I have a lot of friends with birthdays this time of year, so I’ve made a couple of hot water bottle covers. They’ve turned out really rather well. The fabric is a kind of Pip Studio/Cath Kidston rip off from John Lewis, who helpfully sell this range of fabrics at a 10cm minimum. I spent about £8 and had plenty for both of them. I cut it into 2½ strips to start with (so I can use an leftovers in one of my other patterns) and then made more cuts so I had some variety in widths for my stripes. A stripe quilt is so quick and easy, which is great as I’ve left this to the last minute. I essentially made four mini quilts, filled with a 2oz cotton wadding, and sewed them together. I quilted on of them in parallel(ish) lines, which was a bit of a ball ache, and the other with swirling, loopy flower shapes. The latter makes for a much softer, fluffier quilt compared to the more flat, more (I think) masculine lines. The openings are a little fiddly but they’re not difficult. I’ll be making another six or so for Christmas presents, so I’ll post a step-by-step when I get started on those. I don’t have any wicked fabrics in my stash for these so I’ll have to go and buy some, which spoils the thrift factor a little bit, but I want them to look quality. I trawled some charity shops in the week looking for cheap, cool prints but they all seem to have they winter stock in. Note to self: shop for lightweight cottons in the summer. Eejit.
