Crafts for How to Sew a Coffee Cozy

Create a variety of cozies for your coffee maker, pot and mugs.

Redecorate the kitchen without denting the monthly budget by making cozies for countertop coffee makers, pots or mugs. Choose fabrics and colors complementary to your existing kitchen decor. For example, if tablemats, curtains or seat covers have a gingham check, choose fabrics with the same color scheme adding gingham accents. Sewing enthusiasts can also recycle leftover fabric and trims from previous craft projects. Mix bold patterns and prints to make coffee sleeve cozies or design whimsical cozies by adding eyes, nose and mouth.

Things You'll Need

• Flexible tape measure
• Pattern paper
• Drafting pencils
• Felt pen
• Notcher tool
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Fabric scissors
• Tailor's chalk
• Disappearing fabric ink pen
• Taping, braid or piping
• Sewing machine
• Edge-stitch foot attachment
• Foam or batting, 1/2-inch thick

Instructions

Making the Coffee Cozy Pattern

1. Measure the width, height and depth of the coffee maker or pot with a flexible tape measure. If you are making a cozy for the coffee maker, measure the width and depth of the top cover as well. If you are making a coffee mug cozy, measure the circumference. Jot down the dimensions for pattern making.

2. Draw the width and height of the coffee cozy on pattern paper using the measurements. Draw a 1/4-inch seam allowance around the perimeter of the patterns. For example, if your sleeve cozy measures 12 inches in circumference, and is 3 inches tall, draw pattern dimensions finishing 12 1/2 inches and a circumference of 3 1/2 inches.

3. Repeat for the front, side and back panels, as well as the top cover for the coffee maker or pot. Most of the patterns will appear rectangle or square. Skip this step if you are making a coffee mug cozy.

4. Label the patterns with a felt pen, including button or fastening tape placement. This step reduces fabric-cutting errors, especially if you are mixing different fabric colors or patterns. For example, if you are making a whimsical mug cozy, mark the placement for decorative elements, such as eyes, nose, mouth, arms or feet.

5. Notch the patterns with a notcher. This sewing tool snips a small cut into patterns as a reminder to align fabric parts while stitching. If you do not have a notcher tool, draw a half-diamond shape on the pattern as a notch. For example, mark both sides of the front panel pattern as well as the side panels with the half-diamond. This mark shows you where to align the front and side panels prior to stitching.

6. Cut out the patterns with scissors.

Sewing the Coffee Cozy

1. Pin the patterns to the selected fabric with straight pins. If your design includes shaped corners or inserts, place the patterns on the diagonal, technically referred to as the bias. This cutting position provides added stretch when stitching shaped edges or seams.

2. Cut out the fabric parts with fabric scissors. Cut a 1/8-inch slit to mark the notches on the fabric parts. You can also transfer the notches with tailor's chalk.

3. Trace design elements directly on the fabric with a disappearing fabric ink pen. Skip this step if your design has trims, such as taping, braid or piping.

4. Add details to the fabric parts prior to assembly and construction. For example, hand-stitch design elements with embroidery floss, machine stitch appliqués, or embroider a design pattern on selected areas.

5. Pin the wrong sides of the fabric together. If your design includes piping trim, insert the trim between the panels. Piping refers to a cord like trim generally finishing at 1/8-inch width. Fit the pinned cozy over the coffee maker, pot or mug. Adjust the pins if the cozy does not slide comfortably over the item.

6. Machine stitch the front and back panels to the side panels. Change the straight stitch foot to the edge-stitch foot attachment to sew piping in place. If you are making a padded mug cozy, machine stitch along the seam allowance, leaving a 3-inch opening to insert 1/2-inch thick foam or batting prior to stitching closed.

7. Pin the top cover to the stitched panels and machine stitch all around. Skip this step for mug cozies.

8. Turn inside out and cut away all loose threads before using the coffee cozy.

Tips & Warnings

• Recycle old gift-wrapping or tissue paper to substitute pattern paper.

References

• "Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts"; Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia; 2010
• Sewing.CraftGossip: Tutorial: Sew This Coffee Cozy