Hot water bottle cozy -- Yay or Nay?

[HoneyTree]

Have you made one? Does it work? Can you help me understand how it is supposed to work?

I have a hot water bottle made of real rubber. Even when I fill it with boiling water, it rarely gets so hot that I can't stand to have it next to my skin. And with lower back pain, this kind of heat is helpful. So what does a wool cozy do? Does it distribute the heat better? Hold the heat for longer? I'm trying to be sure it won't insulate so much that the heat I feel is minimized...

TIA, and of course, here's the pattern that I'm thinking of using...

[monkaha]

:

I've considered making one so that I don't have a reaction to the rubber.

[flapjack]

Yay. Pregnant, that much heat near your uterus may be a bad thing (at least, that's what I've always been told), and snuggling a snuggly thing is always nice. I've taken to keeping herbal sachets in my hot water bottle covers.

[granola_mom]

I made that hot water bottle cozy for my MIL last xmas... I dont use one but she does every night. I don't have any personal experience with it, but she told me she uses a cozy every night because it holds in the heat longer, and also because she has a tempurpedic mattress that isn't supposed to be exposed to much heat. But I dont think she uses it on her back... she puts it at her feet in the bed to keep it warm under the covers. So I think it depends what you are using it for... a cozy is supposed to hold heat longer, so if you're using it to keep your bed warm it's perfect, but against sore muscles I don't see any use for it.

It sure did look pretty thought! I used brown sheep lamb's pride in a really lovely, deep red colour.

[VikingKvinna]

Originally Posted by granola_mom

It sure did look pretty thought! I used brown sheep lamb's pride in a really lovely, deep red colour.

That's probably the same shade that I have on my hot water bottle cozy! I love mine...I use the bottle every night in the cool weather, first either on my back or tummy if I have cramps, or on my feet, in the evenings when I'm relaxing. Then I take it to bed and use it to heat up the bed. It stays warm through the night and through most of the next day, too -- even if I go to take a nap the next afternoon and it's still there, I can feel the heat. Not as hot as before, of course, but still nice and toasty. Mine's the old fashioned kind too and it gets pretty warm. I always use boiling water. To me the advantage of the cozy it that, well, it makes the bottle cozier. It's just a really nice touch and makes it nicer to snuggle up to than a big rubber thing. KWIM?

It's a quick knit, though, so I think it's worth trying. HTH. Good luck!

[mom2snugbugs]

Yay! I saw one being knit at an open knit, and I didn't even know they existed. I LOVE my H2O bottle, so I am going to make one

:

(my excuse to use this new cute smilie!)

[HoneyTree]

Ok, your endorsements convinced me! I cast on! I'm doing it in Peace Fleece Volgassippi Blue (love that color), and I'm doing a braided cable center panel instead of the standard one (trying to get a little more experience with cables). It is indeed knitting up quickly--I think I'm about 1/4 done already--so I'll be back with a Ravelry link soon!

And Helen, a million thanks for the herbal sachet suggestion; I'm always looking for ways to get more aromatherapy into my life!

[gingerstar]

I'm thinking Christmas gift, after reading this thread! Thanks, HoneyTree!