It is super easy to make your own hot water bottle carrier, let me show you how. This winter a hot water bottle carrier almost feels a must-have item, with the cost of living crisis the majority of people are looking for ways to affordably stay warm.

Whilst considering my wearable hot water bottle cover design, whether to have pockets or not (I have to admit that was a super quick yes!), and the easiest ways to add straps I was mindful of wild swimmers. If you have cold fingers the last thing you want is to be fiddling with complicated fastenings, the easier the better.

The first option for this DIY hot water bottle carrier is strapped to your body like an apron. Waist ties tie around the back, along with an adjustable neck strap this pattern really will fit all sizes. Once you have worn it once you will have your neck strap to the right level so all you need to do is tie one bow, perfect for cold fingers.

If you are unable, for health reasons, to wear the strap around our neck (I’m thinking of those people who may have neck pain for whatever health reason) or for those of you who wish to have the option of wearing the hot water bottle on your back then I suggest sewing up the second option re adjustable straps.

 

When to use a hot water bottle carrier?

There are so many purposes for your hot water bottle carrier:

• For pain relief: period pains, back pain
• To keep you warm whilst watching your children play sport in winter – the side of football pitches springs to mind
• To warm up post wild water swimming
• Evenings whilst camping – a must for me!
• To keep warm at home during this cost-of-living crisis, perfect for days when working from home

 

Not only do hot water bottle carriers enable you to wear the hot water bottle, the water bottle covers allow for higher temperatures of water inside the water bottle.

What fabrics should I choose?

I have chosen to work with a terry blanket from a charity shop (thrift shop for Americans) combined with 100% cotton fabric as lining. Old wool sweaters or blankets would be soft to the touch and help retain the heat for longer (if you are making a hot water bag carrier as a gift just be mindful that some people are allergic to wool or maybe vegan). Be aware that hot water bottles naturally have a weight to them so you don’t want a stretchy fabric that can’t cope with the weight.

Do check out my you tube video on how to make the wearable hot water bottle cover.

 

Free Hot Water Bottle Carrier Pattern

Materials

• Fleece fabric (I have repurposed an old blanket, if buying half a yard would be more than enough)
• Cotton fabric for lining
• Fusible interfacing
• 3 yards of 1″ webbing
• 2 D Rings 1″
• 2 Buttons
• Bias Binding, 20″
• Elastic thread

This sewing pattern is based on the large capacity 2 litre water bottles.

Prepare Pattern Pieces. Cut out four pieces of fleece, two pieces of cotton and two of iron on interfacing, each measuring 15 by 10 1/4″.

Iron the interfacing to the back of your cotton lining, following the manufacturers instructions.

Now lets create the front pocket on your water bottle carrier. Place two pieces of fleece wrong sides facing each other. Grab a plate and mark a circular shape – my curve starts 1 1/2″ from the base of the bag, and ends ” up from the base of the bag.

Cut this out, repeat for a mirror image on the second side of the bag.

As fleece can be slippery to sew I suggest either basting or using fabric tac glue all round the edge of this front pocket piece, to adhere the two layers together.

 

The next step is to finish the raw edge of the pocket using bias binding, fold a 10″ bias binding in half encasing the raw edge of the fleece. I strongly suggest basting or gluing in place, before machine stitching to secure. I found fabric tac to hold the bias binding followed by using a walking foot by far gave the best finished results.

 

Option 1 Apron Style Straps

Cut out two waist ties 34″approx long (this can vary according to the person who’s going to wear the carrier). Place so the end is facing into the seam allowance at the bottom of each long side. Ensure the length of the waist ties are pinned out of the way so they don’t accidentally get caught in the seam allowance.

For the neck tie cut a piece of webbing 38″ long, place one end into seam allowance at one top corner. Thread a 3″ piece of webbing through a D ring, then place both ends at the opposite top edge corner into the seam allowance.

Option 2 Criss Cross Style Straps

Thread a 3″ piece of webbing through a D ring, then place both ends at the bottom corner of the side edge into the seam allowance, thus creating a loop. Repeat for the second side.

Cut two ties 80″ long, place one end at the top corner edge and baste in the seam allowance. Repeat for the other corner of the top edge.

Button closure – fold 4″ length of elastic in half and tie a knot. Repeat so you have two button loops.

Place your button loops so the raw edges and knots are facing into the seam allowance along the top of the hot water bottle carrier, on the back fabric piece. I have placed them based on the neck width of my water bottle.

Sew up the outer bag. Place the back piece of fleece so the right side is facing you, then the pocket piece so the wrong side is facing you , followed by the front piece wrong side facing you. Machine stitch the sides and bottom edge with a 5/8″ seam allowance – due to the volume of fabric you may find a walking foot helpful.

 

Sew up the lining. Place so the right sides face each other, then sew up the side edges and an inch in from each corner on the bottom edge with a fractionally wider seam allowance. This is so that when your bag is assembled your lining fits snugly rather being a little baggy. Trim the excess fabric from the two bottom corners taking care not to snip the stitches.

