Hot-water bottle knitted covers

Now that we are in mid Autumn going into Winter, it is a good time to knit a hot-water bottle cover. This is a small project so it is great for the children to knit.

It is knitted in stocking stitch with a rib polar neck, but is easy enough to knit in garter stitch, moss stitch, twisted rib, etc. Play with different patterns and see what you come up with. Send me photos of what you knit.

Stocking stitch hot-water bottle cover

Materials

• 50g double knit wool or yarn of your choice
• 4mm knitting needles
• Tapestry needle
• Hot water bottle (bag part approximately 26x20cm)

Abbreviations

• K. - Knit
• P. - Purl
• K2 tog. - Knit 2 together
• K1t. - Increase one by knitting twice into the stitch
• St. - Stitch
• Sts. - Stitches
• Ws. - Wrong side

To Make

Cast on 35 sts.

1st row: (ws) p.

2nd row: k1t, k to last st, k1t.

3rd row: k1t, p to last st, k1t.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until there are 45 sts. (row 6).

Continue working stocking stitch up to row 67.

68th row: k2 tog, k to last 2 sts. K2 tog. (43 sts)

69th row: k2tog, p to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (41 sts)

70th row: k2 tog, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (39 sts)

71sts row: k2 tog, p to last 2 sts, k2 tog. (37 sts)

72nd row: k2 tog twice, k to last 4 sts, k2 tog twice. (33 sts)

73rd row: k2 tog twice, p to last 4 sts, k2 tog twice.(29 sts)

74th row: k2 tog twice, k to last 4 sts, k2 tog twice.(25 sts)

75th: k2 tog twice, p to last 4 sts, k2 tog twice. (21 sts)

Slip the remaining 21 sts onto a stitch holder.

The back and the front are knitted the same.  

Cut the yarn to a length of about 22cm and sew the front to the back for a couple of centimetres down the side, starting from the remaining stitches. Place the stitches of the front and back on one needle and continue working in rib until the rib measures double the length of the funnel section of the hot-water bottle (about 40 rows). Cast off and sew up the rest of the bag.

As an added something you can blanket stitch around the edge of the bag.

I hope you have fun knitting this. My mother-in-law is knitting up a storm with them. I think she has knitted about twelve.

Happy knitting!

Basic sweater pattern

Sizes, to fit chest 41cm,16in. 46cm,18in. 51cm, 20in. 56cm,22in. 61cm, 24in. 66cm,26in. Remember that these measurements are for double knitting wool. So if you use aran wool for example you would use a smaller size and thicker needle.

For example For my 7 year old I use double knit yarn with a 4mm needle and cast on 75st which is for chest size 61cm,24in. For my 12 year old I use aran weight yarn with a 4.5mm needle and also cast on 75st as well.

Back:
Using double knit yarn and 3.25mm needles cast on 51[57:63:69:75:81] sts .
Rib for 8 rows. You can do any rib you choose.
Change to 4mm needles and proceed as follows,
1st Row. Knit.
2nd Row. Purl.
There 2 rows will now be referred to as st-st. Working in st-st
continue until back measures 13[14:15:17:20:23]cm,
(5.25[5.5:6:6.5:8:9]in) or the length you want, ending with a purl row.
Shape Raglan
cast off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 41[47:53:59:65:71]sts.
Proceed as follows,
1st Row. K1, slip 1, k1, pass slipped st over(psso). Knit to last 3
sts, k2tog, k1. 39[45:51:57:63:69]sts.
2nd Row. Purl.
3rd Row. Knit.
4th Row. Purl.
Proceed as follows, 1st Row. K1, slip1, k1, psso,knit to last 3sts,
k2tog, k1. 37[43:49:55:61:67]sts.
2nd Row. Purl.
1st and 2nd rows set raglan shapings. Work these two rows until you
have** 19[19:23:23:27:27]sts left.
Slip the remaining sts onto a stitch holder.

Front:
Work as for back until **27[27:31:31:35:35]sts.
Shape Neck
Next Row. k1, sl1, psso, k6, turn, leave rem 18[18:22:22:26:26]sts on
a stitch holder.
Working on these 8 sts only proceed as follows,
Next Row. Purl.
Work 3 rows dec 1 st at raglan edge as before in next and foll alt row
AT THE SAME TIME dec 1 st at neck edge in every row. 3sts.
Next Row. Purl.
Next Row. K1, S1, K1, psso. 2sts.
Next Row. Purl 2tog. Fasten off.
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to rem 18[18:22:22:26:26]sts and
proceed as follows,
Next Row. Cast off 9[9:13:13:17:17]sts knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 8sts.
Next Row. Purl.
Work 3 rows dec 1 st at neck edge in every row AT THE SAME TIME dec 1
st at raglan edge as before in next and foll alt row. 3sts.
Next Row. Purl.
Next Row. K2tog, k1. 2sts.

