bishi

Last Friday I released my first pattern for the year.

I was quite amazed at that, usually by the end of the year I'm so burnt out and exhausted it takes me awhile to get into the swing of things in the New Year. In fact, last year I was so drained I took a break for pretty much all of January and February.

This year I'm feeling a little different. This year I've started the year feeling fresher and excited about all my plans for the year; hence, a new pattern already!

This is bishi.

A simple knitted water bottle carrier. 

I love the practical nature of this, it's gender neutral, a great quick knit, makes a great gift (everyone drinks water.......or at least they should!) and is a good stash buster. Bishi uses less than a ball of 10ply cotton, about 40grams to be precise.

It's knit in the round from the bottom up and has two different options for the handles; either a garter stitch strap or stocking stitch handles that can be tied for ease of lengthening or shortening. 

The mesh is super dooper stretchy and fits everything in it from a boutique beer to a nice chunky Sigg water bottle. My kids like the carrier to completely cover the bottle and its lid, so you'll notice that while on my bottle (the Sigg in the red Bishi) the carrier finishes at the lid, on Lily's, her whole bottle fits in and the lid is completely concealed (the striped bishi).

There have been quite a number of bishis popping up on Rav already, and I've noticed that those who are knitting for shorter kids' bottle have knit fewer of the lace rounds to suit.  So that may be an option you may want to consider if you're knitting for a smaller bottle.

The smaller water bottle in the striped carrier is a Beatrix NY bottle which is quite a squat 400ml bottle.  Lily also carries a Thermos Funtainer 355ml bottle in hers. This is taller than the Beatrix NY and the top of the carrier reaches the top of the bottle when resting. My larger Sigg is a 700ml size.

One question that I have been asked a lot is what is a bishi? Where does it come from?

It's the name of a friend of mine, the recipient of the first knitted water bottle carrier, in fact.  

Yes, it is her real name, it is of African origins.

Quite coincidentally, Lily has a childhood doll named Bish, which I guess makes the name seem quite normal and everyday for me.  Lily's doll was named after the sound of running water, biish biish biish, a name Lily came up with when she was about two. Perfect name really for a water bottle carrier. 

Bishi is a free pattern and you can download it here.

These would make a great quick knit item for school fetes, markets and the like. For that reason, I've decided to make pattern license free. All the normal copyright applies except that you can make these to sell if you wish without a license. All you need to do is refer to the product as a bishi water carrier and credit the design as being mine.