Snug

Snug Hot Water Bottle Cover by Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren

What is Being Made

The Snug is a cosy knitted cover designed to insulate and soften a 1.5 litre hot water bottle. This practical accessory provides both warmth retention and comfort against the skin, making it an ideal project for keeping a hot water bottle at a pleasant temperature while protecting against direct contact with the bottle's surface.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project suitable for beginners. The pattern incorporates several fundamental knitting techniques that build essential skills:

• Judy's magic cast on – an advanced cast-on method that creates a seamless foundation for circular knitting
• Knitting in the round – working on circular needles to create seamless tubular fabric
• Knitting flat – transitioning to flat knitting for specific sections of the pattern
• Long tail cast on – a versatile cast-on technique used for additional sections
• Increasing stitches – using M1R (make one right leaning) and M1L (make one left leaning) increases to shape the cover
• Decreasing stitches – employing k2tog (knit two together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit) decreases for shaping
• Weaving in ends – finishing technique for securing yarn tails

Stitches Used

The Snug uses basic knitting stitches worked primarily in stocking stitch, the fundamental knit-purl combination that creates the classic smooth fabric. Key stitch abbreviations include:

• k (knit)
• p (purl)
• ktbl (knit stitch through back loop)
• k2tog (knit two stitches together)
• ssk (slip, slip, knit)
• M1R and M1L (make one increases)

The pattern also uses stitch markers and a stitch holder to track stitches during construction.

Materials and Gauge

This project uses DK weight yarn and requires a 3.5mm circular needle. The recommended yarn is Wendy Sorrento, a blend of 45% cotton and 55% acrylic with a yardage of 145m per 50g ball. For a solid-coloured cover, 2 balls in one colour are needed. For the striped variation, use 1 ball in the main colour (blue) and 1 ball in a contrast colour (beige).

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 24 stitches and 30 rows per 10cm in stocking stitch. Additional notions required include 2 stitch markers, a stitch holder, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, 50cm of low snag Velcro for fastening, and needle and thread in a colour matching the yarn.

Pattern Format

This is a free downloadable PDF pattern designed by independent designer Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren. It is accessible as a digital resource for immediate download and printing.