Sleeves:
using 3.25 needles cast on 33[35:37:37:41:45]sts, work 8[8:8:10:10:10]
rows in the same rib you used before. Change to 4 mm needles and
working in st-st inc 1st at each end of 5th and every foll
10th[6th:4th:6th:11th:13th] row to 39[41:45:45:53:57]sts.
For 3rd and 4th sizes only.
Inc 1 st at each end of every foll [6th:8th] row to [51:51] sts.
All sizes
continue without sharing until sleeve measures 15[17:20:24:29:33]cm,
(6[6.5:8:9.5:11.5:13]in) or length required, ending with a purl row.
Shape raglan
cast off 5sts at beg of next 2 rows. 29[35:41:41:43:47] sts.
Proceed as follows,
1st Row. K1, S1, K1, psso, knit to last 3sts, k2tog, k1. 27[33:39:39:41:45]sts.
2nd Row. Purl.
3rd Row. Knit.
4th Row Purl.

From 1st to 4th row sets raglan shaping.
Work 8[8:4:16:16:20]rows dec 1 st as before at each end of next and
every foll 4th[4th:0:4th:4th:4th] row. 23[29:37:31:33:35] sts .
Proceed as follows,
1st Row. K1, S1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
21[27:35:29:31:33:35] sts.
2nd Row. Purl.
1st and 2nd rows set raglan shapings. Work until you have 11[11,
13:13:13:13] sts. Put there sts onto a stitch holder.

Socks age 7-12

This pattern is for age 7 till they grow out of this size, then you would use the adult pattern, or use a slightly thicker knitting needle.

When you are knitting socks a slightly thicker needle gives a softer knit, and of coarse a more stretchy sock. This makes it easier for children to put on.

Socks age 7-12
Materials:
50g sock wool.
Set of 4 needles, 3mm.

Method:
Cast on 54 st. Put 18 st on each needle.
Knit in the round.
Do 6 rows of rib. Your choice of rib will do.
Change to knit.
Knit 40 rows.

Heel
Knit 12 st from needle 1.
Slip last 13 st from needle 3 onto same needle as the 12 st you knitted. (25st)
Put the remaining 29 sts onto two needles.

Working on the 25st.
Row 1. Pearl.
Row 2. Knit.
Row 3. Pearl.
Repeat row 2 and 3 ten times.(21 rows)
If you want a reinforced heel then on every knit row do slip one, knit one etc. till last stitch which is a slip stitch.

Turn heel
Row 1. Knit 15, K2 together in the back of the sts. Turn.
Row 2. Slip 1. P5. P2 together. Turn.
Row 3. Slip 1. K6. K2 together in the back of the sts. Turn.
Row 4. Slip 1. P7. P2 together. Turn.
Row 5. Slip 1. K8. K2 together in the back of the sts.
Row 6. Slip 1. P9. P2 together. Turn.
Row 7. Slip 1. K10. K2 together in the back of the sts. Turn.
Row 8. Slip 1. P11. P2 together.
Row 9. Slip 1. K12. K2 together in the back of the sts. Turn.
Row 10. Slip 1. P13. P2 together.
15 sts left.
Knit 8.

Knit 7 on needle one. Pick up 12 sts along side of heel. (19 sts).
Knit 29 sts on needle two.
Pick up 12 sts along heel, knit 8 sts on needle 3. (20sts).

Shape heel
Row 1. Knit.
Row 2. Knit sts on needle one till last two remain. K2 sts together.
Knit sts on needle two.
On needle three. K2 together in the back of the sts. Knit till end.
Repeat row 1 and 2 till 54 sts remain.

Knit length according to the child's foot.

Shape toe
Needle one must have 14 sts.
Needle two, 27 sts.
Needle three, 13 sts.
Row one.
On needle one. K to last 3 sts. Knit 2 together, knit 1.
On needle two. K1, K2 together in the back of the sts. Knit till last
three sts. K2 together, K1.
On needle three. K1, K2 together in the back of the sts.
Row two.
Knit.
Continue with last two rounds till 20 sts remain.
Graft sts!

Happy knitting.

Adult socks

My beautiful niece is staying with me. Autumn is coming and the weather is cooling. So back to the knitting! I am using pink and chocolate brown to give the impression of warmth and love. I hope you enjoy my pattern.

