total)
Row 39-Decrease, 28 sc, decrease (30 in total)
Row 40-Decrease, 26 sc, decrease (28 in total)
Row 41-Decrease, 24 sc, decrease (26 in total)
Row 42-Decrease, 22 sc, decrease (24 in total)
Row 43-Decrease, 20 sc, decrease (22 in total)
Row 44-Decrease, 18 sc, decrease (20 in total)

Row 45-56
sc across (20 in total)

Row 57
Decrease, 16 sc, decrease

Row 58
sc across (18 in total)

Row 59
Decrease, 14 sc, decrease (16 in total)

Row 60
Decrease, 12 sc, decrease (14 in total)

Fasten off.

Side 2 (2 pieces)

Top piece-

As before, but instead of 36 rows, do 12 rows before starting the decreases.

Once finished, go back and reattach the yarn in the foundation chain-
sc along the foundation chain,
ch1, turn, 5sc, *(ch1 sk1, 7sc), rep from * 2 more times, ch1, sk1, 5sc (the ch1 spaces will be the button holes)
ch 1, turn, sc along
ch1, turn, *sk1, 5dc, sk1, sl st along, the last shell will only fit 3dc in it (8 shells and 1 half shell)
Fasten off

Bottom Piece

ch37

sc along 24 rows
shells along the 25th row
Fasten off.
Attach buttons along the shells (match them up to the button holes first!)

Put the pieces wrong side together and using a 3.5mm hook, crochet them together.  The overlap of the bottom and top pieces of the flap side are deliberate-I crocheted the button piece on first, then with the top piece I stitched it on to the bottom at the sides (does that make sense?)

Weave in all loose ends.

Turn right way round and add hot water bottle!
(this pattern fits a standard hot water bottle)

Let me know if this write up works-I've never tried to write up a pattern before so I'm sure it's full of mistakes!

2 comments:

  1. *waves* Hi! I'm very keen to try out this pattern but I was wondering how many balls of wool/yarn you used to make this?

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. *waves back* Hello! Nice to meet you :-)
    I'm honestly not sure exactly how much yarn I used in this-I had 100g in each shade and I think I had some left over :-)
    I'll be completely honest with you and say that I think the solid crochet tends to insulate the heat too much-I've found just using the pattern for the top flap and making two large granny squares for the bottom piece works much better (less yarn too!) Instead of doing three pieces as outlined here, you make two large granny squares and two top pieces-as long as you make sure to put the button holes along the bottom of a top piece, it comes together really nicely!
    Whichever one you try out, I'd love to know how it worked out.

    Thanks for visiting and commenting! :-D

    ReplyDelete

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