Get ready for the season with this free crochet pattern for a water bottle cozy. ‘Coz, now that it’s sunny, you might want to swap your coffee cup cozy for one to carry your water bottle.
And, this is a great ‘Back to School’ item to have and to gift, so use this ultimate ‘learn how to crochet’ pattern’ and make your own.
This is a free crochet pattern for an adorable bottle bag, that will make you want to take your water along, wherever you go, just to show off the bag you’ve made!
More than a pattern, this article is a tutorial on how to crochet. This is what’s great about this free crochet pattern. It comes with a wonderfully detailed, illustrated tutorial that has instructions in ‘Crochet’- language and has crochet directions in plain English. All illustrations are by Donya Beasley. She will be teaching you about 10 different stitches in the process of you making this bag, starting from crocheting in the round, to making an edge, to single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, the shell stitch, then she teaches how to create a nice zigzag line and the effects of crocheting into back loops, next is crocheting so it looks like knit work, then how to crochet so you can loop your cord through your work, and last how to make a pretty finish for your word. This is by far the best illustrated course I have come across.
As a result of this pattern, I have since started to make all my own patterns with ‘plain English’ to complement the typical crochet pattern abbreviations. Never had a complain, and I receive very few questions about my patterns.
So, back to your water bottle project: this is ideal to learn to crochet. So, let’s get going.
Free Crochet Pattern Water Bottle Cozy – MATERIALS Needed
Cotton/wool yarn, e.g. Can be made in Sugar’n Cream 100% Cotton Yarn
HOOK: Size H, aluminium crochet hook
GAUGE: This pattern is assuming a fairly loose crochet, to loosely fit your bottle, your keys, some change, and perhaps even a lipstick. Ha!
Tip: if you are making this for yourself, around your own favorite water bottle, you should measure the circumference and ensure that your bottle will be slightly bigger (for a loose fit) or snug around that (for a tight fit).
If you crochet tightly, this pouch will be snug around your water bottle. However, if you’re REALLY tight, it will fit loosely around a soda can or make a nice little license/money pouch. So, adjust the pattern to upsize it as desired.
‘Learn to Crochet’- Tutorial & Bag Pattern – combination
In this Free Crochet Pattern Water Bottle Cozy – tutorial, you will see two sets of instructions. The first set is how you would see this pattern written out in a book or pattern magazine. Below that, in plain English (or as close as I can get and still be speaking ‘crochet’) is the translation. I suggest reading through both, and taking the time to see how the ‘plain English’ version relates to the pattern terminology.
The Crochet Bag Pattern
ROUND 1
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
Ch 4. 11 dc in 4th ch from hook. Join w/ sl st to top of beginning ch 4. (12 dc)
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 4. Make sure that your very first chain stitch is rather loose. Then, you’ll have room to put all the stitches in it.
Now make 11 double crochet stitches into that first chain stitch. Count the outside loops of your beginning chain. You should have 3 of them. Slip stitch into that 3rd loop. This will close your beginning ring, and give you a solid foundation to work off of.
Now, when you count your stitches, the first ‘chain-3’ represents 1 double crochet. You should have 11 stitches plus that ‘chain-3’. This counts as 12 completed double crochets.
NOTE: Counting is important! If you don’t have the right number of stitches to begin with, the entire pattern will be skewed. This is not as critical if you are using only one stitch, but if you choose to get fancy with shells or other patterns, having the right number of foundation stitches is crucial.
ROUND 2
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
Rnd 2: ch 3. Dc in same st as joining. 2 dc in each st around. Join with sl st to top of beginning chain. (24 dc)
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Round 2: chain 3. This will count as your beginning double crochet. Now, in the same loop as the joining, work a double crochet. You now have two stitches in the top of the stitch from the previous row. This is also known as an INCREASE.
(there’s no photo 6. you are not missing anything. worries)
ROUND 3
INTRODUCTION
In the next stitch from the previous row, work 2 more double crochets.
Do this all the way around. When you get to the end of the row, count to be sure that you’ve only worked 24 double crochets (don’t forget the beginning chain in that counting!) Now, join the last double crochet to the top of the beginning chain 3, as you did before.
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 2. Hdc in same st as joining. Hdc in next st. *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st. repeat from * around. Join. (36 hdc)
(no image 9. you’re not missing anything ;-)
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Round 3: chain 2. Work a half-double crochet in the same stitch you just joined into. Again, this gives you a little V. Now work a half-double crochet in the next stitch. Work two half-doubles in the following stitch, and one in the stitch after that.
