A water bottle holder is the perfect hands-free solution for your hiking experience. Made with cotton yarn and employing basic stitches, it’s a quick project.

The Seneca Water Bottle Holder

Every time I set out on a hike, I take a bottle of water. Holding that bottle of water for an entire multi-mile hike can become difficult. So I designed the Seneca Water Bottle Holder to solve the problem!

It’s perfect for those hikes where water breaks are not optional. It keeps your hands free without the weight of the water bottle constantly pulling on your arms and cramping your hands.

Be the envy of your fellow walkers with this stylish crochet water bottle holder. The Seneca Water Bottle Holder is the solution you’ve been looking for, keeping your hands free and your water bottle protected on every walk.

An extra long strap means you can wear this crossbody, keeping your water bottle out of the way and your stride uninterrupted. And with familiar stitches and techniques, it’s a quick make, perfect for a fun evening or weekend of crochet.

Design + Construction

The Seneca Water Bottle Holder is a quick, mindful make, perfect for an evening of relaxing crochet. Incorporating a variety of basic stitches, it’s easy to memorize the instructions and let your hook do all the work.

The bottom of the water bottle holder is a flat circle worked in continuous rounds. The flat circle bottom provides a solid base for those heavy water bottles. And, the combination of the granny stitches and the seed stitch creates a sturdy body with a thermal stitch strap that retains its shape.

The longer strap is worked in thermal stitch, a strong single crochet stitch pattern that creates a dense, non-stretchy fabric, perfect for carrying a heavy weight. 

The water bottle holder is designed to hold a 20oz water bottle, although something slightly smaller or larger would fit as well.

You’ll love crocheting this hiking accessory so much you’ll find yourself wanting to make more!

The Yarn

When they’re full, water bottles can be heavy. That’s why your water bottle holder must be sturdy with minimal stretch.

I chose mercerized cotton – Lion Brand’s “24/7 Cotton” – because the yarn itself has no stretch. However, that doesn’t mean your water bottle holder won’t still stretch. Any stretch you experience will come from the stitches themselves. 

This project lends itself to shopping your yarn collection, an ideal stash buster. So, if you have some worsted weight mercerized cotton, by all means consider using it.

Work the water bottle holder in one color like the sample. Or mix and match colors from your yarn stash to create a truly unique walking companion.

Yarn Substitute

You may want to use a yarn other than Lion Brand’s “24/7 Cotton”. You may even have something in your stash that works. Be sure that whatever you choose for your water bottle holder is sturdy, easy to care for and non-stretchy. 

Not sure if what you have will work? Use my Yarn Substitution Worksheet to walk you through the steps to an informed decision.

You can also check out YarnSub for other great options.

Here’s what to love about the pattern

• Whether you’re a beginner or have been crocheting for a long time, you’ll find this an easy, satisfying make.
• The water bottle holder is a stylish way to keep your water handy.
• It’s the kind of project that can be made up in an evening or weekend. Make it now and use it tomorrow!

Frequently Asked Questions

What skill level is this pattern?

I’ve listed this project as Advanced Beginner. You’ll be working basic stitches but in easy techniques you may not yet be familiar with.

What size bottle fits in this water bottle holder?

I used a 20 oz bottle of water to design this water bottle holder. However, it can easily hold smaller bottles. I wouldn’t recommend anything larger to prevent excessive stress on the yarn. 

Is there a video tutorial?

Yes, it’s available on YouTube. In it, I walk you through every step, although you’ll still need the written instructions to complete the project.

Is the thermal stitch difficult?

Not at all. The hardest part is knowing where to insert your hook which I show you in the video tutorial and explain in the pattern. Once you get the hang of it, the thermal stitch will provide some mindful crochet time.

Seneca Water Bottle Holder Free Pattern Starts Here

General Information

Yarn

Lion Brand “24/7 Cotton” 100% cotton worsted weight (3.5oz/185yd; 100g/170m)

Approx. 170 yds depending on the length ofthe strap (1 skein)

Hooks

• US size H-8 (5mm) for the body
• US size 7 (4.5mm) for the strap

Tools

• Removable stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• 20 oz bottle of water

Finished Size

Approx. 7.5” high by 5.25” across laid flat

The strap measures approx. 42” long.

