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Star Stitch Bottle Holder

Purple crocheted water bottle holder made with the star stitch. Behind the water bottle holder is a potted plan and white and grey curtains.

I love the practicality of a crochet bottle holder. Everyone uses a water bottle at some time or another. Male, female, kids, adults… we all drink water, and we all travel. A crochet bottle holder is a great project for yourself, or to make as a gift.

Origin of the Pattern

I made my first crochet bottle holder just over a year ago: the Peek-A-Boo Bottle Carrier. I was inspired to make it for an end of the year teacher’s gift. And, as often happens for me, as soon as I got started I was flooded with lots of ideas for other fabulous variations of the bottle holder that I could make.

Yellow crochet water bottle holder, standing on wood boards with pink and white roses.

Unfortunately, pattern creation takes quite a bit of time. I always seem to have more ideas than I have time to actually carry out! I was able to get started on a second crochet bottle holder pattern… the star stitch crochet bottle holder.

Of course, life went faster than I could keep up and I didn’t completely finish publishing it. Now that a year has gone by, I decided I’d better finish it before it gets lost forever at the bottom of my to do list! So, here you have it!

This particular pattern uses the star stitch, which looks so incredible, but is actually quite simple once you get the steps down. I just love the delicate texture it creates!

THE YARN FOR THIS PATTERN

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links.

I chose to use Lily Sugar & Cream 100% cotton yarn for this pattern, the same as my other bottle carrier pattern. The main reason was that it dries well and is easy to wash. It is also inexpensive to purchase, which is certainly a positive when making more than one for gifting purposes, and comes in a wide array of colors: solidsstripesombres, and even scented!

CROCHETING WITH COTTON

Cotton yarn has very unique and beneficial characteristics. If you would like to learn more about cotton yarn and what to make with it, check out my Ultimate Guide to Crocheting With Cotton!

THE PATTERN

If  you would like to purchase an inexpensive, ad-free printable pdf version of this crochet bottle holder pattern, you can find it here at my Etsy shop.

Add this crochet bottle holder pattern to your Ravelry favorites HERE.

Materials:
– Size 4/ Medium Weight 100% Cotton Yarn (I used Lily Sugar & Cream, 2 regular skeins or 1 super size)
US I/9 5.5 mm Crochet Hook
Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Scissors

Gauge:
4 inch X 4 inch swatch of sc = 13.5 sc per row X 17 rows

When completed at this gauge, the bottle carrier should fit a typical 16.9 fl oz. water bottle loosely and a slightly larger bottle with a snug fit.

Stitches:

(ch) chain
(sc) single crochet
(hdc) half double crochet
star stitch
(sc2tog) single crochet two together
(sl st) slip stitch
Crocheting in the back loop only

Pattern Notes:

You will want to be intentional to stitch your star stitches (starting in round 8) a little loosely, especially if you are a tight crocheter like myself. If you crochet too tightly you might notice your star stitch round pulling inward a bit.

In rounds 1-7, and 22-24, the chain 1 at the beginning of the round does not count as a stitch.

Video Tutorial:

Written Pattern:

Round 1: Ch 2. 6 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook. Join with a sl st to the first sc in the round. (6)

Round 2: Ch 1. 2 sc in the same stitch and each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (12)

Round 3: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. 2 sc in the next stitch. *1 sc in next stitch. 2 sc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (18)

Round 4: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. 1 Sc in the next stitch. 2 sc in the next stitch. *Sc in next stitch. Sc in next stitch. 2 sc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (24)

Round 5: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. Sc in next stitch. Sc in next stitch. 2 sc in next stitch. *Sc in next stitch. Sc in next stitch. Sc in next stitch. 2 sc in next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (30)

Round 6: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. 1 sc in each of the next 3 stitches. 2 sc in the next stitch. *1 sc in each of the next 4 stitches. 2 sc in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (36)

A note on gauge at this point: Round 6 will complete the base of the carrier and as you move on to Round 7, you will begin to work up the sides. With the gauge of this pattern the base after Round 6 should be about 3 3/8” in diameter. If your base is much larger or smaller, you may want to consider starting over with a smaller or larger hook.

Round 7: Ch 1. Hdc in back loop only of the same stitch and each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc of the round. (36)

Round 8: Ch 3. Complete 18 star stitches. See photos below for completing the first stitch and following:

First Star Stitch of Round 8:

star stitch bottle holder

Second Star Stitch (and following) of Round 8:

star stitch bottle holder

Note: The last insert of the last star stitch in the round will need to be in the join stitch from the previous round.

To join the end of the round, before completing the eye of the last star, insert hook into the ch 3 space at the beginning of the round. Yo and pull through both loops on the hook. This will complete the eye and the join at the same time. (36 stitches, or 18 stars)

Round 9: Ch 3. Complete 18 star stitches, but this time follow directions below for placement of hook inserts. Join at the end of the round with the same method as round 8. (18 stars)

First Star Stitch of Round 9:

star stitch bottle holder

Second Star Stitch (and following) of Round 9+:

star stitch bottle holder

Round 10-21: Repeat Round 9.

