Microwave Bowl Cozy Tutorial

Do you have one?  I made myself one a couple years ago and can't find it since I moved here.  I thought I needed one.  I was tired of burning my fingers taking a hot bowl out of the microwave.

Place your bowl of soup, chili or whatever leftovers in the microwave on the bowl cozy.  Its made all in cotton so won't catch fire.

Removing the hot bowl isn't a problem.  Its not too hot to handle with a cozy.

Materials:
2 Cotton fabric pieces cut 10 inches square
2 Cotton Batting pieces cut 9 3/4" square (or the heat-proof batting that is microwave safe)
Cotton coordinating thread

Be sure its all Cotton.  Polyester will flame out in the microwave.  Be safe, use Cotton only.

Lay a batting piece on the wrong side of each fabric square.  Center it as much as possible.

Pin the batting to the fabric.
Draw lines from corner to corner to form an "X" in the middle.

Sew a straight stitch from corner to corner.  You can use a decorative stitch if you like.  Just sew from one fabric point to the other fabric point.

Do this in both directions.

IF ANYONE READ MY TUTORIAL BEFORE DEC. 17, 2017 MORNING, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I CHANGED THE PHOTOS AND METHOD.  I WANT TO REFLECT WHAT I FIND IS AN EASIER AND QUICKER METHOD AS SHOWN BELOW.......

Now you need to make your darts....... 

Fold your piece in half evenly like shown above, to mark your darts.

Place a pencil mark 1 inch down from the fold on your right.  Another pencil mark 2 inches in along the top of the fold as shown above. 

Draw a line from fold mark to edge mark.

Sew your seam line along the drawn line.

Cut away the excess fabric and batting close inside the "V" to complete your dart.  

Your dart will look like this when trimmed.

Repeat with the other 3 darts.

The Batting side should look like this when darts are done.

The Fabric side will look like this above when darts are sewn.  It will have a hollow for the shape of the bowls for which its made.

Repeat the actions above for the other piece of fabric and batting.  You need a pair to make your cozy. When both parts are finished, you are ready to put it together......

Holding both pieces, right sides together, pin them evenly across corner to corner.  Be sure to push the dart seams in opposite directions so you don't get a large bump in the middle.  

Sew a 3/8" seam from the fabric edge all around all 4 sides, leaving about a 3" to 4" opening for turning.

Trim the excess at your 4 points if you like.  Some say it makes a smoother finished point.  

Turn your cozy right-side out.  Smooth it out.  It will have a hollow shape for the bowl.   Use a point turner or sharp object to get the corners pushed out neatly.

At the opening, tuck the fabric inside evenly and smooth it out.  Pin into place.

Top stitch all around all 4 sides, being sure your turning area is neatly tucked inside and pinned in place.

I like to use my Walking Foot for this whole project.  The foot is the perfect width for sewing a 3/8" seam.  It rides smoothly over the thick fabric.  You can use a decorative stitch with a Walking Foot, if desired.

Here is the finished article shown above.  

Note:  You can use two coordinating fabrics if you like.  Both being the same fabric is not mandatory.  

To make a larger cozy for wider bowls and plates:

2 Fabric pieces 14 inches square

2 Batting pieces 13 3/4" square

Dart distance will remain the same at 1 inch from center line, BUT

mark the length of darts at 2 1/2" from the outer edge.

I hope you enjoy this pattern.  They are very useful and easy gifts to make.

Have a good day.