Hot water bottles are an underutilised domestic comfort, at least here in the south where we don't know what to do with ourselves when it gets cold, and don't even own boots. However, a hot water bottle can be a very good friend on a freezing night. I like to tuck a child up with one when they are feeling under the weather. It makes me feel like I'm doing *something*, and it certainly is cozy for the sick little person.
Every hot water bottle must have a cozy cover. Here is mine--I simply cut a rectangle of red flannel, folded it over, and machine stitched it down one side and across the bottom. Then I turned over enough fabric at the top to make a casing, and stitched that down with decorative green embroidery thread. For a drawstring, I ran red grosgrain ribbon through with plenty of extra to tie a big bow with. The cover comes off every time I fill it, to make sure it stays perfectly dry.
I would love to knit a cover some day out of a truly luxurious yarn, but in the meantime, my toes stay plenty warm with this one.
One last note--I'm showing off my schoolhouse quilt underneath the water bottle. My grandmother made it years ago to match the house!
Anna, that is a great idea! I will have to make one for my waterbottle! Did you know ther is a heart water bottle that can be bought?
ReplyDeleteThe wreath is also beautiful. I love the wuilt! What a treasure from your grandmother!
Christina
We love hot water bottles too, but have a hard time finding 'non-leaky' ones. We have an old one that still holds water, but the knitted cover has been long since misplaced. I will have to put that on my list for January sewing projects. I like to use a 'soother sac' - simply a fabric tube filled with grains (I add lavender to mine too, and sometimes essential oils). When it is heated in the microwave it is wonderfully warm and fragrant and stays warm for a long time. Great for growing pains, achy muscles or just keeping warm.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about these the other day. My husband and I have lovely quilted hot water bottle covers made by my mother. Mine is in a pale pink and green primitive hearts pattern and my husband's is sewn with more masculine fabrics in a flying geese pattern.
ReplyDeleteI regularly put ours in the bed as our bedroom can get quite chilly in the winter.
Anna.
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK the hot water bottle has declined very little in popularity, despite the many alternatives now available, all of which in my opinion are vastly inferior to the original rubber bottles. There is still a wide selection available at our pharmacies and hardware stores, and they don't cost very much.
I love my hot water bottle and recently wrote an entire post singing their praises. Have a look at it sometime and tell me if you agree.
Jill
Ohhh...I love my hot water bottle!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a lamb cover on mine..
I need to find a new one soon because mine seems to be getting a little leaky!
Have a blessed day!
Our family is moving back to America from Bethlehem in a couple of weeks and I was contemplating whether or not I would need our hot water bottles. This post seals the deal! They are coming with us.
ReplyDelete