Free Crochet Water Bottle Holder Pattern

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Learn how to crochet an easy water bottle holder with this beginner-friendly pattern. Whether going hiking or running errands, a water bottle holder will help you stay hydrated and keep your hands free. 

Keep reading for a free pattern that includes detailed instructions on how to crochet a sturdy carrying strap and tips to customize your project to fit different size water bottles.

Are you tired of carrying around your water bottle everywhere you go? Do you want to keep your hands free for other things while staying hydrated? Then it’s time to make yourself a water bottle holder! 

Not only is a water bottle carrier functional, but it’s also a fun and easy project that you can customize to fit your personal style. And with this easy-to-follow tutorial, even a beginner can make one. Let’s get started!

How to Crochet a Water Bottle Holder

This water bottle pattern is crocheted in rounds. 

1. First, we’ll crochet a solid circle in spiral rounds to form the bottom base of the carrier.
2. Next, we’ll crochet an open mesh pattern in joined rounds to create the body of the bag.
3. Then, we’ll crochet a long chain to form the strap and reinforce it with seamless rounds of stitches.

How long is the strap on a crochet water bottle holder?

This water bottle holder is designed to be worn as a shoulder or crossbody bag. The strap will be about 48″ when fully stretched, with a 20″ drop. You can make the strap longer or shorter by adding or subtracting chains in that part of the pattern.

Crochet Techniques to Know

Don’t worry if you’re new to crochet; this project only requires a few basic techniques:

1. Single crochet (sc)
2. Double crochet (dc)
3. Chain (ch)
4. Slip stitch (sl st)
5. Increases
6. Decreases

If you are a true crochet beginner, you might want to start with our How to Crochet guide and our tutorial on the 6 Basic Crochet stitches.

Supplies You’ll Need

To make this water bottle holder, you’ll need the following supplies:

1. Yarn – Choose a light worsted cotton yarn in a color of your choice.
2. Crochet hook – Use a hook size to match the gauge. I recommend a US G/4.0mm hook.
3. Scissors
4. Stitch markers (optional)
5. Tapestry needle

What is the best yarn for a crochet water bottle holder?

In our opinion, cotton yarn is the ideal choice for making crochet water bottle holders. Cotton yarn is strong, durable, and long-lasting.

For this project, we recommend a light worsted weight mercerized cotton yarn like Lion Brand 24/7 cotton. Another good choice would be Knit Picks CotLin yarn.

How to Customize this Pattern

While this pattern is designed to fit standard plastic water bottles, it’s easy to customize to fit larger reusable water bottles like Hydro Flasks and Nalgenes.

All you’ll need to do is an extra round or two to the bottom of the water bottle before continuing up the sides. Each additional round you add to the base of the bottle will add about 1/2″ to the diameter.

To know how many rounds you will need to add to your project, you’ll need to measure the diameter of your water bottle. And for reference, here are some common water bottle sizes: 

• Single-use plastic bottle: 2.5″ in diameter.
• Nalgene: 3.5” diameter
• Stainless water bottle, like a Hydro Flask: 2.75-3.5″ in diameter

So, for a bottle with a 2.5″ diameter (most single-use plastic bottles), I recommend making 6 rounds for a total of 36 stitches. For a larger bottle with a 3″ diameter, make one more increase round for a total of 42 stitches. And for an even larger bottle with a 3 1/2″ diameter, make another increase round with a total of 48 stitches.

The stitch counts for the main body section of the carrier will, of course, be different. But the stitch pattern is so simple, it shouldn’t be a big problem. Then, to customize the height, you can add more rounds of the main body section, following the pattern as instructed.

Easy Crochet Water Bottle Holder Pattern

Materials

55g (102 yd/94 m) Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Navy (a little more than half a skein)

Size G / 4.00 mm crochet hook

Gauge

20 sts and 8 rows = 4″ in dc, worked in the round.

Strap gauge: 19 sts = 4″ in strap pattern, unstretched

Finished size

The body is 7″ tall, 2.5″ diameter unstretched. 

The strap is 38″ unstretched and 48″ stretched. 

Terms and Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• blo: back loop only
• dc: double crochet
• inc: increase
• rnd: round
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st/s: stitch/stitches

Special Stitches

Single Crochet Increase (Inc)

1. Insert the hook under both loops of the indicated stitch.
2. Make a single crochet: Yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over, and pull through two loops.
3. Insert your hook under both loops of the same stitch.
4. Make a second single crochet: Yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over, and pull through two loops.

