DIY Bowl Cozies for the BEST Gifts
A few years ago I received the BEST gift that I had no clue I needed. Hand created bowl cozies created by a sweet friend have been loved and used over and over. My husband and I both are addicted to them.
Can I tell you that this friend has been near and dear to my heart for decades. We both have had the spontaneity to join each other at a moment’s notice for lunch, shopping, a road trip or a bit of creative fun on more times than I can begin to share.
Conversations, prayer requests, and walking through family life, health and infirmity together were always treasured moments to be supportive and supported.
But, back to the bowl cozy pattern?
That was just one of the ways that she gives from the heart. She is a creative. If you are a family member or friend, you might find yourself a recipient of quilts, garments, or seasonal towels…and if you were lucky, like me? The bowl cozies.
You may not realize YOU need them…or others need you to create them…but, if they are like us?
You will wonder how you ever made it without them! Especially with soup loved here.
An attachment to those bowl cozies may bring a sweet reminder of the creator or giver each time they are used…
Do you see the fabric of these?
Priceless.
Words and phrases like:
- recipe for friendship
- a sprinkle of compassion
- mutual respect
- serve each other
- whisk together one large hug, 3/4 C caring, 1 T understanding
- stir in sensitivity
- spread over a lifetime
- 1/4 C listening
- 2 C patience
- 3 C laughter
- boil in challenges
The fabric spoke volumes in her creation of this heart gift.
A great reminder that with each gift created…choices of fabric designs may reflect great reminders of the relationship with the recipient or even their favorite colors.
So, let’s pass on the warmth that these provide.
Right?
If you know how to sew, these are so quick and easy to make.
Begin by choosing fabric meaningful for the recipient.
If you plan to use these bowl cozies in the microwave, use all cotton fabric, batting and thread when making them for safety reasons.
For safety purposes, no metallic fabrics and all cotton materials are for those that add the cozies under bowls in the microwave for easier retrieval.
Now, no one wants a microwave fire, right?
Mine don’t go into the microwave, but just hold hot contents or ice cream in bowls.
But, in case there’s a chance someone in your household MIGHT add them to the microwave, err on the safe side with no metallic or polyester in fabrics, batting or threads.
Here’s the DIY for these Bowl Cozies for you to pin, save or print…
Maybe there are those on your gift list who need them.
Teachers, hostesses, those who drop in at Christmas, coworkers, friends, or family gifts OR fundraisers that need donations…these are perfect to have ready.
I don’t know about you…but, summer just brings the reminder of how many weeks until Christmas. The closer that holiday gets near…somehow the time to be creative in the gift department slips away.
Does that happen to you?
So, let’s begin.
- First, select your materials.
- Next, follow the guidelines for marking and stitching.
- Finally? complete in just a few minutes.
DIY Quilted Bowl Cozy
Equipment
- 1 Sewing machine
- 1 pair scissors
- 1 set fabric pins or clips
- 1 ruler
- 1 rotary cutter/mat, optional
- 1 pencil
Materials
- 1 spool 100% cotton thread to coordinate with fabric
- 2 10" squares of 100% cotton fabric
- 2 10" squares of 100% cotton batting
- 1 10" square of brown craft paper or card stock
Instructions
- Create a paper pattern by making a 10" square out of paper. I love using brown craft paper.
- Fold the paper pattern in half and in half again, creating 4 folded squares when you lay in flat.
- Fold the pattern in half and on the half way mark, use a pencil to mark 2" down on each side.Fold the opposite way, and mark those two sides, too.
- Above each of the 4 – 2" marks, make a mark at 3/4" from the fold on each of the four marks.
- Next, with a ruler, draw a diagonal line from the 3/4" mark to the 2" mark creating a triangle on each of the four sides.
- Using sharp scissors, cut the diagonal line of each of the four sides.
- When you open the pattern flat, you will have four triangles in the center of each side that will be 1 1/2" wide at the top and end 2" from the center of each side.
- If you want square corners on your bowl cozy, like my original one, stop here.BUT, if you want to have round corners, simple fold your pattern and cut all four corners with a rounded edge.
