Aran & stocking stitch hot-water bottle covers

Aran hot-water bottle cover

You will need
100g Elle chunky yarn of your choice (colour 014 Aran)
5,5mm knitting needles
double-pointed cable needle
stitch holder
tapestry needle
hot-water bottle (bag section approximately 26 x 20cm)

To make

Cast on 34 sts.

1st row: k1t, p2, c4b, * p4, c4b, rep from * to last 3 sts, p2, k1t. [36 sts]

2nd row: k1t, k3, p4, * k4, p4, rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, k1t. [38 sts]

3rd row: k1t, p2, * t4b, t4f, rep from * to last 3 sts, p2, k1t. [40 sts]

4th row: k1t, k3, p2, k4, * p4, k4, rep from * to last 6 sts, p2, k3, k1t. [42 sts]

5th row: p5, k2, p4, * c4f, p4, rep from * to last 7 sts, k2, p5.

6th row: k5, p2, k4, * p4, k4, rep from * to last 7 sts, p2, k5.

7th row: p5, * t4f, t4b, rep from * to last 5 sts, p5.

8th row: k7, p4, * k4, p4, rep from * to last 7 sts, k7.

9th row: p7, c4b, * p4, c4b, rep from * to last 7 sts, p7.

10th row: k7, p4, * k4, p4, rep from * to last 7 sts, k7.

11th row: p5, * t4b, t4f, rep from * to last 5 sts, p5.

12th row: k5, p2, k4, * p4, k4, rep from * to last 7 sts, p2, k5.

13th row: p5, k2, p4, * c4f, p4, rep from * to last 7 sts, k2, p5.

14th row: k5, p2, k4, * p4, k4, rep from * to last 7 sts, p2, k5.

15th row: p5, * t4f, t4b, rep from * to last 5 sts, p5.

16th row: k7, p4, * k4, p4, rep from * to last 7 sts, k7.

Repeat rows 9 to 16 six more times.

65th row: p15, c4b, p4, c4b, p15.

66th row: k2 tog, k13, p4, k4, p4, k13, k2 tog. [40 sts]

67th row: k2 tog, p10, (c4b, c4f) twice, p10, k2 tog. [38 sts]

68th row: k2 tog, k9, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, k9, k2 tog. [36 sts]

69th row: k2 tog twice, p6, k2, p4, c4f, p4, k2, p6, k2 tog twice. [32 sts]

70th row: k2 tog twice, k4, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, k4, k2 tog twice. [28 sts]

71th row: k2 tog twice, p2, (c4f, c4b) twice, p2, k2 tog. [24 sts]

72th row: k2 tog twice, k2, p4, k4, p4, k2, k2 tog twice. [20 sts]

Slip the remaining 20 sts onto a stitch holder.

Back

To work the back, cast on 26 sts.

1st row: (right side) k1t, p24, k1t.

2nd row: k1t, k26, k1t.

3rd row: k1t, p28, k1t.

4th row: k1t, k30, k1t.

Continue in reverse stocking stitch (purl right side rows, knit wrong side rows) to row 47.

48th row: k2 tog, k to last 2 sts,  k2 tog.

49th row: k2 tog, p to last 2 sts,  k2 tog.

Repeat rows 48 and 49 until 20 sts remain, ending with a WS row (row 54). Cut yarn to a length of 20cm and sew the back to the front for a few centimetres down the side, starting from the remaining stitches. Place the stitches of the front and back on one needle and continue working in double rib (k2, p2) until the rib measures double the length of the funnel section of the hot-water bottle (approximately 29 rows). Cast off and sew up the rest of the bag.

Stocking stitch hot-water bottle cover

You will need

50g Elle double knit yarn of your choice (colour 014 Aran)

dusty pink knitting yarn (for blanket stitch edge)

4mm knitting needles

stitch holder

tapestry needle

hot-water bottle (bag section approximately 26 x 20cm)

To make

Cast on 35 sts.

1st row: (WS) p.

2nd row: k1t, k to last st, k1t.

3rd row: k1t, p to last st, k1t.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until there are 45 sts (row 6). Continue working stocking stitch up to row 67.

68th row: k2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. [43 sts]

69th row: k2 tog, p to last 2 sts, k2 tog. [41 sts]

70th row: k2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. [39 sts]

71st row: k2 tog, p to last 2 sts, k2 tog. [37 sts]

72nd row: k2 tog twice, k to last 4 sts, k2 tog twice. [33 sts]

73rd row: k2 tog twice, p to last 4 sts, k2 tog twice. [29 sts]

74th row: k2 tog twice, k to last 4 sts, k2 tog twice. [25 sts]

75th row: k2 tog twice, p to last 4sts, k2 tog twice. [21 sts]

Slip the remaining 21 sts onto a stitch holder. Work the back in the same manner as the front. Cut the yarn to a length of 20cm and sew the back to the front for a few centimetres down the side, starting from the remaining stitches. Place the stitches of the front and back on one needle and continue working in single rib (k1, p1) until the rib measures double the length of the funnel section of the hot-water bottle (approximately 39 rows). Cast off and sew up the rest of the bag. Sew blanket stitch around the outer edge of the bag using the pink yarn.