Lacy Leaf Water Bottle Carrier

I came up with this cute little carrier last year. I put my bottled water in it, place it over my shoulder, and keep my hands free to shop. It's a good use of scrap yarn plus a small exercise in lace knitting in the round. I made mine with a ball of leftover Brooks Farm Yarn Four Play (wool/silk blend).

Lacy Leaf Water Bottle Carrier

Size 7 double points
Worsted weight yarn (about 60 yards - less than 1 oz)
9 oz plastic bottled water (about 8" around)

Using a circular cast-on, cast on 9 stitches.
Divide stitches on 3 dpn needles.
Place a marker at the beginning of the row.

1. Knit 1 row.
2. K1, yo, k1, yo, k1 (repeat on each needle around).
3. Knit 2 rows.
4. Repeat row 2, doing a yo after each stitch except the last on each needle. (27 sts/9 per needle)
5. Knit 5 rows.
6. Purl 1 row. Knit 1 row. (Repeat 2 more times.)
7. Knit 2 rows.
8. Knit 14 rows or work lace chart below instead.
9. Knit 2 rows.
10. Repeat row 6.
11. K2, p1 ribbing for 6 rows.

Loosely bind off until you have 3 stitches left. (You can pick up or increase more stitches if you wish for the strap.) Work in I-cord until it is about 32" long. (Check the length by putting a full bottle of water in the carrier.). Cut yarn leaving a tail. Pull through last stitches to secure. Sew the end to the inside of the opposite side of the carrier. Weave in end and trim off end.

Notes on lace option:
On even lace rounds knit EXCEPT work a 1 stitch increase in the double yarnover as noted in the chart.
Work one lace pattern on each needle (3 total).
Go back to row 9 after you finish the lace chart.

Modified from Bumblebee on page 155 of Barbara Walker’s Charted Knitting Designs.

Options for a different crochet cast on and a crochet strap:

Crochet cast on: Crochet a 2 loop chain. In the chain farthest from the hook, put your hook through the loop, yarnover and pull through a loop. (2 sts on hook) Repeat until you have 9 stitches on your hook. Transfer to double points and proceed from row 1 above.

Crochet strap: Bind off all stitches until you have 1 live stitch left. Do not break yarn. Put the last stitch on a size H or I crochet hook. Pick up 2 more stitches on the inside of the ribbing (3 sts). Yarnover your hook and pull through all 3 stitches. (The following is somewhat like afghan stitch.) You have 1 stitch on the hook and 3 bound off stitches under it. Take your hook and put it under one of the bar loops (| | |) on the side of the 3 stitches you bound off, yarnover and pull up a loop. You will have 2 stitches on your hook. Repeat this increase in the last bar loop below (3 sts). Yarnover and pull through 3 stitches again. Repeat picking up 2 stitches under the side bars of the stitches you’ve bound off and pulling through all 3 until your strap is about 32" long. (Test it putting a full bottle of water in the carrier to see how far the strap stretches. If it is too long, shorten it.) This will make a flat narrow strap that doesn’t stretch a lot. When it is long enough, secure it to the inside of the ribbing on the opposite side. Cut your yarn leaving a tail, pull it through the last stitch, sew securely, and weave in the end.

© June 17, 2006 Vicki Mikulak
All rights reserved. Please print only one (1) copy of this pattern for your own personal use. Do not sell items made using this pattern without the permission of the designer.