Tree Delivery

Tree Delivery Hot Water Bottle Cozy by Karen Juliano

What is Being Made

This is a knitted hot water bottle cozy designed by Karen Juliano to provide a decorative and functional cover for a standard hot water bottle measuring 7 ¼" x 12 ½" (not including the tab). The cozy transforms a utilitarian warming tool into an attractive accessory suitable for use during car rides, hotel stays, bedtime on chilly nights, or while working at a computer.

Craft and Skill Level

This is an intermediate-level knitting project that assumes the knitter has previous colorwork experience. The pattern does not include detailed foundational instructions on stranded colorwork techniques, making it best suited for knitters who are already comfortable with this method.

Techniques Used

• Stranded colorwork: A traditional colorwork technique where two yarn colors are carried across the fabric to create a patterned design
• Chart reading: Following a visual pattern chart to execute the colorwork design
• Knitting in the round: Using circular needles or double-pointed needles to create seamless tubular fabric

Stitches Used

• Moss Stitch: Worked in the round, creating a textured fabric with alternating knit and purl stitches
• Stockinette Stitch: Used in the colorwork sections
• 2x2 Ribbing: Provides elasticity and structure, likely used for the cuff or opening

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Longwood Sport from Cascade Yarns in sport weight, requiring 1 skein each of MC 4 Red (main color) and CC 46 Cream (contrasting color). Sport weight yarn is ideal for creating a fitted, refined cozy with good stitch definition for colorwork.

Needles: US 4/3.5 mm needles, appropriate for sport weight yarn and the specified gauge.

Additional Notions: Yarn needle for weaving in ends and 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats when knitting in the round.

Gauge

Proper gauge is essential for this project to fit the standard hot water bottle correctly:

• Moss Stitch: 26 stitches and 32 rounds = 4"/10 cm (blocked)
• Stockinette Stitch colorwork in the round: 26 stitches and 32 rounds = 4"/10 cm (blocked)
• 2x2 Ribbing: 40 stitches and 32 rounds = 4"/10 cm (blocked)