How to Make a Tea Cosy

There is nothing quite so charming and pleasant as a teapot of brewed tea sitting attractively on a table under a tea cozy. A tea cozy is a thick fabric covering that slips down over the top of a teapot and is used to keep brewed tea in a teapot warm. Tea drinkers typically have at least one fabric tea cozy and would probably appreciate having an extra to have on hand.

Things You'll Need

• Four 10 by 13 inch cotton fabric rectangles
• Two 10 by 13inch batting rectangles
• Tape measure
• Disappearing fabric pen
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Pins
• 70 inches of 1/2-inch wide grosgrain ribbon

Instructions

1. 

   Place the fabric rectangles onto a flat work surface with the long edges at the top and bottom. Mark the casings along the long sides on the fabric rectangles as follows:
   Make the first top casing line parallel to the top long side 1 3/4 inches down from the edge. Make the second top casing line 2 1/2 inches down from the same edge. The two casing lines will be 3/4 inches apart.
   Make the first bottom casing line parallel to the bottom long side 1/2 inch up from the edge. Make the second bottom casing line 1 1/4 inches up from the same edge. These two casing lines will also be 3/4 inches apart.
   Draw these casing lines on all four fabric rectangles with the disappearing fabric pen.

2. Place two fabric rectangles together with right sides facing each other. Place a batting rectangle on top of the two fabrics.

3. Stitch around the rectangle with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Leave the 3/4 inch of fabric between the top casing and bottom casing unsewn and leave a 3-inch opening along the bottom long edge unsewn for turning.

4. Turn the rectangle right side out and press well with an iron. As you press, fold in the seam allowance along the opening along the bottom edge. Top stitch 1/8-inch away from the top and bottom edges of the rectangle, closing the opening as you sew.

5. 

   Sew along the four dotted casing lines between the short sides to create the casings for the ribbon. Top stitch 1/8-inch away from the left and right edges of the rectangle, between the two casings.

6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 with the other two fabric rectangles and batting rectangle.

7. Cut the ribbon in half. Thread one of the ribbons through the bottom casing of one of the rectangles and then continue the ribbon through the bottom casing of the other rectangle. Pull the ribbon tight to pull the rectangles together and tie a bow. Thread the other ribbon through both top casings, place the teapot into the cozy, pull the ribbon tight around the teapot, and tie another bow.