Slip Stitch BLO Decrease (Sl st-blo dec)

1. Insert the hook into the back loop of the first stitch.
2. Insert the hook into the back loop of the next stitch.
3. Yarn over and pull through all loops.

Pattern Notes

• The pattern is written in US terms.
• The bottom is crocheted in spiral rounds.
• The body is crocheted in joined rounds.
• The strap is crocheted onto the body.

Pattern Instructions

Bottom

Work in spiral rounds.

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Crochet 6 sc into the magic ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: Inc in each sc around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: (Inc, sc) Repeat around. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: (Inc, 2 sc) Repeat around. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: (Inc, 3 sc) Repeat around. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: 2 sc (inc, 4 sc) Repeat five times, inc, 2 sc. Sl st to the first sc to join the round. (36 sts)

At this point, your circle should measure 2.5″ in diameter.

Body

From now on, work in joined rounds.

Rnd 7: Ch 3 (Counts as 1 dc.) Dc-blo in each sc around. Sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join the round. (36 sts)

Rnd 8: Ch 4 (Counts as 1 dc, ch 1.) Skip next st, *dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st; repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join the round. (36 sts – 18 dc, 18 ch)

Rnd 9: Ch 3 (Counts as 1 dc.) Dc-blo in each ch and dc around. Sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join the round. (36 sts)

Repeat Rnds 8 and 9 six more times for a total of 21 rounds, until the water bottle holder measures 7″ tall (or your desired height.) 

Strap

Construction Overview: 

• First, we’ll use stitch markers to mark the first stitch and the 21st stitch of the last round of the body section. These stitch markers will mark the attachment points for the strap.
• Next, we’ll make a long foundation chain and slip stitch it to the opposite side of the main body piece. Then we’ll turn and work dc in each chain. This will create the beginnings of the strap.  
• Then, we’ll reinforce the strap by working 3 rounds of stitches around the left side of the chain. After that, we’ll work 3 rounds of stitches around the right side of the strap. 

Strap Row 1: Use stitch markers to mark the first stitch and the 21st stitch of the last round of the body. Chain 180.

Attach the foundation chain: Sl st in the 21st stitch of the last round of the body and the next two stitches (which are the 20th and the 19th stitches of the last round of the body). These 3 slip stitches also count as your turning chain for the next row. (Optional: Mark the 19th st with a stitch marker.) Turn.

Strap Row 2: Working back toward the start of the chain: Dc in the back bump of each chain across.

Join the body by slip stitching into the third dc of the last round of the body section.

Construction Note: In the next section, we’ll be adding rounds of slip stitches to each side of the strap. We’ll decrease 1 stitch in the “corners” where the strap meets the body of the water bottle holder.

Left side Rnd 1: Sl st-blo in the next 15 dc of the body. Sl st dec in the last sl st of the body and the first dc of the strap. Then sl st-blo in the next 178 dc of the strap. Sl st-blo dec in the last dc of the strap and next sl st of the body. 

Left side Rnd 2: Sl st- blo in the next 14 sts. Sl st blo dec in last sl st of the body and next sl st of the strap. Sl st-blo in next 177 of the strap. Sl st blo dec in last dc of the strap and next sl st of the body

Cut yarn, and leave a long yarn tail. Use the yarn tail to reinforce the connection of the strap to the body. Weave in ends.

Construction Note: Repeat on the other side of the strap.

Join yarn with a slip stitch where the strap meets the body (aka the 21st stitch previously marked with a stitch marker). 

Right side Rnd 1: Sl st-blo in the next 15 sts. Sl st-blo dec in the joining slip st and the first ch of the strap. Sl st blo in next 179 ch (Remember, these chain stitches are the foundation chain we made to start the strap. They are at the bottom of each dc of the strap). Sl st blo dec in last ch of the strap and next sl st of the body. 

Right side Rnd 2: Sl st-blo in the next 14 sts. Sl st blo dec in last sl st of the body and next sl st of the strap. Sl st-blo in next 178 sl st of the strap. Sl st blo dec in last sl st of the strap and next sl st of the body.

Cut yarn, and leave a long tail. Use the yarn tail to reinforce the connection of the strap to the body. Weave in ends.

More Free Crochet Patterns

And there you go! I hope you’ve enjoyed this free crochet water bottle holder pattern. If you’re looking for more free crochet patterns, check out these related posts.

• Reusable Cotton Crochet Face Scrubbies – Free Pattern
• How to Crochet a Bandana + Free Easy Pattern
• Easy Double Thick Crochet Potholder – Free Pattern
• Easy Crochet Can Cozy – Free Pattern
• Easy Crochet Hair Scrunchie – A Free Beginner Pattern

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