About
Leafless trees and the shapes they make against the sky have a special magic to them. As they make their winter retreat into roots and soil, their bodies above ground stand dream-like in the woods and along hedgerows. Bare trees symbolise the essence of winter to me; settling down into stories, plans and projects to be grown in the brighter part of the year.

​This hot water bottle cover was designed in that spirit of hibernation: something to keep you warm in your nest as you rest and dream like the trees outside.

Method and Materials
The pattern is knitted in the round, bottom-up. It uses British DK wool knitted on 3.25mm needles to create a durable and dense insulating fabric that keeps heat in and prevents contact between your skin and the inner hot water bottle.

I created two versions: one in ‘Burnt Ochre’, a beautiful lichen-gold colour from Jamieson’s of Shetland (2 x 25g balls), another in ‘Sian DK’ (1 x 100g skein), a wonderful foggy grey from Uist Wool. The contrast colour used in both version is Jamieson’s of Shetland ‘Eesit’ (1 x 25g ball). Both versions came out with the same tension.

Size
Finished size: 21cm wide x 35cm high. This will fit the average hot water bottle.