This design challenges the rather frumpy image of a hot water bottle cover! Now you can keep snug without compromising your street cred
Materials
Rowan Calmer: 1 x 50g.I used Coral (A).
Small amounts of Kiwi (B) and Khaki (C).
Hook
5mm
Tension
14 htr and 10 rows to 10 cm/4in.
Abbreviations
Htr2tog: leaving last loop of each st on hook work 1htr into each of next 2 sts, yrh and pull through all 3 loops.
Pattern
Hot water bottle cover
Using A, make 29ch.Foundation row: 1dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1dc into each ch. 28dc.
Row 1: 2ch, 1htr into each dc.
Row 2: 2ch, 1htr into each htr.
Rows 3-7: As row 2, changing to B during last st of row 7.
Row 8: 1ch, 1dc into each htr, changing to C during last st of row.
Row 9: 1ch, 1dc into each dc, changing to A during last st of row.
Row 10: 2ch, 1htr into each dc.
Row 11: 2ch, htr2tog, 1htr into each htr to last 2 sts, htr2tog.
Rows 12-13: As row 11. 22 sts.
Row 14: As row 2. Mark each end of last row with a contrast thread.
Row 15: As row 2.
Row 16: 2ch, 2htr into next htr, 1htr into each htr to last st, 2htr into last st.
Rows 17-18: As row 16. 28 sts.
Rows 19-33: As row 2.
Row 34: 2ch, [htr2tog] twice, 1htr into each htr to last 4 sts, [htr2tog] twice.
Row 35: As row 34.
Row 36: 2ch, [htr2tog] 3 times, 1htr into each htr to last 6 sts, [htr2tog] 3 times. 14 sts.
Rows 37-39: As row 2, changing to B during last st of row 39.
Row 40: 1ch, 1dc into each htr, changing to C during last st.
Row 41: 1ch, 1dc into each dc, changing to A during last st of row.
Row 42: As row 1.
Row 43: As row 16. 16 sts.
Rows 44-45: As row 2. Mark each end of last row with a contrast thread.
Rows 46-47: As row 2.
Row 48: As row 11. 14 sts.
Row 49: As row 2, changing to C during last st.
Row 50: As row 40 and changing to B during last st.
Row 51: As row 41 and changing to A during last st.
Row 52: As row 1.
Rows 53-54: As row 2.
Row 55: 2ch, 2htr into each of next 3htr, 1htr into each htr to last 3htr, 2htr into each htr. 20 sts.
Rows 56-57: 2ch, 2htr into each of next 2htr, 1htr into each htr to last 2htr, 2htr into each htr. 28 sts.
Rows 58-64: As row 2.
Fasten off.
Large motif
Using A, make 5ch. Round 1: 1ch, 12dc into ring, ss into first dc. Change to B.
Round 2: 3ch, 1tr into same place as ss, 2tr into each dc, ss into top of 3ch. 24 sts. Change to C.
Round 3: 3ch, 1tr into same place as ss, [1tr into next tr, 2tr into next tr] to last tr, 1tr in last tr, ss into top of 3ch. 36 sts.
Fasten off.
Medium motif
Using B in place of A, and A in place of B, work as large motif to end of round 2. Change to C.Round 3: 1ch, 2dc into same place as ss, [1dc into next tr, 2dc in next tr] to last tr, 1dc in last tr.
36 sts. Fasten off.
Small motif
Using C, make 5ch, ss into first ch to form a ring.Round 1: 3ch, 19tr into ring, ss into top of 3ch. Change to B.
Round 2: 1ch, 1dc into each tr. Fasten off.
To finish
Using the photograph as a guide, fold the work along the top of the marked rows, matching up shaping to form an 'envelope'.With RS of work facing and using C, work a row of dc through both layers at the sides and top, taking the shaping around the top of the bottle into account (3 layers of work will need to be joined where the flap is formed).
Slip stitch motifs into place, again using the photograph as a guide.
Excerpted from I Love Crochet by Rachel Henerson and Sarah Hazell, priced £12.99, published by Kyle Cathie Ltd.