Gauge

8 rnds x 4 GS = Approx. 4”

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Abbreviations – US crochet terminology

• beg – beginning
• BLO – back loop only
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• FLO – front loop only
• inc – increase (work 2 of the indicated st in the same st)
• rep – repeat
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• YO – yarn over

Repeats

• (…) – Work everything within the parentheses in the same st or sp.
• […] – Repeat everything within the brackets the indicated number of times.

Special Stitches

Granny Stitch (GS) – 3 dc in the same sp

Stacked single crochet (STsc) – (This stitch is used at the beginning of a row or round to replace the traditional turning ch-3. It has the appearance of a dc.) – Insert hook in the same st as the loop, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (bottom sc made), insert hook in the left vertical bar of the bottom sc, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (top sc made).

Video Tutorial

Click below for the full pattern tutorial.

Pattern Notes

1. Do not turn after any rnd in the body of the bottle holder.
2. A ch-1 at the beg of a rnd does not count as a st.
3. A ch-2 or ch-3 may be substituted for the STsc at any time without affecting the construction.
4. The GS in the body of the bottle holder is worked in the sp where a ch-1 would normally be, between 2 GS in the rnd before.

Pattern Instructions

Bottom

Note: The bottom of the holder is worked in continuous rounds with no join. Use a stitch marker to indicate the 1^st st of each rnd. Move it up with each new rnd.

Use size H-8 (5mm) hook.

Rnd 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in the 2^nd ch from the hook. < 6 sc >

Rnd 2: Sc inc in each st around. < 12 sc >

Rnd 3: [Sc inc, sc in the next st] around. < 18 sc >

Rnd 4: [Sc inc, sc in the next 2 sts] around. < 24 sc >

Rnd 5: [Sc inc, sc in the next 3 sts] around. < 30 sc >

Rnd 6: [Sc inc, sc in the next 4 sts] around. < 36 sc >

At the end of Rnd 6, join with a slip st to the beg st. Remove the marker and proceed to the Body.

The flat circle should measure approx. 3″ across.

Body

Note: From this point forward, join after every rnd. The numbering for the rnds restarts at 1.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc BLO in the next st and in each st around, join with slip st to beg st. < 36 sc >

Rnd 2: STsc, dc in the next st and in each st around, join with slip st to beg st. < 36 dc >

GS section

Rnd 3: Slip st in the next st, (STsc, 2 dc) in the same st (counts as 1^st GS), sk 2 sts, [GS in the next st, sk 2 sts] around, join with slip st to beg st. < 12 GS >

Rnd 4: STsc in the sp to the right of the hook, GS in the next sp and in each sp around to beg sp, 2 dc in the beg sp to complete the 1^st GS, join with slip st to beg st.

Rnd 5: Slip st in the next st, (STsc, 2 dc) in the same sp, GS in the next sp around, join with slip st to beg st.

Seed st section

Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in the same st, dc in the next st, [sc in the next st, dc in the next st] around, join with slip st to beg st. < 18 sc, 18 dc >

Rnd 7: STsc, sc in the next st, [dc in the next st, sc in the next st] around, join with slip st to beg st.

Rnd 8: Rep Rnd 6.

Rnd 9: Rep Rnd 7.

To complete the Body

Rnds 10-16: Rep Rnds 3-9 once.

Strap

Use size 7 (4.5mm) hook.

Leave a long enough tail at the beg and end of the Strap to attach it to the ody.

Ch 7.

Row 1: Sc in the 2^nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. < 6 sc >

Row 2: Ch 1, sc BLO in the same st and in each st across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, insert hook through the BLO of the st below and the FLO of the st 2 rows below, sc in this manner across the row.

Rep Row 3 until the strap measures just under 42″ or the length you prefer.

Final Row: Ch 1, insert hook under both loops of the st in the previous row and the FLO of the st 2 rows below.

Fasten off.

Attach the Strap to the Body

Fold the Body in half and place a stitch marker at each fold. (There should be 17 sts between markers)

With right sides together and the Strap facing you, center the Strap ends over the stitch markers and whip stitch the ends to the Body. Be careful not to twist the Strap.

Weave in all ends.

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