Crochet Hot Water Bottle Cover: A Cosy Cover for a 2-Litre Bottle
A snug cover worked in the round from the bottom up, decreased at the shoulders and finished with a ribbed fold-over neck. Fits a standard 2-litre bottle. A winter essential in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Aran (#4) wool blend or acrylic, about 230 yd
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- About 5 hours
- Finished size
- Fits a standard 2-litre bottle, about 13 × 8 in (33 × 20 cm)
You'll need
- Aran (#4) yarn — about 230 yd
- 5 mm (H-8) hook
- Stitch marker
- Pom-poms or buttons to decorate (optional)
- Tapestry needle
In this post
A crochet hot water bottle cover is a tube with an oval base, shaped at the shoulders and finished with a ribbed neck. You start with a chain across the base, work around both sides of it, then crochet half double rounds up to the bottle's shoulders. Decrease quickly to the neck, then work stretchy post-stitch ribbing that folds down over the stopper. The empty bottle folds lengthwise to slide in through the neck.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
The cover
- Rnd 1: Ch 30. Sc in the 2nd ch, sc in the next 27, 3 sc in the last ch. Along the other side, sc in the next 27, 2 sc in the first ch. Join. (60)
- Rnds 2–27: Ch 2, hdc in each st around. Join. Check the length against the bottle — stop at the shoulders. (60)
- Rnd 28: Ch 2, (8 hdc, hdc2tog) × 6. Join. (54)
- Rnd 29: Ch 2, (7 hdc, hdc2tog) × 6. Join. (48)
- Rnd 30: Ch 2, (2 hdc, hdc2tog) × 12. Join. (36)
- Rnd 31: Ch 2, (hdc, hdc2tog) × 12. Join. (24)
- Neck, Rnds 32–40: Ch 2, *fpdc around the next st, bpdc around the next* around. Join. (24)
- Fasten off and fold the ribbed neck down.
Fit the bottle
- Empty the bottle and fold it in half lengthwise.
- Push it through the neck, bottom first, and unfold it inside the cover.
- Fill it with hot (not boiling) water, screw the stopper on and fold the ribbing down over it.
If your bottle is wider, chain 2 more for every extra ½ inch of width.
Decorate
| Idea | How |
|---|---|
| Bobble heart | Work bobbles in a heart shape on the front (see bobble stitch) |
| Pom-poms | Two small pom-poms tied at the neck |
| Stripes | Change colour every 4 rounds |
| Animal | Sew ears and a face to make a cat, bear or bunny |
Safety
- Never fill a hot water bottle with boiling water; let the kettle cool for a few minutes first.
- Fill it about two-thirds full and squeeze out the air before closing.
- Replace the bottle every 2–3 years (check the date flower moulded on the neck).
More winter cosiness: a tea cozy, a chunky blanket and an ear warmer.
Common questions
How do you get a hot water bottle into a crochet cover?
Empty the bottle, fold it lengthwise and push it through the stretchy ribbed neck. Unfold it inside, then fill it.
What yarn is best for a hot water bottle cover?
Aran or worsted wool blend: it insulates, so the heat lasts longer and the cover isn't too hot to touch. Acrylic is fine and washable.
What size is a standard hot water bottle?
A 2-litre bottle is about 13 × 8 inches including the neck. Mini 1-litre bottles are about 10 × 6 inches — chain 22 (44 stitches), work 20 body rounds and decrease to 24 at the shoulders.
Snuggled up with a hot water bottle tonight? 🛌
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