Winter will be here before you know it, and if you’re dealing with sore muscles, holiday stress or a chilly house, you’ll love this sewing project from Sophie Tarrant. Made with one yard of soft, cable knit fabric, this hot water bottle cover features a handy faux pocket that lets you warm your hands while relaxing. This therapeutic sewing project doubles as a thoughtful gift idea for Mom or Grandma as well!
Skill Level: Beginner
Designer Notes: Finishing Touch: For an extra-neat finish, overlock the edges of the fabric after sewing the cover together in Step 5. This will prevent fraying and help stops the seams from unraveling over time. Don’t have an overlocker (serger)? A regular zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine works just as well to neaten the raw edges.
Materials:
- Cable knit fabric: One yard
- Soft short pile faux fur fabric: 1/2 yard
- Fusible knit interfacing: One yard
- Thread: To match your fabric
- PDF Template – This is located at the bottom of this page. Please see printing instructions below.
Tools:
- Rotary cutter
- Clips
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Iron
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Note: To download the pattern, click on the pattern download button at the bottom of the page. We recommend opening your pattern download using Adobe Acrobat.
Sewing Instructions:
- Start by downloading and printing the templates. Back your cable knit fabric with lightweight fusible knit interfacing – this not only makes it easier to draw and cut your pieces, but also adds extra strength and heat protection to the cover. Use the templates to cut the following from your cabled fabric: two front pieces, two of each back piece (upper and lower), and one pocket piece.
- Pair up your back pieces – upper with upper, lower with lower – placing each pair right sides together and aligning the edges neatly. Stitch across the straight edge of each pair with a 1/2” seam allowance. Turn them right sides out and press, then top-stitch along the same edge, this time leaving a 1/4” allowance.
- To make the pocket, cut a second pocket piece from faux fur fabric and place it wrong sides together with the cabled pocket piece, aligning the edges. Cut two 4 inch x 12 inch strips from your cable knit fabric and fold each in half lengthwise, with right sides out. With the cabled side of the pocket facing up, pin each strip along one of the curved sides, matching the raw edges of both the fabric and the strip. Stitch in place with a 1/2” seam allowance. Wrap each strip around to the furry side of the pocket, then pin and hand stitch to secure.
- Start layering your pieces. Place the two front pieces together, with the right sides facing out and the edges aligned. Position the pocket on top with the cabled side facing up, aligning the top and bottom edges. Clip or pin them together, then stitch all around the outer edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance to secure all the layers and keep the pocket in place. Now layer the back pieces on top – first the lower piece, then the upper – overlapping them slightly in the middle. Clip everything in place, ensuring the edges are straight and aligned.
- Finish your cover by stitching all around the outer edge, working through all the layers with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Trim the seam to 1/4 inch and clip into the curves to help the cover turn over neatly. Turn the work right sides out, shaping the corners as needed. Slip your hot water bottle inside – and you’re done!
