Hot Water Bottle Cozy - Free Pattern!

This is my first attempt at writing out a pattern that I've made, so bear with me! As a warning: this cozy was made especially for my own hot water bottle, which measures approximately 12 inches long and 7.5 inches wide. I've a feeling most hot water bottles are around that size as well.

Materials: Red Heart Acrylic Yarn
Needles: 7US / 4.5 mm
Gauge: 4 stitches and 6 rows = 1 inch

First Side:
Cast on 30 sts
***start with a Purl row, continue in stockinette for 43 rows

Decreasing for bottle neck:
Over next 10 rows: Decrease 2 stitches at each end of Knit rows 3 times
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of Knit row 2 times

continue for 15 rows in stockinette stitch
Bind off***


Second side:
Cast on 30 stitches and stockinette stitch for 7 rows
Next: follow directions for "Decreasing for Bottleneck" (pattern between *** and ***)
Next: Knit 5, Cast off 4, Knit 5
Next: Purl 5 Cast ON 4 over the space created by casting off, Purl 5

Increasing over next 10 rows:
Increase 1 stitch at each end of Knit row 2 times
Increase 2 stitches at each end of Knit row 3 times

at this point, you should have 30 stitches

Next: follow directions for first half (all pattern between the ***stars***).

Another warning: I made this pattern up before I was smart enough to make button holes. So, I would suggest that one adds more length to the body of the cozy and creates a button hole so that it can be fastened shut. Without button making skills, I simply crocheted a little yarn into a sting to tie it together. Buttons would be much nicer!