Today's pattern is by the very talented Libby Summers.

Materials:

1 litre sized hot water bottle (18 litre bottle measures 15.5cm/6 in wide x 25cm/10 in high)

50g Libby Summers’ Fine Aran in 101 Lima

Tension:

18 sts and 24 rows in stocking stitch to 10 cm/4in using 5mm needles (or size needed to achieve tension)

Abbreviations:

RS- Right Side

K- Knit

P- Purl

M1- Make one st by picking up loop in row below and knitting into the back of  it

St(s)- Stitch(es)

K2tog- Knit two stitches together, insert needle as to knit through the next two sts on the needle, knit them as one stitch.

Kfb- Knit into front and back of st (thus making one extra stitch)

Pattern:

Front (make 1)

Cast on 24 sts.

Pattern 1:

Row 1: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.  26 sts

Row 2: Knit.

Row 3: As row 1.  28 sts

Row 4: Knit.

Row 5: Knit.

Purl 5 rows.

Knit 5 rows.

Purl 5 rows.

Pattern 2:

Row 21 (RS): *P4, k4; rep from * to last 4 sts, p4.

Row 22: *K4, p4; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.

Rows 23-24: As Rows 21- 22.

Row 25: *K4, p4; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 26: *P4, k4; rep from * to last 4 sts, p4.

Rows 27-28: As Rows 25-26.

Rows 29-44: As Rows 21-28.

Knit 5 rows.

Pattern 3:

Row 50 (WS): P1, *k1, p4; rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, p1.

Row 51: Knit.

Row 52: As Row 1.

Row 53: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2togtbl. 26 sts

Row 54: *K1, p4; to last st, k1.

Row 55: As Row 53. 24 sts

Row 56: *P4, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p4.

Row 57: As Row 53. 22 sts

Row 58: P3, *k1, p4; rep from * to last 4 sts, k1, p3.

Row 59: As Row 53. 20 sts

Row 60: P2, *k1, p4; rep from * to last 3 sts, k1, p2.

Row 61: Knit.

Rep last 2 rows until work measures 18cm from beginning of Pattern 3, ending with a WS row (as row 60).

Increase section:

Row 1 (RS): K1, M1, k to last st, M1, k1. 22 sts

Row 2: P3, *k1, p4; rep from * to last 4 sts, k1, p3.

Row 3: As Row 1. 24 sts

Row 4: *P4, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p4.

Row 5: As Row 1. 26 sts

Row 6: *K1, p4; rep from * to last st, k1.

Row 7: As Row 1. 28 sts

Row 8: P1, *k1, p4; rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, p1.

Knit 5 rows.

Cast off.

Back

Work as for Front until end of Pattern 2.  Knit one extra row, then cast off.

Making Up

With right side facing you, fold top section (pattern 3) of front over so that right sides are together and five rows of garter stitch just before the beginning of top section match up with six rows of garter stitch at the end of front.

With wrong side facing you, place back piece on top of front piece, making sure that cast off edge of back piece comes above the six rows of garter stitch at end of front piece.  Pin in place.

Sew pieces together using back stitch, leaving flap opening.  Turn right side out.