Tea Cozies can be hard to find on this side of the pond. Why not make your own, it isn’t too hard and you can make it as simple or as fancy as you wish. I made this one for my mother-in-law out of an old remnant that she liked from an estate sale. I made one for myself out of scraps and added a lace remnant. Here is a link to the pattern, This is half–so you would cut it on the fold. It is 7″ across the bottom and 10.5″ high.
Use your imagination!
Materials needed:
- ½ yard of fabric of your choice–heavy weight natural fibers recommended.
- ½ yard lining fabric–muslin recommended
- ½ yard batting–I used 100% cotton; I do not recommend polyester, it doesn’t retain the heat as well. I have tested my cozy and it will keep the pot and tea hot for about 50 minutes.
- Trimmings as desired.
Instructions:
- Before cutting, wash or clean the fabric and iron it.
- Cut out the main fabric, the lining and the batting with your pattern. You will need 2 of each.
- If you are using trim, pin it to the right side of one of the main pieces.
- Sew on the trim; use a ⅜ seam allowance so that when the cozy is finished it won’t show.
- Remove the pins on the trim.
- Pin the lining right sides together, with one layer of batting on the outside of each. You will have a batting/fabric sandwich. batting>>two right sides together of lining>>batting. Pin this carefully around the curve.
- Sew a ⅝ seam around the curve through all 4 layers.
- Clip the curve of the batting/lining piece and the main piece to allow turning.
- Turn all and iron, right sides out.
- Turn the main piece –wrong side out again and place the lining inside the main piece, right sides together. It will look like an inside out hat. You will have the two right sides together on the inside, with the batting showing and you will have the outside of the main on the outside. The lining/batting will be wrong side out, but on the inside of the cozy.
- Pin the bottom all the way round. It is a circle (ish).
- Sew a ⅝ seam, leaving a gap to turn the cozy right side out.
- Turn it right side out and iron it.
- Pin the bottom edge all the way around and sew a top stitch all the way around the bottom to finish.
- Hand sew a few stitches through all layers at the top, so that it will stay together.
You’re done! Make a pot of tea and relax with a good book…
