How to Make a Quilted Tea Cozy

Teapots

Sew a decorative quilted teapot cover for daily use or to give as a gift to a tea lover. A fabric tea cozy insulates brewing tea in the teapot and keeps it warm longer. It also stops air from circulating in the teapot, reducing oxidation, which can make the tea bitter. Used for centuries and popular during the Victorian Era, tea cozies can be made in different shapes and sizes and in a variety of themes.

Things You'll Need

• teapot
• measuring tape
• quilted fabric
• double-fold 1/2-inch wide binding tape
• rotary cutting mat
• clear craft mat
• rotary cutter
• scissors
• straight pins
• sewing machine
• embellishments

Instructions

1. Measure the height of the teapot from the bottom, around the side and up to the center of its lid. Then measure the width from the tip of its spout to the middle of its handle on one side.

2. Add 2 inches to each measurement so the completed tea cozy will fit nicely over the teapot with a little room to spare.

3. Align a piece of quilted fabric along the measured corner of the rotary cutting mat . Lay the clear craft mat on top and use a rotary cutter to cut the fabric in the dimensions of the tea cozy. Proceed in the same way with the second piece of quilted fabric.

4. Fold one piece of the quilted fabric in half width-wise. Trim 2-inches off the tips of the fabric corners with scissors in a straight cut. Open the fabric and lay it on top of the other piece of quilted fabric as a template and cut the corners of the second piece. Since the fabric is thick, cutting each piece one at a time works best.

5. Lay the two pieces together, right side out. Secure them with straight pins along the top.

6. On the sewing machine, straight stitch the two fabric pieces together 1/4-inch from the edge. Leave the bottom open.

7. Place one end of the double-fold binding tape over the beginning seam of the tea cozy on one side and begin straight stitching. Working slowly, sew the binding over the remaining seam of the cozy. Straight stitch the binding tape along the bottom as well, giving the tea cozy a neat finish. Add embellishments such as buttons, appliques and a loop of ribbon at the top.

Tips & Warnings

• Reversible tea cozies can be made with different quilted fabrics for the front the back.

• Designs for tea cozies can be square, round or in different shapes such as an elephant, a cat or a house or building.

• Themed cozies can include holidays and celebrations such as birthdays or the interests of the recipient of the handmade gift.

• If children are participating in this project, only adults should use the rotary cutter as the edges are very sharp.

References

• Domestik Goddes: Quilted Tea Cozy
• Get Creative Show: Make a Tea Cozy