Keep doing that until you’ve worked your way around. Now join as before. Seeing a pattern here?
You should now have a total of 36 stitches, including the beginning chain-2.
ROUND 4
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
Rnd 4: ch 3. Working in the back stitch loop of each hdc, work one dc in each stitch around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch. Now we’re going to get tricky! This is where you stop increasing and just go straight up to form the sides of your tube. You don’t HAVE to get fancy with this part, but I like the affect.
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Round 4: ch 3. Now look at the back of your stitches. You have the top two loops, which are what you normally work in.
There’s a little bar right below the back loop on a half-double crochet. It’s a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve learned how, this creates a very nice little side-ways chain stitch.
Now, wrap your yarn around your hook, just as for a regular double crochet, then insert your hook from the front to the back, through that little bar.
Draw up a loop. Wrap around and draw through two loops, wrap around and draw through the last two loops on the hook.
Now look at your work from the front.
See the little chain? That’s what you’re going for. You’re still working a double crochet, but in a different place than before. Continue doing that around to the end. Join as before. You should now have 36 stitches.
If you don’t, either take one out, or look carefully at your work. You may have put a stitch in the beginning chain spot, making an increase there.
No need to tear out your work. Just undo the last stitch made, then join. You’ll have a little space there, but that’s okay for a practice piece.
ROUND 5-8
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 1. Sc in same st as joining and in each st around. Join with sl st to beginning sc. (36 sc each row)
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 1.
Work a single crochet in the same stitch as the joining chain. Now work a single crochet in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to the first sc.
Join at the end of each row, but work a total of four rows in single crochet. This should give you some decent practice at single crochet.
NOTE:a single crochet is the ONLY stitch that you will put into the same stitch as joining when you’re NOT increasing. It can be confusing, but that’s how it works.
ROUND 9-12
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 2. Hdc in next stitch and in each st around. Join to beg ch 2 . Work even* for four rows. (36 hdc each row)
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
chain 2. Work a half double crochet in the next stitch (not the same stitch as the joining!) Now work one half double crochet in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 2.
* ’Work even’ means that you won’t increase or decrease for that amount of rows. You’ll see this a lot in patterns, which is why I am giving you a reference here.
ROUND 13-15
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 3. Dc in next stitch and in each st around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch 3. Work even for 4 rows. (36 dc each row)
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 3. Work a double crochet in the next stitch, and then work one double crochet in each stitch around. Join to top of the beginning chain as before. You should have 36 double crochets, counting the first chain-3. Now do that for a total of four rows.
ROUND 16
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
(shell row): ch 1. Sc in same st as joining. Sk next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st. *sk next 2 sts, sc in next st, sk next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Join to beg sc. (6 shell groups, 6 sc)
image crochetbottlebagpattern16.jpg
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 1. Work a single crochet into the same stitch as joining. (this is not an increase, if you recall.) now leave the next two stitches unworked (skip two stitches).
In the third stitch from the one you just made, work 5 double crochets. As you work them, they will fan out.
NOTE: if you work these too tightly, the whole pouch will pucker here. Now skip two stitches and in the third stitch, work a single crochet. Skip two stitches, work 5 double crochets in the next stitch. See the ripple effect? That’s what you’re trying to do! Good job! Continue this around. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning sc. You should now have a total of 6 shells with a single crochet between each shell group.
(there’s no photo 16. you’re not missing anything)
This fancy & impressive crochet shell pattern may appear hard, but it’s easy & quick. It is impressive, though, which is why I use it.
ROUND 17-19
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
sl st to top of shell. Ch 1, sc in same st, sk two dc, 5 dc in next sc. *sk 2 dc, sc in top of shell, sk 2 dc, 5 dc in next sc. Repeat from * around.
ROUND 17-19: CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
slip stitch in the next 3 stitches. This will put you in the 3rd double crochet of the shell, or the ‘top of the shell’. Now chain 1 and work a single crochet in this same stitch. Skip the next two double crochets, and work 5 double crochets, or a ‘shell group’ into the next single crochet. This fills in the little valley from the previous row quite nicely. Now skip the next 2 double crochets and work a single crochet in the next stitch. Continue this pattern around to the end. You should have worked 6 shell groups. Now slip stitch into the beginning chain-1 to finish this row.
