19 December 2017

Yes, that was me!

Joules & Joulietta Hot Water Bottle Covers by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Picture yourself as a Swedish hiker in the mountains of New Hampshire in August of 2015. It is hot and steamy. You are bathing your feet in the refreshing mountain stream and splashing cool water on your face. 

You look up and see a lady sitting on a rock by the side of the river. She has been quietly knitting but is now opening her backpack and removing something from it. You look in wonderment as you see it is a hot water bottle! She tries it inside the knitted item, then she replaces it in her bag and knits a few more rows.

Yes, dear hikers – that was me!
Joules & Joulietta Hot Water Bottle Covers by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Well, you know, it is not only Girl Guides who need to "Be Prepared". It is a well‐known fact that every knitter needs at least a year's notice of any intended baby if layettes and baby blankets are going to arrive in time, Christmas gift‐giving is a 13‐month activity, and if you want a snuggly hot water bottle cover ready in time for the first snows of New England, then you'd better start knitting that in the height of summer! ​
Barley Corn from Reversible Knitting Stitches by Moira Ravenscroft & Anna Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
This is the 8th in a series of 12 blogposts featuring stitches from our new book, Reversible Knitting Stitches, and showing some of the items that can be made from them. Today I am featuring the Barley Corn pattern from Chapter 5 of the book and an essential item for winter, the Joules and Joulietta Hot Water Bottle Cover

Barley Corn is a pretty stitch with a gently waving structure. The stitch almost looks like interlocking ears of barley and has an interesting texture and depth. It looks quite complicated but is actually quite easy to knit. It's always good when it's that way around isn't it! 

It is truly reversible and would be a lovely choice for blankets, afghans and car rugs. The pattern is well‐defined so can also be used to add details to items such as a clutch bag or a pocket on a larger item. The final fabric is very warm and flexible and as soon as I worked a sample of this pattern I envisaged knitting a hot water bottle cover. 
Joules & Joulietta Hot Water Bottle Covers by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The Joules and Joulietta Hot Water Bottle Covers are quick to work and have a closely‐fitting "body" plus a ribbed polo neck to hug the top. They are easy to put on and off as they have a neat fold‐over flap at the back. ​
Joules & Joulietta Hot Water Bottle Covers by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
There are two different sizes of cover to fit a standard bottle and for a travelling or child's size. I like to use my smaller version with a microwaveable hot pad and find it very good to place on aching shoulders after gardening. 

If you would like to read more about the Joules and Joulietta pattern, then please click here, and to read more about our the Reversible Knitting Stitches book, please click here. If you would like to go back and start reading this whole series from the start, then please click here and follow the links through to read all the posts in the series. 

I’ll be back tomorrow with a look at a super-stretchy reversible stitch.

Until then – Happy Reversible Knitting! 

Moira 
Reversible Knitting Stitches by Moira Ravenscroft & Anna Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs

Last Blogpost: The Humble Garter Stitch 
12 for 12 Series Introduction: It's all about the 12's
​Next Up:
 Super Stretchy Stitches

Our book: Reversible Knitting Stitches
My Website: www.wyndlestrawdesigns.com
Keywords: 12 for 12  Series – Twelve Reversible Stitches & Patterns,
Book/Reversible Knitting Stitches, Patterns/Home Extras,
reversible knitting, reversible stitches, knitting stitches, hot water bottle covers, texture,

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