Round 22: Ch 1. Sc in each stitch around, including the join stitch. This will be 2 sc per each star stitch, meaning one sc in the uppermost loop of the star stitch and one sc in the eye of the star stitch (see arrows 4 and 5 in the photo above). Join with a sl st to the first stitch of the round. (36)

Round 23: Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch and around (NOT the join stitch this time). Join with a sl st to the first stitch of the round. (36)

Round 24: Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch. Sc in the next 9 stitches. Sc2tog. Sc in the next 10 stitches. Sc2tog. Sc in the next 10 stitches. Sc2tog. Join with a sl st to the first stitch of the round. (33)

Finish off and weave in ends.

Creating the Strap:

Notes: Leave a long tail on either end for attaching to the bottle holder.

This strap length is designed to be very long so that a person could hang it over their shoulder or even wear it across their body. If you do not want a strap that long then just chain to the desired length and adjust the number of stitches per row to match.

Ch 1 in rows 2-4 do not count as a stitch.

Chain 151.

Row 1: Hdc in 2nd chain from the hook and across. (150).

Row 2: Ch 1. Turn. Hdc in the same stitch and across. (150)

Row 3-4: Repeat Row 2. (150). At the end of Row 4, Finish off (leave long end and do not weave it in).

Place one end of the strap on the inside of the bottle holder, so that about an inch of the strap is overlapping with the bottle holder. Using your long tail and yarn needle, sew the strap securely to the bottle holder. Make a knot and weave in the end. Do the same with the other end of the strap, lining it up to the exact opposite side of the bottle holder.

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More Free Patterns You Might Enjoy:

Sea Glass Sunglasses Pouch

Gift Card Cup Cozy

Crochet Kitchen Scrubby

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Note: Feel free to sell finished products made with this pattern. If finished products are posted online, please include a reference/credit to this pattern, including a link. Do not distribute or claim the pattern as your own, or alter and use my photos to market your finished products.

28 Comments

  1. Your star stitch bottle holder looks fabulous! I love anything star stitch-related, and this pattern’s next on my list. Just discovered your site (and pattern), and will be coming back for more. Thanks so much for sharing, and kudos to you for finishing it! 🙂

  2. I love this pattern! The stars look amazing! I want to make some for holiday gifts but I must be missing where you identified how many stitches to chain to start off! Can you please let me know. Many thanks!

    1. Hi Natalie! The pattern begins with the bottom of the holder, so there is no starting chain, but just the beginning center of the circle (Ch 2. 6 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook. Join with a sl st). Does this make sense?

  3. Do you have a tutorial video for your water bottle carriers? That would be most helpful to me (and I’m sure I’m not alone), especially for this Star Stitch Bottle Carrier. Your products are beautiful and I am very grateful that you have been willing to share!

    1. I am so glad you like my patterns Pat! Unfortunately I do not have a video for this pattern. I hope to do many more videos in the future, but can’t pull it off quite yet. I absolutely love videos for myself as I learn (they help me a ton with learning patterns) so I hope to provide them at some point!

  4. I decided to make a bottle holder for my youngest granddaughter we go on walks and always have water. I have a holder my sister made for me. I LOVE this pattern. I’m going to start it when I finish a purse I’m making her. My middle granddaughter saw this and wants one, too. Thank you for posting!!

  5. I love this bottle carrier, but had a lot of problems with the strap. I just couldn’t get the tension to be exactly the same with the chain and the subsequent rows. This resulted in a very uncomfortable strap, as all of the pressure from the weight of the bottle was being carried by the chain alone which resulted in it cutting into my shoulder. I ripped it out & and started over, but had the same problem. I eventually frogged the strap and started over again with a strap that was worked in rows of 7 hdc across until the desired length was obtained. This resulted in a much more comfortable strap for me. I just wanted to pass that on in case anyone else was having the same problem.

    1. Thanks for your feedback Patricia. I can understand how this could happen. Another option would be to use foundation stitches instead of a starting chain. I wrote this pattern prior to learning how to do foundation stitches. If I was to rewrite the pattern now, I would probably use that method instead. I much prefer it to starting chains on many projects!

    1. How to keep the opening from getting narrower and narrower ? I try to be somewhat loose with my tension but no matter what I do it just gets tighter and tighter .. thanks in advance !

      1. It can definitely be challenging to keep the star stitch loose. To loosen up you may need to pause and pull up on your hook gently on each individual stitch to pull a little more yarn up. Try to figure out which part is the tightest for you and do it there. I’m guessing it might be at the very beginning or the end of the full star stitch. If you are unable to loosen your tension, you can also try using a larger hook for the edges (after completing the base).

  6. So far so good – I’m on row 10. BUT, I have a question – at some point, doesn’t this have to be turned inside out? Because the way I’m doing it, the “tail” from the 1st round is on the outside, and the pretty star pattern is on the inside! I didn’t see where this should have been turned inside out, so where did I go wrong?

    1. This can be easy to do when you’re working in the round. If you’re working and the ‘cup’ is in between you and the side you’re working on as you work, then it is inside out and you can go ahead and flip it right side out and keep going.

  7. Where the beginning and end of each row meets, it slants going up the project. Is there any way to keep this from happening?

  8. You write absolutely EXCELLENT, precise instructions! And with your accompanying annotated photos with arrows, this was SO FUN to learn 🙂 Thank you SO much for helping us create beautifully star-stitched bottle holders :):)

  9. thank you for the pattern i’m excited to make it! is there an easy way to scale up the size for much larger water bottles? would i just add more rounds before moving up the sides? thanks again!

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