Free Knitting Pattern – Easy Water Bottle Holder

Staying hydrated is easier (and a lot more stylish) when you’ve got a handmade water bottle sling. This simple project is knit in cotton yarn, making it sturdy, washable, and perfect for carrying on walks, hikes, or even just around town. Designed to fit a standard 16.9 oz bottle, it’s a fun and practical knit for adventurous beginners who are ready to try knitting in the round and making i-cords.

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What you need

Yarn: 1 ball Lily Sugar’n Cream cotton (shown in Americana Ombre). Any worsted cotton will work.

Needles: Size US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles

Notions: Stitch marker, yarn needle

Gauge: 4 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette

Instructions

Abbreviations

K = knit

P = purl

Inc = knit into the front and back of the same stitch

SSK = slip, slip, knit two together

K2tog = knit two stitches together

Yo = yarn over

I-cord = knit stitches, do not turn, slide back to left tip and continue working

Pattern Instructions

Base

Cast on 3 sts and divide evenly across 3 needles. Join in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: Inc in each st (6).

Rnd 2: Inc in each st (12).

Rnd 3: K all sts.

Rnd 4: (Inc, K1) repeat around (18).

Rnd 5: K all sts.

Rnd 6: (Inc, K2) repeat around (24).

Rnd 7: K all sts.

Rnd 8: (Inc, K3) repeat around (30).

Rnd 9: K all sts.

Rnd 10: (Inc, K4) repeat around (36).

Rnd 11–18: Place marker for beginning of round. K all sts, slipping marker as you pass.

Mesh Body

Rnd 19: P all sts.

Rnd 20: (Yo, K2tog) repeat around.

Rnd 21: P all sts.

Rnd 22–24: K all sts.

Rnd 25–30: Repeat Rnds 19–24 once more.

Rnd 31–35: K all sts.

First Strap

Rnd 36: SSK, K14, K2tog. Turn. Place remaining 18 sts on a holder. (16 sts)

Row 37: P across.

Row 38: SSK, K12, K2tog (14 sts).

Row 39: P across.

Row 40: SSK, K10, K2tog (12 sts).

Row 41: P across.

Row 42: SSK, K8, K2tog (10 sts).

Row 43: P across.

Row 44: SSK, K6, K2tog (8 sts).

Row 45: P across.

Row 46: SSK, K4, K2tog (6 sts).

Row 47: P across.

Row 48: SSK, K2, K2tog (4 sts).

Do not turn. Continue working these 4 sts into an I-cord about 30 inches long. Cast off and weave in ends.

Second Strap

Slip the 18 held sts back onto your needle and reattach yarn.

Work as for First Strap beginning with Row 37.

 

Weave in all ends neatly. Tie the two straps together in a knot at your preferred length. Slip in your water bottle and you’re ready to go!

 This is a wonderful little stash-buster project. I’ve made a couple for my teenagers when we head to the park—they’re sturdy enough for rough use and machine washable too.