10.18.2009

Hoot Water Bottle Cozy

I came up with this cozy idea a few weeks ago when the cold weather really started to set in. I love the idea of portable heat sources that use little energy and allow me to roam freely around my cold house (I generally keep the thermostat at 60 degrees all winter.) The owl cable came from an old Leisure Arts vest pattern I was given a few years ago. This cozy will dress up any standard 2 liter hot water bottle and it will keep it warmer longer.

Hoot Water Bottle Cozy
Gauge: 14 stitches/ 18 rows = 4" in Stockinette stitch with two strands held together
Finished Measurements: 7.5" wide x 14" tall (will fit a standard 2 liter hot water bottle)
Materials:
Needles: Set of US10.5 dpns or size needed to obtain gauge and crochet hook size J
Yarn: 1 ball Cascade Ecological Wool in color 8061 (project uses approximately 140g.) or two hanks of Blue Sky Organic cotton, about 2 yds of darker colored natural fiber yarn for the eyes.
Notions: tapestry needle for weaving in the ends and embroidering the eyes.
Pattern Notes:
Project is worked using 2 strands of yarn held together throughout.
Definitions:
c4f: Sl 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle.
c4b: Sl 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle.

Pattern:
Using the figure 8 cast-on method*, Co 52 stitches on two dpns (26 stitches on each needle).
Rnd 1: Knit first rnd onto two needles and redistribute onto 4 needles at end of rnd. Place marker to mark the beginning of the rnd.
Rnd 2-16: knit
Rnd 17-18: *p4, (k8, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 19: *p4, (c4b, c4f, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 20-26: *p4, (k8, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 27: *p4, (c4b, c4f, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 28: *p4, (k8, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 29-30: *p4, (k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 31-32: *p4, (k8, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 33: *p4, (c4b, c4f, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnd 34: *p4, (k8, p3) x2, rep from * to end
Rnds 35-45: knit

Decreases
Rnd 46: *k1, ssk, k21, k2tog, rep from * to end
Rnds 47 and all odd rnds through 55: knit
Rnd 48: *k1, ssk, k19, k2tog, rep from * to end
Rnd 50: *k1, ssk, k17, k2tog, rep from * to end
Rnd 52: *k1, ssk, k15, k2tog, rep from * to end
Rnd 54: *k1, ssk, k13, k2tog, rep from * to end

Neck
Rnd 56: *(k2tog) twice, yo, rep from * to end
Rnd 57-70: work in k1, p1 ribbing
Bind off loosely and weave in ends.

Tie
Using the crochet hook, create a 21" crochet chain and weave it through the eyelets at the base of the neck.

Eyes
With the darker yarn and the tapestry needle, embroider over the purl stitches that make up each owl's eyes using the satin stitch.

*While the figure 8 cast-on is ideal for this project, if you feel uncomfortable using it you can CO 52 stitches onto 4 dpns and join for knitting in the round. Then, at the end of your
project you can simply seam the bottom of your cozy.

To use- Slide water bottle into cozy, secure with tie, and fill with hot water.

15 comments:

Noneofyourbusiness. said...

This is really cute!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the pattern. I have that Leisure Arts vest pattern....I made my children the vests when they were little, and now that they're grown I can make them hot water bottle cozies.

philip said...

Finally! You found a hot water bottle.

Robyn Wade said...

Sarah actually found it when she was placing an order for medical supplies.

throw said...

Oh my what a lovely idea...other the the hot water the woolen cover is also going to keep the body cozy and warm.Love the design too...

Anonymous said...

I just made this for my dad for fathers day. It's a great pattern-knitted up really nicely, thanks!

Caitlin said...

Robyn,

I absolutely LOVE this pattern! I just wanted to let you know that I have linked to it here: http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Miscellaneous/hoot-water-bottle-cozy

Please feel free to send us more patterns, or let us know if you prefer us not to link to you. We also use projects in our newsletters.

Take care,

Caitlin

Carol said...

Etobicoke,Ontario,Canada
Dec.28/10
I own/operate my own cleaning business & have many senior clients that use a hot water bottle! These will be in their "next years" Christmas stocking! Brilliant idea from you, thank you!(Guess I should get "busy" right away!..lolol)
CasClean

Anonymous said...

I need cold more than hot -- so I might consider doing this cutie for my ice pack!!

Molly and McGee would approve this message. ;-)

Give a hoot,
Marny

Mary said...

Just a question - I notice the "Pattern Note" says to knit this pattern holding two strands of wool throughout. Can you explain this? Do I need to use two balls of yarn at the same time - that seems like it would be very thick...

Mary said...

Folks, did you use two strands of yarn to make this? The woman at my local knitting store recommended that I don't do that - that it will be too thick. I'm wondering if the two strands mean two ply, which my yarn is already. I am using Eco Super Alpaca yarn.

Robyn Wade said...

Yes, it was done with two strands of Eco Wool (aran weight) held together.

AntheaB said...

Hi, I have just finished knitting this. It looks great. But ai am trying to work out how to fit the hot water bottle into the cover. Is it somehow supposed to fit inthrough the small hole which is the neck?

Robyn Wade said...

The water bottle is soft and when empty can be curled up to fit through the hole.

Robyn Wade said...

The water bottle is soft and when empty can be curled up to fit through the hole.