Herriott Cable Blanket & Hot Water Bottle Cover in West Yorkshire Spinners - DPB0245 - Downloadable PDF

Herriott Cable Blanket & Hot Water Bottle Cover – Knitting Pattern by Jenny Watson

The Herriott Cable Blanket & Hot Water Bottle Cover is a beautifully coordinated pair of knitted home accessories designed by Jenny Watson and published by West Yorkshire Spinners. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated advanced in difficulty and is ideal for experienced knitters looking to showcase their cable work skills. The two designs work together as a matching set, making them a wonderful project for home décor or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

What Is Being Made

This pattern includes instructions for two distinct projects:

• The Herriott Cable Blanket – a substantial, textured throw featuring intricate cable panels, designed to bring warmth and classic craftsmanship to any living space.
• The Herriott Hot Water Bottle Cover – a coordinating cable-knitted cover that transforms a simple hot water bottle into a cosy, decorative accessory with the same signature cable detailing as the blanket.

Techniques Used

Both projects make extensive use of cable knitting, one of the most traditional and visually striking techniques in the knitter's repertoire. Cable knitting involves crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle (CN) to create twisted, rope-like or braided textures on the fabric surface. This technique requires a degree of patience and attention to pattern repeats, which is why the design is classified as advanced.

• Cable knitting – the central technique throughout both designs, creating the signature Herriott textured panels
• Stocking stitch (st-st) – worked in rows as one knit row followed by one purl row, used to create smooth sections that contrast with the raised cable panels
• Make one stitch (m1) – an increase technique worked by picking up the loop between the last and next stitch and knitting into the back loop, used to shape the fabric where needed
• Slipping stitches (sl1) – stitches slipped knitwise as part of shaping and finishing techniques
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) – a decrease method used in conjunction with slipped stitches
• Casting off – the pattern includes a specific note that after casting off, one stitch will remain on the right-hand needle, which is not counted in the instructions

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the foundational stitches forming the base fabric and reverse stocking stitch backgrounds that make cables stand out in relief
• Cable stitches – worked using a cable needle to cross stitches, forming the decorative rope and braid patterns central to the Herriott design
• Stocking stitch – alternating knit and purl rows for smooth fabric sections
• Increases and decreases – including m1 (make one) and psso (pass slipped stitch over) for shaping

Materials – Yarn

The pattern is written for West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Aran, a 100% Shetland Wool yarn. This is a pure wool yarn celebrated for its durability, stitch definition, and the way it beautifully showcases textured stitch patterns such as cables. The aran weight of the yarn gives the finished blanket and bottle cover a satisfying, substantial feel with excellent warmth.

• Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Aran
• Fibre: 100% Shetland Wool
• Weight: Aran
• Tension: 18 stitches over 10cm / 4 inches square
• Yardage per hank: 166 metres / 182 yards per 100g hank

Materials – Needles & Equipment