ROUND 20:
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 3. Working in BLO of previous row, *hdc in each of next 2 sts. Sc in stitch at top of shell, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st.
Repeat from * around. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch. (36 stitches)
This is easier than it looks. Look at the top of the stitches from the previous row. Usually, you’re working each stitch under both loops of the ‘chain’. This time, you’re going to work only in the back loop of the stitch. This will leave a small ridge that makes a nice dividing line between pattern stitches. Be careful not to pull too tightly when working the stitches, or you’ll distort the row.
ROUND 20: CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 3. (This counts as your beginning double crochet. Notice that it is worked in the top of a single crochet from the row below. That’s important, because with this row, you’re going to be evening out the ripples to make a nice flat working area for the next row.)Now work one half-double crochet in each of the next two stitches. You should be at the top of the shell now. Work a single crochet into the stitch there. Work one half-double crochet into each of the next two stitches.
This puts you at the bottom of the ‘valley’ between shells, and you’re going to work a double crochet into the single crochet there.See the pattern here? Double crochets get worked in the sc from the previous row, single crochets get worked in the top of the shell, and half-doubles go between.When you get to the end of the row, you should end with the last two stitches as half-double crochets. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3.
ROUND 21
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 2 . Working in BLO, hdc in next st and in ea st around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch. (36 hdc at end of ea rnd)
ROUND 21: CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 2. Again, working in the back loop only, as in the previous row, work a half-double crochet in the next stitch. Do this all the way around, and join with a slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain 2. You should have 36 stitches.
ROUND 22-25
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 2. Working in back stitch loop of hdc on previous row, work hdc in each st around. Join with sl st to beg ch. (36 sts)
ROUND 21-25: CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 2. Okay, remember what we did to start forming the sides of the tube? The pretty chain-like stitches on row 4? We’re going to do the same thing here. Work a half-double crochet in the bar in back of each half-double from the previous row. Work this around to the end. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain-2. You should have 36 stitches at the end of each row.
ROUND 26: CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 3. Working in back stitch loop of hdc on previous row, work 1 dc in each st around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch. (36 sts)
ROUND 26: CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 3. Remember this counts as your first double crochet. Now, working in the back bar like in the last row, work a double crochet into the back of each half-double crochet around. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain-3. You should have 36 stitches.
NOTE: round 26 is the row you will weave drawstrings through, if you’re going to use them.
ROUND 27: CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
ch 1. Sc in same st as joining. Working in BLO, one sc in ea st around. Join with sl st to beg sc. (36 sts)
ROUND 27
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Chain 1. Now working in the back loop of the REGULAR stitch, work one single crochet in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch into the first single crochet made. You should have 36 single crochets.
CROCHET IN ABBREVIATIONS
sl st around. Finish off.
ROUND 28
CROCHET IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Slip stitch into each single crochet around. At the last stitch, slip stitch to join, as you normally would. Snip the yarn a few inches past the joining, and then draw yarn through the last loop on your hook.
You now have a loose end. Weave it in.
This row is not absolutely necessary. It gives the pouch a ‘finished’ look.
You are done with the crochet part of this bag! Congrads. DO THE HAPPY DANCE if this is your first crochet project, so you will remember this very satisfying moment, (and make many more like it).
Lining Your Crochet Bag
If you wish, you could line this project with a pretty inside fabric. Here are some fabric ideas that will blend really well with simple off-white of this crochet bottle bag.
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Add a Handle to Your Crochet Bag
If you wish, you could crochet and attach a handle, or an over the shoulder sling to the bag. Crochet a cord, or use the same fabric as the inner lining.
Add Your Style & Ideas to This Base Crochet Pattern
This crochet tutorial is so detailed that it is actually become fairly easy to make your own design changes. Make the bag longer or shorter. Add colors and whimsy to it, as it pleases you.
Go wild: use different yarn and hooks…. I wonder how this would look when made out of paper yarn and a huge hook. Probably a quite amazing home decoration piece!
Or transform it into a really fine work and add beads, ribbons and studs to make this into a divine pyjama bag for a niece’s doll.
Free Crochet Pattern Water Bottle Cozy – Designer & Teacher
Many, many, many thanks to the wonderfully funny veteran-crochet artist and teacher Donya Beasley who is sharing her decades of crochet experience with us in detailed pictures and plain English ‘translations’ of crochet speak! Donya has been teaching crochet in the Arts & Science Department at the University of Atlanta.
