Sells For Approx. $23.00 on Etsy

For this project, you will need to cut the following pieces from any kind of cotton, flannel, or canvas.

• 1 piece 18″ x 10.5″
• 1 piece 3″ wide x 48-72″ (strap length can be fitted to anyone)
• 1 piece batting (or felt) 9″ x 10.5″

I made the pouch more sturdy by quilting it, but if you are using a heavy fabric like canvas, you can skip this step.  The quilting not only makes it look more polished, but it also offers a little bit of insulation as well.  Iron all pieces out flat before beginning.

I mentioned above that you can use a bit of felt instead of batting.  Because this is such a small project, I can’t justify buying even a craft size roll of batting.  Unless you keep batting on-hand in your craft room, or you plan to make several slings, a $1 sheet of craft felt will do the job just fine.

Fold the 18″ x 10.5″ panel in half so that you have two sides measuring 9″ x 10.5″.  Slip the batting inside, between the sides of the fabric.  I quilted quick horizontal lines for my sling, but you can be as creative as you want to be here!  Trim away any uneven edges and square up your quilted panel.

Next, sew the two 9″ sides together, creating the sleeve for your water bottle.  If you have a specific inside and outside, be sure that you’re sewing with the inside layer facing out.  We’ll be turning this pouch right side out at the end.  Stitch along the bottom edge (the rough edge where the batting shows) as well.

Next, prepare your strap.  The strap can be fitted to any size person – just measure from the hip, up over the opposite shoulder, and back down to the hip.  Add 6 inches to this length.  For my 5 year old daughter, 48 inches was the magic number.  (You can also make the strap adjustable by adding a slide, but I’m keeping the pattern ultra-simple for beginners.)

Fold the strap in half so that the long edges line up with the wrong side of the fabric facing out, and stitch along the edge.  Turn the strap right side out – I like to use a big safety pin for this.  Just secure it to one side of the fabric, close the pin, and feed it back through the tube.  It will likely be wrinkly after you turn it, so press the strap flat with an iron before continuing.

Arrange the strap along the bottom edge of the pouch, allowing 1.5 – 2 inches to overlap the pouch.  Then, make a diagonal stitch 2 inches from the corner of the pouch.  This will both secure your strap to the inside of the sling and also round the bottom of the pouch.

Cut away the excess from the corners, being careful not to cut the straps.  Turn the sling right side out.  Finally, stitch along the top edge of the pouch, securing the straps in place at the top of the pouch.

Now, slip a full water bottle inside, and bring it along with you next time you’re on the go!  It’s also a great way to carry your empty bottle until you spot a recycling bin, or until you find a place to refill and re-use your bottle.

This pouch is designed to hold a 16.9 oz size bottle, but it can easily be re-sized to accommodate your favorite size bottle.