Complete the hot water bottle carrier. Let’s put the outer bag and lining together. Place the fleece bag inside the lining bag so the top edges align. Machine stitch this top edge.

Turn the bag right side out through the turning gap in the lining fabric. Turn in the raw edges of the turning gap in the lining fabric and ladder stitch or top stitch to close.

Insert the lining inside the hot water bag cover.

Lastly, add two buttons to the top front so the button loops close nicely. This closure enables you to take the hot water bottle out if required and secure it with buttons when in use.

How to wear your hot water bottle carrier;

Option 1 – Apron style straps. Take the long neck strap and thread it through the D ring, and tie a knot in the strap at a length that suits the wearer. Take the side straps, pass them to the wearer’s back and tie a bow to secure them.

Option 2 – Criss Cross straps. Take the right shoulder strap, pass over your back, and through the left side D ring. Take the left should strap, pass over your back, and through the right side D ring. Then take the two straps and tie them with a bow in the middle of your back.

I hope you love your hot water bottle holder as much as I do, its perfect for everyday use this winter season.

Wearable Hot Water Bottle Bag

Print

Materials

• Fleece fabric (I have repurposed an old blanket, if buying half a yard would be more than enough)
• Cotton fabric for lining
• Fusible interfacing
• 3 yards of webbing
• 2 D Rings
• 2 Buttons
• Bias Binding

Tools

• Walking foot
• Scissors
• Plate

Instructions

1. Prepare Pattern Pieces. Cut out four pieces of fleece, two pieces of cotton and two of iron on interfacing, each measuring 15 by 10 1/4". Iron the interfacing to the back of your cotton lining, following the manufacturers instructions.
2. Create the front pocket on your water bottle carrier. Place two pieces of fleece wrong sides facing each other. Grab a plate and mark a circular shape - my curve starts 1 1/2" from the base of the bag, and ends " up from the base of the bag. Cut this out, repeat for a mirror image on the second side of the bag. Finish the raw edge of the pocket using bias binding, stitch in place.
3. Option 1 Apron Style Straps Cut out two waist ties 34" approx long (this can vary according to the person who’s going to wear the carrier). Place so the end is facing into the seam allowance at the bottom of each long side. Ensure the length of the waist ties are pinned out of the way so they don’t accidentally get caught in the seam allowance. For the neck tie cut a piece of webbing 38" long, place one end into seam allowance at one top corner. Thread a 3" piece of webbing through a D ring, then place both ends at the opposite top edge corner into the seam allowance.
4. Option 2 Criss Cross Style Straps Thread a 3" piece of webbing through a D ring, then place both ends at the bottom corner of the side edge into the seam allowance, thus creating a loop. Repeat for the second side. Cut two ties 80" long, place one end at the top corner edge and baste in the seam allowance. Repeat for the other corner of the top edge.
5. Button closure - Fold 4" length of elastic in half and tie a knot. Repeat so you have two button loops. Place your button loops so the raw edges and knots are facing into the seam allowance along the top of the hot water bottle carrier, on the back fabric piece. I have placed them based on the neck width of my water bottle.

1. Sew up the outer bag. Place the back piece of fleece so the right side is facing you, then the pocket piece so the wrong side is facing you , followed by the front piece wrong side facing you. Machine stitch the sides and bottom edge with a 5/8" seam allowance - due to the volume of fabric you may find a walking foot helpful.
2. Sew up the lining. Place so the right sides face each other, then sew up the side edges and an inch in from each corner on the bottom edge with a fractionally wider seam allowance. This is so that when your bag is assembled you lining fits snugly rather being a little baggy. Trim the excess fabric from the two bottom corners taking care not to snip the stitches.
3. Complete the hot water battle carrier. Lets put the outer bag and lining together. Place the fleece bag inside the lining bag so the top edges align. Machine stitch this top edge. Turn the bag right side out through the turning gap in thebottom of the lining fabric. Turn in the raw edges of the turning gap in the lining fabric and ladder stitch or top stitch to close. Insert the lining inside the hot water bag cover. Lastly add two buttons to the top front do the button loops close nicely. This closure enables you to take the hot water bottle out if required and secure with buttons when in use.

It’s time for the Sustainable Craft Challenge when I join a group of creative bloggers and we share ideas to encourage and inspire bringing a more sustainable approach to crafts and crafting. This month the theme is Warm so my hot water bottle carrier upcycled from an old blanket is a perfect contribution.

Now let’s take a look at the other warm and cosy themed sustainable craft ideas that have been shared as part of the Sustainable Craft Challenge:

Homemade Swiss Mocha Hot Drink with Reusable Container

The Wednesday [Inspired] Snood

Swiss Darn Stained Sweater Makeover

DIY Snowy Luminary

DIY Warm Spices Gift Jar

Cozy Neck Cowl

Recycled NoSew Pillow Teapot Cozy

Winter Door Hanger without a Cricut

How to make a cozy winter blanket (the easy way)