think fast

coffee cozy tutorial

So happy to be posting this tutorial. I shared a photo of my coffee cozy (gee, probably a year ago) and since Pinterest came around I've had several requests to do a tutorial on the cozy. There are actually lots of cute tutorials and patterns online, but I'm sure everyone has their own style, so I will share mine. How's that?

Here's the finished cozy. I have another photo coming up with the cozy laying flat. The fun thing I did was include the elastic band that hooks around the button, so this cozy is super adjustable and fits any size cup (venti, much?).

1.  Choose your fabrics; I used 2 1/2" wide strips, so you can use some of your leftover jelly roll pieces, or just trim your own. I grabbed scraps that were about 8-9" long. Depending on how tightly you sew your strips together, you will need about 6 strips.

2. Sew your strips together. This is the fun part. You don't even need to sew them straight! In fact, the ones I purposefully laid at angles turned out the cutest. Just put right sides together and sew at a slight angle. Your finished piece will look like mine above, before you press it.

3.  Press. What a difference a nice pressing makes. Now you can see that my first strip on the left is sewn rather straight, then I laid the following strips more at an angle. Fun! (You can trim the back side of the seams if you have a lot of extra fabric hanging out).

Download Coffee Cozy Pattern

4.  Cut out your cozy using my pattern download. (This is my first time supplying an actual pattern - you can tell it's hand drawn, so be nice. Hee, hee.) I usually add my own seam allowances as I cut (which I did in the above photo), but I have added the seam allowance on the downloadable pattern for you. DO NOT add an extra seam allowance when using the paper pattern. P.S. The pattern prints exactly as is on 8.5 X 11 paper.

5.  Cut out your lining. It could be matching fabric, or plain muslin (as I most often use).

6. Cut a layer of batting. If you want to be really fancy, use Insul-Bright. It's used for hot pads, oven mitts, etc. I order my coffee extra hot (doesn't everyone?) so I wanted these cozies to really work. But, honestly? I think plain cotton batting probably works fine, too.

7. Layer your fabrics and batting exactly like this before stitching. And yes, the batting doesn't go in the middle (but it will end up there).

8. Here's the fun part: pin your layers together and grab a coordinating elastic band. I used the Goody brand hair binders; Target has packs of both brights and neutrals.

9. Next you are going to stitch around the edges. I've marked on the pattern where to place the elastic band. You can see in the photo above that I leave a bit of the band sticking out of the seam and kind of pinched it together with the pins. Also, the area between the two heart pins is where you leave your seam open. It's not a bad idea to stitch an extra time right over where the elastic goes in.

10. Time to turn the cozy right side out. And, if layered correctly, the insulated batting is now inside! Hee. It's looking cute. Finger press all the round corners (you can trim the edges a bit before you turn the cozy right side out), then press gently with your iron. You can see the open seam there - it will have to be stitched shut by hand (gasp). You can do it.

11. Top stitch around all the edges (after you have stitched that open seam shut). This give a nice finished edge. So cute.

12. Now the hardest part: choosing a button. Hee. (Brown is cute, but yellow is so cheerful. Can't find the exact yellow, how about a pop of lime green? No, doesn't look right, Ah, red-orange. Perfect, and a good size, too...) Just pick one, and stitch it on. There is coffee to be bought.

So, there you go. A sweet little coffee cozy that folds in half and tucks right in your purse. It's so fun to use (I get so many comments on mine), and really "green", too. I mean, one less disposable holder to throw away, right?

Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to scroll down and enter to win my Consolation Giveaway from Friday! You have a couple more days to enter.

And stop by tomorrow, too. You will see what happens when you have a LOT of scraps and plenty of elastic bands, and several willing friends to stitch. Hee.

Later.

consolation giveaway

Hee - how's that for a blog post header? I've been slightly overextended this week. Seems I forgot all about it being Easter week with all its festivities and company in town. 

But, I do promise to finish up my tutorial - while you are waiting, how about a chance to win a really fun prize? If you noticed my rotary cutter and mat in that photo of my coming tutorial, you might have spotted that is was a Fiskars tool. I adore Fiskars. All of my trimmers, all of my scissors, and many, many of my border punches are Fiskars brand. They are an excellent company, and a very generous one, too. I used to do projects for their magazine ads back in the day - boy, that was fun. And even back then they would send all kinds of fun tools to use.

Just the other day I got a really fab-o box of goodes and I'm perfectly happy to share.

Fiskars was very smart to team up with Jenni Bowlin and co-brand some punches - how would you like to win all three of these? I hear a "YES".

Just leave me a comment about your favorite scrappy tool and I will enter you to win! (Let's keep this one in the U.S. - these will cost a little more to ship). I will keep the contest open into next week and close it Wednesday, April 11th at midnight PST.

Thanks for your patience! I hope you win.
Later. 

tutorial coming soon

Working like crazy to catch up from yesterday. Yep, two kids home from school with the flu, the Suburban broke down and Keith has a meeting last night. Nightmare.

Here's a sneak of the tutorial. I'm done with the photos, just need to figure out how to post the pattern.

Be back soon.
Later. 

you can fly

Wanted to share this card that has been in the stack for a little bit. I was inspired by Teri using a feather on her card (so unlike her). So, here's my version.

A little reminiscent of Dumbo, perhaps? Hee, hee. 

You can also get on the feather bandwagon by checking out the Moxie Fab Challenge...wait for it...with feathers! Read all about it HERE.

I'm currently editing some photos for a tutorial. Stay tuned tomorrow for that!
Later.