Heirloom jumper into heirloom hot water bottle cover

I was rushing the washing and I shrank my jumper. This jumper I inherited from Q who had already shrunk it once so it had gone from fitting a 6'6'' man to a 5'3'' woman. Now, after a dip in a hot washing machine part deux... I doubt that it would probably fit an 8 year old.

Hot water bottle time...

Did you know, if you wash an old jumper on a high heat and if you cut the woolen material and it doesn't fray- it is felted? True. 

So I used a pattern that I had made a while a go for a envelope style hot water bottle cover and marked on the jumper the outline of the three pattern pieces.

I cut out the pieces (with a shake of my hands and a clench of the teeth)

For a bit of colour, I chose yellow as a contrast colour to the grey. Using a strip of bias tape I simply bound the visible top flap of the envelope. I then sewed the three pieces together ensuring that the visible flap was indeed that- visible and not on the bottom of the envelope (easily done). I used yellow thread for this part on a slight increased tension so it would be slightly visible on the right side. 

I love the colour combination of yellow and grey at the moment. 

To complete, I added a yellow button and some piping elastic to close the bottle.

I really love this and as the weather is officially 'Hot Water Bottle Weather' at the moment, its getting loads of use. I love the fact that it has given new life to what was essentially an old jumper and will now be used and admired everyday again. 

In other news: 

• I'm pregnant! Expect a myriad of posts of me trying to make my own clothes, toys and quilts etc through this period. Tips, pattern change ideas and patterns are MORE than welcome...
• I'm back! After a 3 month break from blogging, sewing (for myself) and all such things.. I am happily back sewing again. No more doing bits and bobs for other people. I simply wasn't enjoying doing it (except the money!). 

Bundana 

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