- Place the right side of each fabric onto a square of batting.
- Pin together each side of fabric and batting to the pattern and cut out.
- Remove pattern and pins.
- Fold each set of fabric and batting in half with batting inside and press with the edge of ruler creating a diagonal crease down from one corner to the other forming an X with a crease.
- Stitch the crease line from one corner to the other diagonally, forming an X. Repeat on the backing set of fabric and batting.
- You should have an X stitched on each set when finished. This helps prevent the batting and fabric from slipping during the rest of the sewing.
- Next, begin the darts. Folding the V with right sides together, begin stitching from the inside point to the outside. This helps make certain that you have caught both sides of the fabric together at the dart point. Otherwise, if fabric is not caught, it's almost impossible to correct. Make sure that you backstitch both ends of the dart. Check each dart to make certain the fabric was sewn inside.
- Repeat on the bottom fabric so that there are four darts…one between each sewn line on each side.This is what gives the cozy the "bowl" shape.
- Place the right sides of the bowls together and pin the edges of the fabric/batting together.
- Begin stitching 1" from any corner and back stitch after you begin to prevent the stitching from coming out.Use a 1/4" seam.
- For square corners, when you get to the stitching in each corner, leave your sewing needle in, raise the presser foot and turn the fabric, lower the presser foot, and continue stitching to the next corner. NOTE: If you have trimmed to make each corner round, just pin and hold the edge of your fabric as you sew around each corner.Repeat until you get to the side you where you began and leave a 3" opening for turning the bowl inside out and back stitch to prevent the stitching from coming out when you turn the bowl inside out.DON"T FORGET to backstitch where you stop so that it won't unravel when turning the bowl inside out.
- If you have square corners, trim the corners making sure that you don't clip the stitching.If you have rounded corners, you can make a few tiny clips from the edge of the rounded corner before you turn it inside out to help the corners lay flat after turning and stitching them.
- Turn the bowl inside out and use your fingers to push out the corners. A turning tool is helpful to make sure that the corners come out sharp and flat. The batting will prevent it from being really sharp, but that's okay.
- Once edges and corners are pulled out and flat, an iron to press them flat before you topstitch and close the opening will make for a more finished look.
- Add pins to hold the edge flat as you topstitch about 1/4" around the edge of the bowl.I remove the pins before stitching because of the fullness to prevent possible needle breakage.Make sure that you tuck in the 3" opening where you turned the fabric inside out and stitch it closed as you topstitch.
- You are done!!
Notes
Just like that…those Bowl Cozies are finished!
See what I mean???
They even serve as their own “charger” for the bowl.
Just a tip: making each side a different fabric adds another look for your table when using these. Perfect to use for so many recipes and seasons.
On the bowl cozies with this fabric, those little chickens are perfect for hot bowls of chicken and dumplings, chicken noodle soup, chicken rice soup or chicken pot pie. Right?
If you have ever had these in your life…you panic without them when you need them for hot bowls or ice cream!
Flip these cozies over and use them for any other soup recipe, like:
The best part? They are created by you…from the heart.
Heart gifts. If you know me? They are my favorite gifts.
Hope you take the time to make these.
In case you do, here are links that you can click on the photo and shop…same price for you…but, as a Walmart affiliate, I may receive a commission if you use them to shop.
My friend blessed my heart when she created and gifted these to me.
Don’t mind me…I’m checking my list to see who needs these this Christmas…
Happy Sewing and Gifting, friends!
Happy August Saturday!
2 Comments
Cindy Walker
Unfortunately, I don’t sew. But my best friend, my sister, gave me a bowl cozy years ago. I just love it. The pattern is colorful dog bones! Not only is it cute, but YES it is something I need.
Leslie J Watkins
What a cute pattern! I had no clue we needed these, but we find ourselves adding hot bowls into them and often hold the cozies when we eat chili…or like tonight? chicken and dumplings. FYI, a lot of festivals are selling them, so check at the BBQ on the River for them.