This crochet water bottle carrier is great for any season! You can take it on your spring outing, your summer trip to the beach, or your fall trail hike. It can keep your hands free during an outdoor excursion, a trip through the grocery store, or chasing kids at the park. It also makes a wonderful gift, as it is practical for anyone, no matter personality or style, as everyone needs to stay hydrated!
Origin of the Pattern
In fact, the need for a simple and practical gift is exactly what inspired me to create this crochet water bottle carrier pattern. Every year I try to make some quick projects to use as teacher’s gifts at the end of the school year for my kids teachers. Usually I make cup cozies (in fact, I have a cup cozy pattern to match this bottle carrier: the Peek-A-Boo Cup Cozy). However, I’ve done that so many times that most of the teachers I needed a gift for this year had already been gifted a cup cozy earlier in the year (maybe for teacher appreciation day? I can’t remember!). So, I needed a new idea.
It needed to be something that most teachers would like, even if they had different interests. One thing I noticed was that most teachers seemed to have a water bottle at some time or another, either at their desk, with them at recess, or on a class field trip. The idea of a crochet water bottle carrier began to sound even more fitting than the idea of the coffee cozies I usually gifted! So, I got started!
I actually designed a few crochet water bottle carriers, but this is the first one I’ve been able to publish. I went about publishing this one first because it matches my previous pattern for the Peek-A-Boo Cup Cozy, but perhaps down the line I will be able to get the other patterns out as well.
The Yarn for this Pattern
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I chose to use Lily Sugar & Cream 100% cotton yarn for this 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: solids, stripes, ombres, and even scented!
The Pattern
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Materials:
Size 4/ Medium Weight 100% Cotton Yarn (I used Lily Sugar & Cream)
US I/9 5.5 mm Crochet Hook
Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Scissors
Gauge:
4” x 4” swatch = 14 hdc x 11 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
(dc) double crochet
(sl st) slip stitch
Crocheting in the back loop
Crocheting in the 3rd loop
Row 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)
Row 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)
Row 3: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. 2 sc in the next stitch. *1 sc. 2 sc in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the row and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (18)
Row 4: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. Sc. 2 sc in the next stitch. *Sc. Sc. 2 sc in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the row and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (24)
Row 5: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. Sc. Sc. 2 sc in the next stitch. *Sc. Sc. Sc. 2 sc in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the row and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (30)
Row 6: Ch 1. 1 sc in the same stitch. Sc. Sc. Sc. 2 sc in the next stitch. *Sc. Sc. Sc. Sc. 2 sc in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the row and join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (36)
A note on gauge at this point: Row 6 will complete the base of the carrier and as you move on to Row 7, you will begin to work up the sides. With the gauge of this pattern the base after Row 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.
Row 7: Ch 1. Hdc in the back loop only of the same stitch and each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc of the round. (36)
Row 8: Ch 1. Hdc in the 3rd loop only (this is different from the back loop) of the same stitch and each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc of the round. (36)
Row 9: Repeat row 8. (36)
Row 10: (note: this row will be done in the 3rd loop only as well) Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch. Dc. *Sc. Dc* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (36)
Row 11: (no longer stitching in the 3rd loop only) Ch 1. Dc in the same stitch. Sc. *Dc. Sc.* Repeat from * to * around and join with a sl st to the first dc of the round. (36)
Row 12: Ch 1. Sc in the same stitch. Dc. *Sc. Dc* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (36)
Row 13: Ch 1. Dc in the same stitch. Sc. *Dc. Sc.* Repeat from * to * around and join with a sl st to the first dc of the round. (36)
Row 14: Ch 1. Hdc in the same stitch. Dc. *Hdc. Dc.* Repeat from * to * around and join with a sl st to the first hdc of the round. (36)
Rows 15-21: Repeat Rows 8-14. (36)
Rows 22-28: Repeat Rows 8-14 again. (36)
Rows 29-30: Repeat Rows 8-9. (36)
Row 31: Ch 1. Hdc in the 3rd loop only of the same stitch and each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first hdc of the round. Finish off and weave in ends. (36)
Creating the Strap:
Note: Leave a long tail on either end for attaching to the bottle holder.
Chain 151.
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd chain from the hook and across. (150).
Row 2: Ch 1. Turn. Sc in the same stitch. Dc. *Sc. Dc.* Repeat from * to * across. (150)
Row 3: Ch 1. Turn. Dc in the same stitch. Sc. *Dc. Sc.* Repeat from * to * across. (150)
Row 4: Ch 1. Turn. Hdc in the same stitch and across. (150). Finish off (leave long tail)
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. I lined mine up to about the bottom of 3 top rows of 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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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.
On row 10, do you make the “sc, Dc” in the same stitch or do you sc in one stitch and dc in the next st?
sc in one stitch and dc in the next.
Loved this water bottle carrier pattern. Worked up quickly. I added a pocket for a cell phone on the outside and a clamp for keys on the strap. I’m a beginner so loved learning the third loop technique for that beautiful braided look. Thank you for sharing.
Kristin, I’m so glad you enjoyed the pattern! I love the idea of adding a pocket and a key clamp! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I’ve been crocheting for over 50 years and never thought my tension was loose but in this pattern I went down to a 5.0 hook because the base was too large. It then measured 3 1/2 inches so I went ahead with it but now at row 13 it’s 3 inches too large for a standard water bottle. I guess I’ll go to a 4.0 hook and see what happens. It doesnt look like any of the others that commented had this problem
HMMMM, still too large with the 4.0 hook. And I do still have 36 stitches so haven’t inadvertantly increased. I am back to row 13 again so won’t tear it out once more, instead I’ll decrease a few stitches evenly so that I can get a water bottle holder that will hold the bottle
Hi Ruth, per the gauge notes in the pattern, this finished bottle carrier will not fit a standard 16.9 oz water bottle snuggly. It is meant to be loose in order to also accommodate slightly larger bottles as well. if you would like a snug fit on the 16.9 oz water bottle, I would suggest stopping the base earlier than the suggested 6 rows and then moving to the steps for the sides. Hope that helps!