Hot Love

This Hot Love warmer is just perfect for the colder weather and can be made over a weekend, perfect for a quick gift make or why not hook yourself one.  The pattern uses simple half trebles and although this is not a tutorial, has lots of photo’s to help you on your way.  Here are some of my favourite bits about this super make…

 

YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING.

• James C Brett – Marble Chunky 12 ply,  colour code MC45 (yarn A)

  Stylecraft DK Special in cream (yarn B)

• 6mm hook

• Tapestry Needle

• stitch markers x2 (or safety pins)

• 1.5″ (4.5cm) button of your choice

• Heart notion / other notion or button (optional)

• Small hot water bottle (6.5″x 10.5″ /16cm x 26.5cm)

 

MEASUREMENTS

Finished warmer  7.5″ X 12″ / 19.5cm x 31cm

 

SPECIAL STITCHES

half treble together – htrtog –  (decrease number of stitches) 

To make a htrtog stitch, wind the yarn around the hook (yrh), insert hook into next stitch in previous row (top two loops unless working in the back loop only!) yrh and pull through (3 loops on hook). yrh again, insert hook into next stitch, yrh and pull through (5 loops on hook), yrh and pull through all 5 loops.  

 

Whip stitch – see here to watch

 

NOTES

Pattern is written using UK terminology.  Please see my Pattern Protocol, which I would respectfully ask you to abide by. 

htr -half treble (US = hdc)

htrtog – half treble together, please see special stitches section above.

ch – chain

slst – slip stitch

sts – stitches

Inches / cm’s where stated are measured at the base of row.

Ch1 does not count as a stitch unless otherwise stated.

 

Here we go!

BODY (make x2)

To start Ch18

Row 1:     1htr in 2nd ch from hook, 1htr in each ch til end (16sts), ch1 turn                         work (approx 6″ / 16cm)

Row 2:    2htr in 1st st, 1htr in next 14sts, 2htr in ch1 of previous round                                 (18sts), ch1, turn (approx 6.5″ / 17cm)

Row 3:   2htr in 1st st, 1htr in next 16sts, 2htr in ch1 of previous round                                 (20sts), ch1, turn (approx 7″ / 18.5cm)

Row 4:   2htr in 1st st, 1htr in next 18sts, 2htr in ch1 of previous round                                 (22sts), ch2, turn (approx 7.5″ / 19.5cm)

ch2 counts as a stitch unless otherwise stated.

Row 5:   1htr in same st as ch2, 1htr in each st across (22sts), ch2, turn

Row 6:  1htr in same st as ch2, 1htr in each st across (22sts), ch2, turn

Rows 7 – 14:   repeat row 6.

Row 15:  1htr in same st, 1htr in each st across (22sts), ch1, turn

starting to decrease for shoulders of warmer.

Row 16:   1htrtog in next 2sts, 1htr in next 16sts, 1htrtog in last 2 sts (18sts),                        (approx 6.5″ / 17cm), ch1 (does not count as a st), turn

Row 17:   1htrtog in next 2sts, 1htr in next 14sts, 1htrtog in last 2 sts (16sts),                       (approx 6″ / 16cm), ch1, turn

Row 18:  1htrtog in next 2sts, 1htr in next 12sts, 1htrtog in last 2 sts (14sts),                         (approx 5.5″ / 14.5cm), fasten off and weave in ends.

 JOINING BODY

To measure for neck of the bottle, place  the 2 pieces on top of one another, at one end measure 1″ / 3cm in, and place a stitch marker making sure to pin through both pieces.

 

 Measure 1″ / 3cm in on opposite side and place a second stitch marker through both pieces.

DO NOT sew between the stitch markers as this will become the neck of the warmer.  Whip stitch (see link at top if unsure) from left stitch marker down to bottom left corner, fasten off and weave in ends.  Repeat from right stitch marker down to bottom right corner, fasten off and weave in ends.  Turn body of warmer inside out (this is now the right side of the warmer!)

 

You should now have something that resembles a hot water bottle cover, with approx a 5″ / 13cm gap at the bottom and a 3.5″ / 9.5cm gap at the top.  Now to add the neck…

 

 NECK

The neck is worked perpendicular to the body of the warmer.  Remove left stitch marker, join yarn in st marked with the remaining stitch marker.

Ch22

Row 1:   1htr in to 2nd ch from hook, 1htr into each ch til end (21htr), slst in                     to base of chain, turn work

Row 2:   from now on work in the back loop only unless otherwise stated, ch2                 (counts as st), 1htr in next st and each st along (21htr), turn.

Row 3:  ch2 (counts as stitch), 1htr in next st and each stitch along (21htr),                       slst to body of warmer (skipping x2 sts from previous slst in rnd 1)                     ie/ slst into 3rd st along.

Row 4:  ch2 (counts as stitch), 1htr in next st and each st along (21htr), turn

Continue to alternate rows 3 and 4 all the way around the neck of the warmer until you reach the stitch marker, fasten off.  REMEMBER to work in the back loops only to create a gorgeous, chunky ridged neck.

 

With the tapestry needle seam neck together with a simple whip stitch and weave in ends.

EMBELLISHING

With yarn B, cut x12 30″ / 76.5cm pieces.

Starting on the right hand side take x2 strands and weave through the gaps at the base of the neck, 

Continue around the back and weave to the front on the left hand side, much like you were adding a scarf!  Repeat until all x12 strands are threaded.  Trim to level.

 

On each side, separate the strands to plait, (3 lots of 4 strands per side).  Plait each side and knot at the end approx 1.5″ / 4.5cm from the end.  

At base of neck tie the plaits in the middle with the first part of a bow, roll down neck.

Make x2 pompoms.  There are many different ways to do this, if you would like to look at different ways to make pompoms check out this link… I used the ‘wrapping yarn around my hand’ method.  I wrapped the yarn around x80 times to give a really plush, full pompom.

For the perfect pompom it is essential to trim to desired size.  Attach pompoms to the end of each plait by sewing them on with the the tapestry needle.

BUTTON AND BUTTON LOOP.

Add a button of your choice to the back of the warmer.  Position the button centrally and towards the base of the warmer (approx 1″ / 3cm) from the bottom.

 Attach Yarn A, to centre stitch at the bottom of warmer on the front side and chain 10, (NB/ if you are using a different sized button than stated in pattern, you will need to adjust chain number accordingly!).  Slst into base of warmer in the same st that you joined to start ch.  Ch1, 1dc into each ch til end, slst to base of warmer, fasten off and weave in ends. Secure around button.

 

Finally add love notion, or notion / button of your choice to the bottom right corner, on the front of warmer to finish.

Add some hot water, your favourite crochet blanket and snuggle up with a good read!

xxx

 

 I really hope that you have found this pattern simple enough to follow… your feedback is greatly appreciated and if you think that I can make a change some where just let me know… Oh and I would love to see pictures of your makes too.

xxx

 

‘Hot Love’ © designed by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrrobin’wordpress.com…..November 2014