Fluffy Hot Water Bottle Cover and Back Warmer

I often get lower back pain and have found that heat helps a lot. The main problem with using hot water bottles is I also dislike having to stay in one position for long so having something that moves with me is really useful. I decided to make this to combat both the issue of not having a proper cover for my hot water bottle and having something which will allow me to move around with it on. I hope others will also find this useful.

Supplies

All of these can be picked up for pretty cheap from your local homeware or crafts store if you don't have them already.

Materials:

Fabric of your choice
Thread
Velcro
Snap fasteners
Paper

Tools:

Fabric scissors
Sewing needle
Pins
Pen

Step 1: Choose Your Fabric

I ended up buying a teddy bear blanket to make this as it was cheaper than buying a metre of fabric. This isn't always the easiest fabric to use especially if you were planning on using a sewing machine. Other warm fabrics such as fleece or felt would also work and have the added benefit of not fraying and making a mess as you're working.

Step 2: Make Your Pattern

Put your hot water bottle on a sheet of paper and draw around it. If, like me, your paper is too small then draw it across two pieces then cut it out and stick it together, making sure to line up the corners.

After you have got the whole shape together, you want to draw a horizontal line just below where the top corners finish curving. Cut along this line so you have two pattern pieces. This will give an opening on the side so the top of the hot water bottle can fit in the cover.

Step 3: Lay Out the Pattern Pieces

Fold your fabric in half and pin down the pattern pieces, you want to leave a gap between pieces to allow for the seam allowance (2.5cm in this case). In addition to the cover itself, I am cutting out two straps to attach it to myself later.

I haven't left seam allowance on the far right edge in this image as I'm using a blanket and this edge is already hemmed but if you're using unfinished fabric leave a gap here.

Step 4: Cut Out the Straps

I ended up just using the width of my fabric as the length of the straps, the minimum length of strap would be half your waist measurement, plus about 5cm for seam allowance. The straps are 10cm wide plus another 2.5cm each side for seam allowance

Step 5: Cut Out Your Pattern

Cut around your pattern pieces, leaving a gap of about 2-2.5 cm for seam allowance.

Step 6: Hem Your Straps

Turn over 2.5cm on the two long edges and one of the short edges of your straps. Pin them in place and sew them down using a simple running stitch.

Step 7: Pin and Sew the Bottom Half Together

Take the two bottom pieces. Pin right sides together. Insert one of the straps into the bottom edge so the unfinished edge is in the seam and the rest of the strap is coming out the top.

Sew around the edge of the piece, sewing straight through all three layers when you reach the strap. Stop sewing about 2.5cm away from the top edge of the piece.

Step 8: Sew the Top Section

Pin right sides together and sew around the edge, again stopping 2.5cm away from the bottom edge.

As I used a blanket my top edge was already hemmed. If yours is not, pin each side back 2.5cm and sew them down, leaving an opening at the top.

Step 9: Hem the Sections

Fold back one edge of each section and sew it, leaving the other side raw.

Step 10: Sew Everything Together

Turn both the top and bottom pieces the right side out.

Line up the raw edges and insert the second strap between them. Pin them together and sew.

Step 11: Add Poppers and Velcro

Attach poppers to either side of the opening on the main cover.

Add velcro to the straps. To position it, I wrapped the whole thing around my waist then used pins to mark where I wanted it to be then pinned and sewed it on.