Free Pattern For A Hot Water Bottle Cover
A hot water bottle is a must-have for chilly nights, and a handmade cover adds a personal touch. This tutorial will guide you step-by-step to create a snug, stylish hot water bottle cover using plush and quilting cotton fabrics. Perfect for gifting or a cosy addition to your home,this project is beginner-friendly, fun to customise and great for all skill levels.
Plush fabric is gorgeously soft, tactile, and luxurious. If you’re new to this type of fabric – check out our guide here for the full low down.
This hot water bottle cover comes together pretty quickly. You can easily sew it in an afternoon and it would make a great handmade gift.
We have provided a free printed pattern template up can download below sized to fit a standard 2 litre hot water bottle measuring 33cm (h) 20 cm (w) approx.
We used this hot water bottle to create our pattern. If you’re making several of these for gifts then the template will also fit this pack of 3 hot water bottles
Pin for later!
Materials You Will Need To Make This Hot Water Bottle Cover
| Material | Amount | Notes |
| Exterior Fabric | 50cm (20 inches) | plush for softness or quilting cotton for style. |
| Lining Fabric | 30cm (12 inches) | We used calico |
| wadding | 30cm (12 inches) | If you’re unsure which wadding to use then check out this post for my thoughts |
| 1m (40 inches) | DIY from cotton or store-bought | |
| Thread | Polyester for durability |
Exterior Fabric Rectangle Sizes
Cut the following pieces from your chosen exterior fabric:
- Front Panel: 41cm (height) x 29cm (width)
- Back Top Panel: 22cm (height) x 29cm (width)
- Back Bottom Panel: 26cm (height) x 29cm (width)
Sewing equipment you will need
- Sewing machine
- Fabric Scissors OR rotary cutter, mat & ruler
- Tape Measure or ruler
- Pins or Clips
- Temporary fabric marker
Important Notes to Keep in Mind
- Seam Allowance: Use a 1cm seam allowance for all steps unless mentioned otherwise.
- Sewing Tips: When using your sewing machine, always straight stitch with a 2.5mm stitch length. Don’t forget to backstitch at the start and end of each seam to secure it.
- Fabric Prep: Make sure to prepare your fabrics according to the manufacturer’s care instructions (e.g., washing or pressing).
- Finishing Seams: We used an overlocker (serger) to prevent fraying, but no worries if you don’t have one! Check out our guide for alternative seam finishing methods.
- Key Terms:
- WST: Wrong Sides Together.
- RST: Right Sides Together.
- Before You Begin: Take a few minutes to read through the instructions from start to finish – it’ll make the sewing process much smoother!
- Safety First: Always follow your hot water bottle’s usage and care instructions. And remember, never overfill it!
How To Sew A Hot Water Bottle Cover
1. Print and assemble your pattern
Print out the PDF pattern on A4 paper at 100% and check the 1″ square measures 1 inch
You will need to print two copies of pattern piece A, two copies of pattern piece B & one copy of pattern piece C
Stick one copy of pattern pieces A & B together matching the sides. This makes the front pattern piece of the hot water bottle cover
Stick one copy of pattern pieces B & C together. This makes the back top pattern of the hot water bottle cover
The remaining pattern piece A makes the back top pattern piece of the cosy. You pattern should look like this
2. Cut The Fabrics
For the front panels
- 41 x 29cm (h x w) of chosen outer fabric (if you are piecing fabrics see note below)
If you are using a variety of prints on your front panel: Cut and lay out your fabric pieces as you desire. Our quilting cotton section measured approx. 29cm wide x 29cm high . We then added a strip of Plush fabric to the top which measured approx 29cm wide x 15cm high
If you are using plush fabric pay attention to the fabric nap. Make sure you have enough pieced fabric to cover the front printed pattern piece with some overhang.
For the back panels
From your exterior fabric cut 2 rectangles
- Back Top Panel: 22 x 29cm (h x w)
- Back Bottom Panel: 26 x 29cm (h x w)
Cut the lining & wadding
Cut the lining fabric and wadding pieces a little larger than the outer fabric panel pieces to assist with quilting.
For each panel piece layer your fabrics to make a “quilt sandwich”. Lining fabric at the bottom, then layer the wadding, then the exterior fabric.
3. Quilt your panel pieces
On the front panel & both back panel pieces, quilt the fabrics as desired. I chose a simple straight lines approx 1″ apart but quilt to suit you.
Now place the printed pattern pieces on to the corresponding quilted panels.
Pin or weight the pattern down on the fabrics and cut around the printed pattern outline. I find this easiest using a small 28mm rotary cutter.
Your work will now look something like this
4. Make & Attach the bias binding
Make your binding strips for the back panel pieces by cutting a 25mm x WOF (Width Of Fabric) strip of fabric. Fold in half matching the long edges and press along the length.
Attach and pin/ clip the binding to back pieces lining side up matching the fabric raw edges with the edge of the back pieces as shown
Stitch the binding in place using a 1/4″ seam.
Press the seam away from the lining, flip the folded edge of the binding to the right side of the cover. Clip and top stitch in place very close to the binding edge.
Do this for both back panels.
Now you’re ready to sew it together!
Lay the quilted panel pieces on top of each other in this order
- Front panel right side up
- Back top panel right side down
- Back bottom panel right side down
Secure with clips and stitch all the way around the edge using a 1cm seam allowance.
Finish the seams with your preferred method. Check out our post here for a few ideas.
If you prefer (and your overlocker is happy with all the layers) you can overlock around the edges – but watch out for those curves!
And you’re done!
Now fill her up with hot water & get cosy toes next time it’s a bit chilly!
Hot Water Bottle Cover Sewing Tutorial
Hot Water Bottle Cover Sewing Tutorial
