more quick knitted gifts: hot water bottle cover with lavender sachet

I saw something similar to this recently in a knitting magazine, but for a larger hot water bottle and knitted by a completely different method (in two parts and top down)

The first thing to note about this pattern is that it uses the magic loop method.


I have no intention of explaining it here. Just watch this video from youtube


One of the best things about this pattern is that it is a "less than one ball" pattern. you should easily be able to make one of these with a 50g ball of yarn (unless it's a spectacularly heavy yarn)

I saw these mini hot water bottles in poundland recently and decided that I had to make lavender hot water bottle covers for this years book club presents, so I immediatley bought 10.
Yes they are a horrible colour, but I intended to cover them so that was okay.

This picture shows how small they really are.

Materials
1x mini hot water bottle
1x 50g ball of DK yarn (about 100yd) if doing in just one colour, or you can easily use up oddments.
1x 4mm circular needle
scrap of fabric
dried lavender (I got mine from ebay)


gauge (important) 21st and 23 rows over 10cm square stocking stitch.

instructions
cast on 40 stitches, and divide in half on your circular needle, using the magic loop method. each of these halves I will call a "section" and two sections make a "round".

increase one stitch at each end of both sections on next three rounds. Knitting every row (creates stocking stitch when knitting in the round) - I increase by knitting into the front and back of the first and last stitch. (46 stitches)

continue knitting for 43 rounds ( 46 rounds in total)

decrease 1 stitch at end of each section for next two rounds ie :( K1 KSPO K to last 3 sts of section K2tog K2 KSPO K to last 3 stitches K2tog k1) twice

k 1 round

k1 p1 rib 34 rounds, cast off in rib.

to make the pocket
pick up 16 stitches in the middle of one side of 11th row, as shown.

stst 18 rows (ie k1 row p 1 row - you are not knitting in the round anymore, just using your circular needles as normal needles)
k1p1 rib 2 rows
cast off in rib.


sew sides of pocket to main piece.

sew up bottom of case.

The neck of the case is stretchy enough to insert the case from the top. you can then tuck the neck in to disguise the hot water bottle,


or fold it back on itself...

if you manage to get a nice coloured one!

now make a lavender bag. decide what size you want (do you want it to poke out of the pocket?)
and cut two rectangles slightly larger (seam allowance) sew right sides together leaving small gap for turning. turn right side out and stuff with lavender. sew up gap.