Hotwater bottle cover
Pay homage to our sheepy pals with a baa-rilliantly dreamy woolly cover.
All knitters love sheep – it’s no secret! So what could be better than a hot water bottle cover that helps us to show our appreciation for the great wool-giving animal? The trickiest thing about this pattern is the intarsia, and if you take your time you’ll be absolutely fine. So what are you waiting for?
HOT WATER BOTTLE COVER
Note The yarn is used held double throughout the pattern. Wind off half of the ball before you begin knitting.
FRONT
Cast on 26 sts using 8mm needles and Yarn A. Starting with a knit row, work in st st for 6 rows. Row 7 (RS) K3A, K1B, K2A, K1B, K1A, K2B, K16A. Row 8 P16A, P2B, P1A, P1B, P2C, P1B, P3A. Row 9 K2A, K6C, K3B, K4A, K2B, K1A, K1B, K2A, K1B, K4A. Row 10 P4A, P1B, P2C, P1B, P1A, P2B, P5A, P8C, P2A. Row 11 K2A, K7C, K5A, K3B, K6C, K3A. Row 12 P3A, P8C, P7A, P5C, P3A. Row 13 K16A, K7C, K3A. Row 14 P5A, P5C, P16A. Rows 15–22 Using Yarn A, work in st st. Row 23 K10A, K2B, K1A, K1B, K2A, K1B, K9A. Row 24 P9A, P1B, P2C, P1B, P1A, P2B, P10A. Row 25 K9A, K3B, K6C, K8A. Row 26 P8A, P8C, P10A. Row 27 K11A, K7C, K8A. Row 28 P9A, P5C, P12A. Rows 29– 42 Using Yarn A, work in st st. Row 43 Cast off 4 sts, then knit to end. [22 sts] Row 44 Cast off 4 sts, then purl to end. [18 sts] Row 45 Cast off 5 sts, then knit to end. [13 sts] Row 46 Cast off 5 sts, then purl to end. [8 sts] Row 47 K2, yo, k2tog, K2, yo, k2tog. Row 48 Purl. Next row Change to Yarn B, K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1. [10 sts] Knit 8 rows. Cast off.
BACK (LOWER PANEL)
Cast on 26 sts using 8mm needles and work Rows 1–22 as for Front. Rows 23 and 24 Cont in st st using Yarn A. Change to Yarn B. Row 25 Knit. Rows 26 and 28 *K2, P2; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2. Rows 27 and 29 *P2, K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, P2. Cast off.
BACK (UPPER PANEL)
Cast on 26 sts using 8mm needles and Yarn B. Next row Ktbl to end. Rows 1 and 5 *K2, P2; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2. Row 2 P2, *K2, P2; rep from * to end. Row 3 K2, P2, K2, cast off 2 sts, rib to last 8 sts, cast off 2 sts, K2, P2, K2. Row 4 P2, K2, P2, K1, cast on 2 sts, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, cast on 2 sts, K1, P2, K2, P2. Change to Yarn A. Row 6 Purl. Rows 7 and 8 Work in st st. Rows 9–14 As Rows 23–28 of Front. Rows 15–22 Work in st st. Row 23 onwards Work as Row 43 onwards as given for Front.
TO MAKE UP
Sew bottom section of Back onto Front. Sew top section of Back onto Front, overlapping the buttonhole band with the button band. Sew on two buttons to correspond with the buttonholes. Weave a length of ribbon or several strands of yarn around the bottom of the funnelled top of the hot water bottle cover. Weave all loose ends into the back of your work.