How to Sew a Tea Cozy
Tea cozies are used to keep your teapot warm. In the days before microwaves and electric stoves, boiling water to make tea was a laborious event. Once the tea went cold, it wasn't drinkable and warming it up made the tea bitter. A tea cozy is still a practical project for the home sewer. Simple tea cozies require quilted fabric, thread and a sewing machine and little more. Once you have mastered the basic tea cozy concept you can explore embellishments such as lace or needlework if your talents allow.
Things You'll Need
- 2- 12-inches width by 12-inches length (tallest point) ¼- to ½ -inch thick quilted fabric half circles
- Tape measure
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Instructions
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1
Place the two quilted fabric half circles with the right sides of the fabric print/fabric facing. You will be looking at the wrong side of the fabric. Place on a flat surface and pin ½-inch from the fabric edges the curved portion of the half circles. Do not pin the 12 inch width straight portion, which will be the bottom of the tea cozy where you will insert the teapot.
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2
Sew, on the sewing machine using a straight stitch and a 1inch seam allowance, the curved, pinned edges, removing the straight pins as your sewing progresses. This tea cozy will fit most standard teapots.
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3
Fold the 12 inch width (measured flat) bottom edges over twice to form a hem measuring ½-inch with no raw fabric edges exposed. Pin the edges around the bottom of the tea cozy.
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4
Insert the tea cozy over the bed/table of the sewing machine and, lifting the sewing machine pressure foot, place the folded hem under the foot. Put the foot down. Sew, using a straight stitch, around the bottom edge of the tea cozy. Remove the straight pins as you sew.
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5
Turn the tea cozy right side out by reaching through the bottom, flat opening, grasping the farthest edge and pulling it through the opening. Use your hand to poke inside along the seam to push the shape into proper position.
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6
Place the tea cozy over your teapot by holding the bottom, flat edges over the teapot and pulling it over the pot. The flat bottom edges will touch the tabletop, and the padded, quilted tea cozy will keep your teapot warm and your tea toasty.
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Tips & Warnings
Lace, bias tape, bows, and other embellishments may be added once you are familiar with the sewing of the basic tea cozy. If you plan to wash the tea cozy by hand and allow it to air dry, you may use a glue gun to attach pre-sewn appliqués or other decorations. Any tea cozies that you intend to wash in the wash machine and dry in the clothes dryer should have the embellishments sewn on.
