How to make your own hot water bottle cover

make your own pattern or use my readymade pattern

 Simple Hot Water Bottle Cover Pattern

I've had a hot water bottle without a cover for a while - it was time to add one. With the weather turning colder and my pregnant belly growing bigger, I know my hot water bottle will be back to frequent use in the next few months (I used it a lot to heal post-partum because heat is so healing in the "cold" phase).

Recently I purchased a few wool sweaters and a wool-looking blanket from the thrift store to felt (technically ful) into wool fabric for sewing. making a hot water bottle cover seemed like a good project for the wool-like blanket that mostly felted well through the process.

You can watch my whole experiment using different types of wool sweaters I thrifted in the video below.

How to turn thrifted wool sweaters into felted (fulled) fabric to sew - Upcycling sweater vlog

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Let's get into how to make a hot water bottle cover

Two options here - you can make your own pattern (I am going to detail how to do this) or you can use my readymade pattern available at a very affordable price on Etsy.

Use my readymade pattern

Simple Hot Water Bottle Cover Pattern

Drafting your own pattern

Place your hot water bottle on a sheet of paper or multiple sheets of paper tapped together.

Trace around the bottle, leaving about 1 inch (2.5cm) of space all the way around for the seam allowance and wiggle room.

Here is my hot water bottle outline that I used to create my pattern:

I created my pattern digitally using AI Illustrator to draw the lines on my laptop, but I often make patterns by free hand drawing them with a pencil. Free hand drawing them is often easier (unless you know how to use a digital drawing platform) and cheaper.

Here you can see more or less the size I decided to go with for my pattern:

You could definitely make it smaller if you like a tighter fit or you are using an elastic fabric. I prefer a looser fit to get it in and out easily and lots of space for when it is full.

This large piece is your front piece. For the back, copy the same outline but split it into two overlapping pieces (so that you can slip the bottle in and out easily). Remember to consider a seam for these back pieces if you are wanting that.

Now you'll have 3 pattern pieces: one front and two back pieces that overlap.

The rest of the steps are the same for using a readymade pattern or your own.

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🧵 Materials You’ll Need

• Sewing machine

• Thread

• Standard sewing needle

• Fabric of choice (felted wool is ideal — soft, insulating, and durable)

• Optional: lining fabric, button, snap, or Velcro for closure

Why I recommend using something like felted wool:

It is naturally insulating therefore will protect you from too hot but keep the hot water bottle warm for longer and still allow heat to pass through to you. It is great upcycling project. And lastly, felted wool is really easy to sew with because you don't need to add a liner to your hot water bottle (unless you want to) and you don't need to worry about the edges fraying or unravelling.

In my case I think the wool is a blend and not 100% wool, but it is definitely mostly wool since it did felt.

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🪡 Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Cut Your Fabric

   • Cut one front piece and two back pieces from your fabric.

   • If you’re adding a lining, cut the same pieces in lining fabric.

2. Prepare the Back Pieces

   • On the inner edges of the two back pieces, fold over about ½ inch (1.25 cm) and stitch down with a straight stitch.

   • If your fabric frays, zigzag or overlock before folding.

3. Assemble the Cover - Right sides facing each other

   • Lay the front piece right side up.

   • Place the top back piece on top, right side down.

   • Place the bottom back piece last, overlapping the top back piece.

   • Pin or clip in place.

4. Sew It Together

   • Sew all the way around the edges with a 1 inch (2.5 cm) seam allowance.

   • Trim excess fabric and clip curves if needed.

5. Turn & Finish

   • Turn the cover right side out.

   • Slip in your hot water bottle.

   • Optional: add a button, snap, or Velcro closure — though the overlap usually keeps it secure.

And now you have an awesome new hot water bottle cover!

 Simple Hot Water Bottle Cover Pattern

I hope you enjoyed this project! Please sign up to my mailing list :)

Carmen