Hot water bottle cover

We’ve all got a jumper that we no longer wear lurking at the back of our wardrobes. Maybe it no longer fits, or has been nibbled by moths, or did it go in a too-hot wash and come out smaller than when it went in? Whatever the reason, we can help! Rather than throw it away, you can easily give an old jumper a second lease of life by transforming it into a stylish hot water bottle cover that’s perfect for snuggling up with on cold winter nights.

YOU WILL NEED ł old jumper ł hot water bottle ł paper ł Sharpie pen ł tape measure ł ruler ł scissors ł pins ł dressmaker’s scissors ł iron-on Velcro ł iron ł metallic fabric scrap ł needle ł cotton thread ł silver embroidery thread ł embroidery needle ł sewing machine ł 2 buttons

INSTRUCTIONS 1 First make your pattern. To do this, trace around your hot water bottle with a Sharpie pen onto a sheet of paper, then mark another line 2cm larger all the way around to make your pattern front piece. Cut this out.

2 Next, you need to make two back pieces. To start, cut two pattern pieces that are the same size as the front pattern piece. To make the top back piece, let’s call this pattern ‘A’, draw a horizontal line halfway down the first pattern piece, then draw a second horizontal line 4cm below this halfway point. Cut along this second line to create pattern piece A. To make the bottom back piece, let’s call this pattern ‘B’, draw a horizontal line halfway down the second pattern piece, then draw a second horizontal line 4cm above this halfway point. Cut along this second line to create pattern piece B. You should now have three pattern pieces: the whole front, the top back (A) and the bottom back (B).

3 Cut the front and back from your jumper and lay them flat on your work surface. Pin the front pattern to the back section of your jumper and cut out. Place the bottom of back piece A and the top of back piece B on the ribbed edge of the jumper front, pin in place and cut out. Using the existing jumper ribbing means that you won’t need to hem the edges.

4 Cut a length of iron-on Velcro that’s 10cm shorter than the width of back pieces A and B. Pin one side of the Velcro centrally to the right side of back piece B and pin the corresponding piece of Velcro centrally to the wrong side of piece A. Make sure that when the two back pieces overlap to match the front piece, the two strips of Velcro meet up. Once you’re happy with the positioning of the Velcro, iron it into position, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Then carefully remove the pins.

5 Cut a crescent moon shape from a scrap of metallic fabric (make a paper pattern to get the perfect shape if it helps) and slipstitch it onto the right side of the front piece. Then, using silver embroidery thread, sew a line of backstitches as close to the edge of the moon as possible to add extra sparkle and definition. Next, stitch some simple star shapes to the front piece using the silver embroidery thread. Sew stars in a variety of sizes to create interest.

6 Place the front piece of your hottie cover right side up on your work surface. Place back piece A on top with the wrong side facing up. Place back piece B on top with wrong side facing up. Make sure all the outside edges line up neatly and pin the pieces together. Sew a 2cm seam all the way around the edge. Trim away any excess fabric and gently turn the hottie cover right side out. Stitch two decorative buttons to the ribbing at the bottom of back piece A. Finally, place your hot water bottle inside the cover and then press the Velcro strips together to close it.

S e a r c h c h a r i t y s h o p s f o r 1 0 0 % w o o l j u m p e r s t h a t h a v e f e l t e d . T h e y ’ r e i d e a l f o r t h i s p r o j e c t a s t h e y w o n ’ t f r a y

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Look for jumper s with different patter ns front and back to create two looks in one

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