How to Make a Wool Canteen Cover

If you're buying a canteen, new or used, you may not be able to find one that comes with a cover. Many canteens are lined with stainless steel and have an aluminum facing on the outside. The aluminum may be rough and feel uncomfortable to the touch, being hot in the summer and icy cold during winter months. A canteen cover made out of wool not only provides a comfortable grip, but allows you to attach rings and a shoulder strap for easier carrying.

Things You'll Need

  • Canteen
  • Two D rings
  • Wool blanket or fabric -- heavyweight
  • Marker
  • Heavy-duty needle and thread
  • Snaps or hook-and-loop fasteners
  • Sewing machine
  • Fabric belt or webbing material
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Place your canteen on the fabric and trace the outline, drawing two canteen-shaped pieces with a marker. Or measure the canteen's dimensions and recreate them on the fabric. Then create a third piece -- a strip of fabric about 2-inches wide, and long enough to go around the edge of the canteen, halfway up the sides. The top edges of your pattern should slightly extend upward, to cover the top section of the canteen's neck. Cut out all three pieces.

    • 2

      Stitch one piece of fabric to one side of the long strip, along the edges of the curved bottom. Do the same for the other side of the cover, leaving a 1-inch flap at the ends of each side of the strip of fabric. You should have both sides sewn together, about halfway up the sides of the canteen. This makes it easier to get the canteen in and out of the cover.

    • 3

      Turn down and stitch the loose ends to form a small pocket on each side, where you will later slide the sides of your D rings for the strap.

    • 4

      Turn down the edges about 1/2 inch toward the inside of the cover, and stitch in place to finish the edge.

    • 5

      Turn your cover right-side out.

    • 6

      Attach a D ring to both sides of the canteen cover, and squeeze the ends closed tightly inside the little pockets you made on each side. Make sure the ends overlap for added strength.

    • 7

      Reinforce the inside bottom of the cover with a strip of webbing or a piece of the belt for additional support. Stitch it into the bottom along the seams with the needle and thread. Alternatively, you can run the webbing along the outside of the cover to reinforce it and for a decorative touch.

    • 8

      Make a flap to close the cover by cutting a triangular piece of wool. Cut off the points of the triangles so they are curved. Make it an equilateral triangle, with the bottom longer than the sides. The size will depend on the size of your canteen. Make sure the sides are long enough to wrap around one side of the canteen and meet on the other side.

    • 9

      Place the center of the long edge of the triangle near the top of the cover's outside on one side. Stitch along the edge to attach the triangle to that side. You can do this by hand or with the sewing machine.

    • 10

      Attach the snaps or hook-and-loop-fasteners to the other two points of the triangle and to the other side of the canteen cover.

    • 11

      Slide the canteen into the cover, and pull the triangular sides around to close it.

    • 12

      Attach a heavy web strap to the D rings for carrying, to finish the cover.