Karen Mom of Three's Christmas Tea Cozy Tutorial

Karen here and today I took a break from reading Ellery Adam's latest book Lethal Letters to share with you a tutorial on how to sew a tea cozy like the ones I made in the photo above to dress up your teapots or create for gifts for the tea lovers in your life.
To make your own you will need:
- Holiday Print Fabric (Scattered patterned fabric works best)
-Felt (I use Kunin Felt, larger pieces I get at Michael's or the craft store), Polar Fleece or Velvet
-Sewing Scissors
-Sewing Machine
-Sewing Pins
-Chalk
-3/4 inch to 2 inch thick ribbon
-Large Paper (A sheet of newsprint will work) and a Pencil
-Tape measure or ruler
-Your Teapot


** Please note that my tea pots are medium sized 4-6 cup tea pots. You can make yours larger or smaller depending on your pot.

Step 1- Assemble all your supplies and clear a space to make your pattern piece. My tea pots are 4-6 cups and considered a medium sized tea pot. If yours is larger you may want to add two more inches to the measurements, if smaller reduce by two inches. Fold a piece of newsprint or large paper and measure up 10 inches from the bottom of the paper to the top. Next along the bottom measure 3 inches. At the end of that 3 inch line measure 1/2 an inch up and make a mark. Place your ruler or your tape measure along that line and draw a line to 7 inches.  Your shape should look a bit like a fan. Join the top 10 inch line to the 7 inch line free hand or use a "compass" I used my ruler and moved it slightly until I had the arch line I wanted and drew it in. Cut out your pattern piece and then open it. As I have in the photo above.

 

Step 2- Fold your holiday fabric  in half with right sides facing in. Place your pattern piece on the fold and cut out your fabric. **If you are using a patterned fabric that is not scattered as mine is you can cut out two pieces of your fabric and join it along the 3 inch bottom edge, making your pattern be right side up on both sides of the tea pot once your tea cozy is sewn.

Step 3- Repeat the process on the felt or fleece/velvet  which will be the inside part of your tea cozy.

 

Step 4- Once your pieces are cut out and joined where necessary, lay them on top of each other with right sides of the fabric facing inwards. Pin the fabric together . Starting at two inches down from the outer edges of your fabric (down the "V" shapes) then along the rounded edge on both sides. Sew along the pinned areas and turn right side out as shown in the bottom right photo above.

Step 5- Starting at 1 inch down from the top of the "V" shape on all sides, begin folding your fabric under and pining as shown. Leave that 1 inch opening which will become the casing for the ribbon in step 6.  Begin top stitch sewing the pinned areas.

 Step 6- Use chalk on what will be the inside of your tea cozy to sketch out the casing area for your ribbon. Start at the casing opening and measure about 1/2 inch down to make your first marks and use a ruler or eye the casing lines as I did in the photo above. Repeat on both sides.

Step 7- Top stitch the lines you drew on both sides.

Step 7- Use a safety pin on the end of your ribbon and thread it through your tea cozy, one side will you will see the ribbon joining the sides, this is where you put your spout of your teapot! Once you have the ribbon all the way through casing, leave enough ribbon on each side to tie a bow over the top of your tea pot handle. Pull on both ends of the ribbon slightly to gather the outer edge of your completed tea cozy and slide your tea pot in. Secure with the bow and you are ready to use and display your work!

I hope you enjoyed today's Tea Cozy Tutorial, now back to reading!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com