Maxine Hot Water Bottle Cover by Laura Penrose

The Maxine Hot Water Bottle Cover by Laura Penrose, is a charming and functional knitting pattern. This hot water bottle cover is an accessory that adds a touch of elegance to a practical item. This pattern features stranded colorwork, creating a visually appealing design.

Maxine Hot Water Bottle Cover

Do you love snuggling with a hot water bottle? This beautiful knitting pattern is for a fair isle colourwork hot water bottle cover. It’s beautiful designs make me want to cast on today!

Pattern Name: Maxine Hot Water Bottle Cover
Designer: Laura Penrose
Craft: Knitting
Project Type: Home – Cozy
Yarn Weight: Fingering held double (or DK)
Suggested Yarn: John Arbon Textiles Exmoor Sock , Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company Natural Sock, Filcolana Saga, Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company Hearth Sock

Design and Construction

The cover is knitted from the bottom up, starting with Judy’s Magic Cast On to create a seamless base. Increases are used to shape the bottom of the project and then the body showcases stranded colorwork with no more than two colors used simultaneously. The neck is shaped with decreases and finished with a 1×1 or 2×2 rib collar, worked using the magic loop method or on double-pointed needles.

Sizing

The pattern offers two sizes: Mini and Regular, accommodating various hot water bottle dimensions. The finished sizes are approximately 5.5–8 inches (14.25–20.5 cm) in width and 7–11.5 inches (18–29 cm) in height, not including the cuff. Knitters can customize the color palette, choosing between three-color or six-color schemes, allowing for personal creativity.

Materials and Yarn

The cover is designed using DK weight yarn or fingering weight yarn held double. The pattern specifies yarn amounts based on an average DK yarn of 100 meters per 50 grams or fingering yarn (held double) of 200 meters per 50 grams. Sample projects utilize yarns such as Filcolana Saga, Woolly Mammoth Fibre Co Hearth/Natural Sock, and John Arbon Textiles Exmoor Sock, all held double. A 4.0 mm (US 6) circular needle with a 16–32 inch (40–80 cm) cable is recommended, with optional double-pointed needles for the ribbed collar.

Skill Level and Techniques

This pattern is suitable for intermediate knitters. Techniques include Judy’s Magic Cast On or long-tail cast on with mattress stitch, knitting stockinette in the round, increasing, decreasing, stranded colorwork (with a maximum of two colors at once), and following a chart. The pattern provides detailed instructions and charts to guide knitters through the colorwork sections.

Availability

The Maxine Hot Water Bottle Cover pattern is available for purchase on Ravelry for £4.50 GBP.

The Maxine Hot Water Bottle Cover is a delightful project that combines practicality with aesthetic appeal. Its intricate design and customizable color options make it an engaging knit, resulting in a cozy accessory perfect for chilly evenings.

For a visual guide, you can watch the accompanying project vlog below: