Cold? Me too. Here’s a quick and cute knitting project to keep you warm. This thick, checkered cozy will fit any standard 7- by 12.5-inch hot water bottle.

This pattern uses magic loop, intarsia, and machine felting techniques. That might sound intimidating, but this pattern is actually quite forgiving: The bulky-weight yarn is easy to handle, and the felting process does a lot to hide lumps and irregularities. Plus, you’ll only have to work one fancy technique at a time.

This pattern requires about 120 yds bulky-weight yarn in your main color of choice and another 50-ish yds in a contrasting color (for the checks). You’ll also need size 10 connected needles or DPNs.

I love feedback, so please feel free to reach out with any comments or questions you might have. Happy knitting, and stay warm! :)