HOT WATER BOTTLE COVER
Note This stashbusting hot water botte cover is themed in shades of red and pink, but you could knit it in Fair Isle stripes of your choosing, whether that’s in stripes of 9 rows or more, or less. You could even knit it in two colours ignoring the stripes, making sure that the yarn colour creating the colourwork design is an effective contrast shade.
STRETCHY CAST OFF
K2, slip these sts back onto LH needle, k2tog, *K1, slip both sts back to LH needle, k2tog; rep from * to last st, fasten off.
FRONT
4 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn B.
Begin working colourwork pattern from Chart, and AT THE SAME TIME working shaping as follows:
Row 1 (RS) (Kfb) 4 times. [8 sts]
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 (Kfb) twice, knit to last 2 sts, (kfb) twice. [4 sts inc’d] Rows 4 to 23 Rep Rows 2 and 3 ten times. [52 sts]
Row 24 Purl. Row 25 Knit. Row 26 Purl.
Row 27 Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [2 sts inc’d]
Row 28 Purl.
Rows 29 to 32 Rep Rows 27 and 28 twice. [58 sts] Rows 33 to 56 Starting with a RS knit row, work in st st. Row 57 Ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [2 sts dec’d] Row 58 Purl.
Rows 59 to 70 Rep Rows 57 and 58 six times. [44 sts] Chart has been completed.
Break Yarns D and E and join Yarn A.
RIBBON EYELETS
Note In next row, st rem on RH needle after casting off is not counted in instructions that follow.
Next row (RS) Cast off 10 sts, K4, cast off 1 st, K11, cast off 1 st,
K4, cast off 10 sts to end and fasten off. [22 sts]
With WS facing, rejoin Yarn A.
Next row (WS) P5, turn, cast on 1 st, turn, P12, turn, cast on 1 st, turn, P5. [24 sts]
Next row Knit.
Next row Purl.
NECK
Next row *K2, P2; rep from * to end.
Next row *P2, K2; rep from * to end.
Rep the last two rows 10 more times. Cast off in rib using the stretchy cast-off method.
BACK
Work as given for Front using Yarn A throughout (omitting all charted colourwork).
FINISHING
Block pieces gently, following any instructions on the ball band. Pin the Front and Back together around edges including ribbed neck. Using backstitch, sew all around heart shape and neck, making sure shoulders, just below the rib neck, are securely reinforced with a few extra stitches. Weave in all ends then turn RS out. Thread ribbon through ribbon eyelets making sure ends come out on the Front. Fold empty hot water bottle sides inwards and squeeze through ribbed neck of your cover (it’ll be a bit of a squeeze but it will fit). Tie ribbon in a bow.
Cast on