Free Owl Hot Water Bottle Cover Pattern

Pattern Description:

This cozy “Dr. Owl” hot water bottle cover is worked in the round from the bottom up, beginning with simple increases before moving into expressive cablework that forms a charming owl motif. 

After shaping the shoulders with decreases, a snug K2P2 rib funnel is added for easy insertion. 

Finished with two knitted leaves and button eyes, this cover fits most standard hot water bottles and is easily customizable.

Materials Needed & Measurements:

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Rowan Pure Wool Worsted, colour Granite.
• Scrap of contrasting yarn for leaves.
• Needles: US 7 (41/2mm) circular needle, 40cm long.
• 2 markers.
• Cable needle.
• Darning needle.
• 2 small, two-hole buttons for eyes.

Measurements & Fit

• Gauge: 20 stitches x 25 rows per 4 inches (10cm).
• Starting Cast On: Cast on 48 stitches.
• Increases: The initial increases are repeated for 6 rows, resulting in 72 stitches.
• Shoulder/Funnel: Decreases are made for the shoulders down to 48 stitches, followed by a K2P2 rib for 4 inches (10cm) or to fit the bottle.
• Final Fit: As written, the cover will fit a bottle 7.5 x 12.5 inches.
• Size can be customized by making more or less increases.

Abbreviations Used:

• K – Knit
• P – Purl
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• Rnd – Round
• M – Marker
• SM – Slip Marker
• CO – Cast On
• BO – Bind Off
• CN – Cable Needle
• K1FB – Knit 1 through front and back (increase)
• K2tog – Knit 2 stitches together
• K2tbl – Knit 2 stitches together through back loop
• YO – Yarn Over
• SSK – Slip, Slip, Knit (left-leaning decrease)
• PSSO – Pass Slipped Stitch Over
• Sl – Slip
• RS/WS – Right Side / Wrong Side
• C1F – Cable 1 Front: Slip next st to CN and hold in front, K next st, K st from CN (2 sts total)
• C1B – Cable 1 Back: Slip next st to CN and hold in back, K next st, K st from CN (2 sts total)
• BC – Back Cross: Slip 3 sts to CN and hold in back, K next 2 sts, then K 3 from CN (5 sts total)
• FC – Front Cross: Slip next 2 sts to CN and hold in front, K next 3 sts, then K 2 from CN (5 sts total)

Instructions for Making the Owl Hot Water Bottle Cover Pattern:

Base and Increases

• Starting at the bottom, CO 48 sts.
• Place M A at the beginning of the round and M B at the 24th stitch.
• Knit in the round, increasing 4 sts on each round. The increase method is: (K to one st. before M, K1FB, SM, K1FB, K to end); repeat this sequence.
• Repeat this increase sequence for 6 rounds until you have 72 sts. Note: You may make more or less increases to customize the cover size.
• Next, Knit 8 rounds.
• Keep both markers in; M A remains the beginning of the round, and M B will be used later for shoulder decreasing.

Owl Body Pattern (Rounds 1-41)

Begin the pattern rounds below:

• Rnds 1–6: K5, P1, K1, P1, K to end, slipping M B and knitting all “back” stitches.
• Rnd 7: K6, C1F, K to end.
• Rnd 8: K7, C1F, K to end.
• Rnd 9: K8, C1F, K to end.
• Rnd 10: K9, C1F, K to end.
• Rnd 11: K10, C1F, K to end.
• Rnd 12: K11, C1F, K to end.
• Rnd 13: K12, C1F, P16, K to end.
• Rnd 14: K10, C1B, K6, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 15: K9, C1B, K6, P1, BC, FC, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 16: K8, C1B, K7, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 17: K7, C1B, K8, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 18: K17, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 19: K6, C1B, K9, P1, K10 P1, K to end.
• Rnd 20: K17, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 21: K5, C1B, K10, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 22: K4, C1B, K12, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 23: K3, C1B, K12, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 24: K2, C1B, K13, P1, K10, P1.
• Rnd 25: K1, C1B, K14, P1, BC, FC, P1, K to end.
• Rnds 26–30: K17, P1, K10, P1, K to end.
• Rnd 31: K17, P1, BC, FC, P1, K to end.
• Rnds 32–41: Knit all stitches.

Shoulder Decreases and Funnel

• Measure the work and add more or less knit rows to suit your specific hot water bottle.
• To decrease for shoulders, perform the following decrease round: (K2tog, K to 2 sts. before M B, K2tbl). SM and repeat decs. for back.
• This decrease row removes 4 stitches each row.
• Repeat this decrease round until 48 sts remain.
• Begin the funnel opening: work in K2P2 rib for 4 inches (10cm) or to fit the bottle.
• BO loosely.

Leaves (Make 2)

Make two leaves using the scrap of contrasting yarn.

• CO 5 sts.
• Row 1 (RS): K2, YO, K1, YO, K2 (7 sts).
• Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
• Row 3: K3, YO, K1, YO, K3 (9 sts).
• Row 5: SSK, K5, K2tog (7 sts).
• Row 7: SSK, K3, K2tog (5 sts).
• Row 9: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 sts).
• Row 11: Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO (1 st).
• Fasten off.

Finishing

Sew on the two leaves using a slip stitch. Sew on the two small button eyes. Seam the bottom of the cover. To use, fold the bottle in half and fit it through the funnel opening.