Adult socks
Materials:
100g of sock wool.
A set of 4 needles, 2.75 mm.

Method:
Cast on 60sts. Put 20 st on each needle.
Knit in the round.
Rib as long as you like. I like a longer rib so I do a min. of 10 rows.
Change to knit stitch and knit 40 to 60 rows.

Heel
New round.
Knit 13 sts on first needle.
Slip last 14 sts from end of third needle. (27 sts)
Work backwards and forwards on these 27 sts.
Row 1. purl.
Row 2. Slip one, purl one etc. till last stitch which is a slip st.
Row 3. Purl.
Continue with row 2 and 3 another 10 times, 20 rows in total.

Turn heel
Row 1. Knit 17, knit two together in the back of the stitchs, turn.
Row 2. Slip one, purl 7, purl two together, turn.
Row 3. Slip one, knit 8, knit two together in the back of the stitch. Turn.
Row 4. Slip one, purl 9, purl two together. Turn.
Row 5. Slip one, knit 10, knit two together in the back of the sts.
Continue untill you have 17 sts.
Knit 9.
On needle one: Knit 8. Pick up 12sts. (20 sts)
On needle two: Knit 33 sts.
On needle three: Pick up 12 sts, knit 9 sts. (21sts)

Shape heel
Row 1. knit.
Row 2. Needle one. Knit to last two sts. Knit two together.
Needle two. Knit sts.
Needle three. Knit two together in the back of the sts. Knit to the end of the row.
Repeat row 1 and 2 till  60sts in remain.

Foot
Knit till length required.

Shape toe
Needle one, 15sts.
Needle two, 30sts.
Needle three, 15sts.
Row 1.
On needle one: knit to last three sts. Knit two together. Knit one.
Needle two: knit one, knit two together in the back. Knit till last
three sts. Knit two together. Knit one.
Needle three: knit one, knit two together in the back.
Row 2. Knit.
Repeat last two rows till 24 sts remain.
Graft sts.

Socks age 4-7

So autumn is on the way and Sheth has grown out of four pairs of his socks. He is a spoilt bum and therefore won't wear bought socks. What that means is that I am knitting!

I thought you may like the pattern.

Socks age 4-7
Materials:
50g sock wool.
Set of 4 needles, 3mm.

Method:
Cast on 48 st. Put 16 st on each needle.
Knit in the round.
Do 6 rows of rib. Your choice of rib will do.
Change to knit.
Knit 40 rows.

Heel
Knit 11 st from needle 1.
Slip last 12 st from needle 3 onto same needle as the 11 st you knitted. (23st)
Put the remaining 25 sts onto two needles.

Working on the 23st.
Row 1. Pearl.
Row 2. Knit.
Row 3. Pearl.
Repeat row 2 and 3 ten times.(21 rows)
If you want a reinforced heel then on every knit row do slip one, knit one etc. till last stitch which is a slip stitch.

Turn heel
Row 1. Knit 15, K2 together in the back of the sts. Turn.
Row 2. Slip 1. P7. P2 together. Turn.
Row 3. Slip 1. K8. K2 together in the back of the sts. Turn.
Row 4. Slip 1. P9. P2 together. Turn.
Row 5. Slip 1. K10. K2 together in the back of the sts.
Row 6. Slip 1. P11. P2 together. Turn.
Row 7. Slip 1. K12. K2 together in the back of the sts. Turn.
Row 8. Slip 1. P13. P2 together.
15 sts left.
Knit 8.

Knit 7 on needle one. Pick up 12 sts along side of heel. (19 sts).
Knit 25 sts on needle two.
Pick up 12 sts along heel, knit 8 sts on needle 3. (20sts).

Shape heel
Row 1. Knit.
Row 2. Knit sts on needle one till last two remain. K2 sts together.
Knit sts on needle two.
On needle three. K2 together in the back of the sts. Knit till end.
Repeat row 1 and 2 till 48 sts remain.

Knit length according to the child's foot.
I am knitting 55 rows for Sheth's foot now. Size 1.

Shape toe
Needle one must have 12 sts.
Needle two, 24 sts.
Needle three, 12 sts.
Row one.
On needle one. K to last 3 sts. Knit 2 together, knit 1.
On needle two. K1, K2 together in the back of the sts. Knit till last
three sts. K2 together, K1.
On needle three. K1, K2 together in the back of the sts.
Row two.
Knit.
Continue with last two rounds till 20 sts remain.
Graft sts!

Happy knitting.