Bowl Cozies

It's time to make gifts for Christmas and one of the best is a set of bowl cozies. These 100% cotton wonders cradle a bowl in the microwave, saving fingers from trying to handle the hot contents after heating is finished. They are quick to make. Fabric choice can make them bright and cheerful. Various sizes are easy to make.

The key is everything must be 100% cotton: the fabric, the batting and, yes, even the thread. This will avoid potential fire hazards or sparking in the microwave.


(Click on any picture to enlarge it for greater detail)

STEP 1

Start by cutting two squares of fabric AND two squares of batting, each one between 11-12" square.  Then iron the fabric squares (not the batting).

STEP 2
Put one fabric square (wrong side) against one piece of batting, matching edges so the fabric has batting behind it.  Sew an "X" diagonally from one corner across to the other to secure the batting and fabric together.  (Yes, I changed fabric from yellow to green.)  I like to use a longer top stitch for this step.

NOTE: Fabric choice is yours. You can have both sides the same fabric, as in this example. The other option is for two coordinating fabrics. The bowl cozies are reversible so get creative.

Repeat with the second piece of fabric and batting. The two pieces will be the inside and outside of the bowl cozy.

STEP 3
Back to the cutting table...time to square up the "X" pieces.  Ideally, there will be a good edge to cut a solid 11 inch square. If not, square to 10.5 inches.  Make sure to have both fabric and batting along all four edges.

STEP 4

Fold the squared fabric/batting in half, matching corners and creating a rectange. Using a template (I made one from a fat quarter backing, see picture), line the template along the top and folded edge. Cut the fabric to create the dart on that side of the cozy. Repeat until all four darts are cut.

When finished cutting, the fabric should look like the picture above.

STEP 5

Sew the four darts on each piece of fabric. Match the dart by turning fabric inside and sewing a regular 1/4 inch seam with regular stitch length. I like to start and the outside edge and sew into the middle, running the stitch off the fabric to create and smooth dart when turned right-side out.

STEP 6
With the four darts sewn on each of the two pieces, it's time to create the reversible bowl cozy. Turn one of the pieces inside-out, then match the two pieces fabric-to-fabric. Try to match seams from the darts and corner x's as closely as possible. Sew the two pieces together with a generous 3/8 inch seam, leaving an opening to turn the bowl cozy. The larger seam makes it easier to do the final top-stitching and assures the two pieces are securely in place. I like to leave one section between the corner and the dart for turning (see picture below). NOTE: Before turning, carefully trim the four corners to
remove bulk. This will help the corners to "square" more easily after turning. Be careful to leave enough space between the edge of the fabric and the seam, about a 1/4 inch.

STEP 7

With the bowl cozy turned right side out, carefully push out the corners to square them.  I give a gentle tug to the dart area to help the two sides lay flat and finger press the edge. If needed, pressing with an iron can help to make the the edge flatter and easer to top-stitch.

STEP 8
Final step is to use a longer stitch to create a decorative and functional finish to the bowl. This should be stitched about 1/4 inch from the edge of the bowl cozy, all around the top. I like to start at the opening area, carefully aligning the top and bottom fabric and batting to create a smooth edge. When I finish going around the top, I will stitch an inch or so over where I started to give it additional strength.

That's it. Once you do a couple, you can set this up like an assembly line.  I cut several pieces of fabric and batting. Then I pick all the fabric that will use the same color thread, like white, and sew all the X patterns. Then I finish the bowl cozies with that thread. This allows me to sew several bowl cozies in a day.


Don't panic if you goof. The first one I did in the recent batch, I cut the darts incorrectly, cutting the outside corners inside of making inside darts. No worries, I re-squared the fabric/batting pieces to 10 inches and created a smaller cozy, perfect to use with a frozen ramekin filled with homemade ice cream. (Ice cream not pictured, just imagine it.)

For gifts: I like to group in twos. Sometimes it's two identical, sometimes two coordinating.  Usually the two are both the same size but, in the case of a single person, a large one for soup bowl and a small one for ice cream (see below) works too!

Finally, I have created the following gift tags to add:

Microwave Bowl Holder

Q: HOW DO I USE A MICROWAVE BOWL HOLDER?

A: This is a 100% cotton microwaveable bowl holder. This is placed in the microwave with your bowl filled with soup, oatmeal, pasta, side dishes, etc... and keeps your hands from getting burned when you remove it. No Mitts needed! It is also great for keeping your meal warm while you eat.

Q: CAN I USE MY BOWL HOLDER FOR COLD PRODUCTS?

A: Absolutely! Great for keeping hands comfortable while eating your favorite cold dish.

Q: WHAT SIZE ARE THE BOWL HOLDERS?

A: A bowl holder will hold a soup bowl, cereal bowl, or 1.5 quart pyrex dish.

Q: HOW DO I WASH THE BOWL HOLDER?

A: Microwave bowl holders are machine washable as it is made with all 100% cotton materials. Cold water is suggested, wash with like colors. Colors could run on initial washing. Either dry on low in the dryer or sit and shape to air dry.

MICROWAVE BOWL HOLDER DISCLAIMER:

Use the bowl holder according to your microwave instructions and do not leave unattended when using. It is possible for scorching to occur in some microwaves if not kept clean. You must determine for yourself if it is safe to use in your microwave. 

Not responsible for any damage to product, home, or microwave.