Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Last Minute Gift Idea or Stocking Stuffer

It is getting so close to Christmas and of course I am still trying to get all the handmade items done on time. Things got a little hectic around here with the renovations so I am behind and not making quite as many sewn item this year...which makes me sad, but there is always next year!!πŸ˜‰

When I asked my daughter what she wanted for Christmas this year, she only came up with one idea, so you know I had to at least try and get it made, she asked for a mug cozy for her CorningWare 20 oz mug. Last year for one of our family Christmas get togethers we had a soup and chili feast. I knew it was going to be hard to seat everyone around a table so I made a stack of bowl cozies, which was one of the items I shared in my last post, Quick Christmas Present Ideas. 

I didn't think a bowl shaped cozy would be very safe idea for holding a mug with a handle, but the other cup cozy idea I shared seemed like the better idea to tweak, so here it is......
If you follow my blog you might recognize the scraps I'm using? They are the P&B Textiles Color Weave I used to make the December One Block Wonders Shattered Quilt!

(added after posting) It is important to remember unless you are using all cotton products, don't use this cozy or any cozy in your microwave.

What You'll Need:

For each cozy you are making: Quilt as You Go Method

(1) piece 14" x 4"       Batting or Thermo Fleece  (I used scraps of Thermo Fleece)
                                   Scraps of fabric at least 4" in length by varying widths
(1) piece 13.5" x 3.5" Backing Fabric 

(1) button (I used a 23mm size)
(1) 3" piece of 1/4-1/3" round elastic

Instructions: All seams are 1/4" unless stated otherwise
If you  have never done a quilt as you go project before here is a link to a tutorial I made.

I am only adding the strips to the front of the fleece no backing fabric is used during this quilt as you go sewing step.
 Place your first strip right side up and 4" long raw edge even with 4" wide edge of your batting (you can stitch the outside edge down with an 1/8" seam if you are worried about your first piece shifting). Now lay your next strip right side down on top for the first piece, aligning the inside 4" raw edge. Stitch a 1/4" seam and then press the top piece back, so the right side is facing up.


 Continue in this manner until your batting is covered with your fabric strips. I am making each of the mug cozies in different colour sets so that they will work like a glass/mug marker incase they are used during another family event!!

Now you will want to turn your work over so the batting side is facing you and trim your piece down to 13.5" x 3.5" to match your backing fabric.


Fold you elastic in half and tack it in place just shy of  1/4" in from one of the 3.5" edges ! Make sure you go over this a few times to make it secure. Also if you have labels you are going to want to sew that into place now too, on the other 3.5" edge! I love the labels I have from IkaPrints (there's a link in my sidebar if you are looking to purchase your own labels)



Next place your backing and your quilted piece right sides together and stitch around the whole piece leaving a 3" opening for turning. Don't forget to backstitch at the start and ending point for strength, so you don't pop your seam while turning. Trim all corners before turning.




Once your piece is turned, push out the corners carefully using a knitting needle or small scissors etc. (something with a point) Press, paying close attention to the opening, to get the raw edges tucked in straight.  


Topstitch 1/8" around the outside edge careful to catch the 3" opening to close it with the topstitching!


Hold your finished piece around the mug so you can determine the button placement. You want the button over enough to add resistance to the elastic so that it holds the cozy inplace, but not so much that it makes the button pulls and stresses the fabric. I found about a 1/2" from the edge worked well!




This was such a quick and easy project to sew, and creating the new cozy pattern was easy being as  the sides of this mug are straight!!! (no taper to deal withπŸ‘πŸ»)

Now don't you think this would make a great gift? With the cozy around the mug, maybe filled with treats or Hot Cocoa Mix or just a few cozies if your friends and family already have the mugs!! 
They would make a great stocking stuffer too!! 

Enjoy!
And Merry Christmas Everyone!! 

 a $25 Gift Certificate could be yours
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And Heads up... Craftsy is having a sale.....What better time than over the holidays to try a new class!
Dec 23-26 all Craftsy Classes under $20
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1 comment:

Thanks for stopping by!! I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment, idea, or question!!

This post was originally posted on UpstairsHobbyRoom.blogspot.ca . If you are reading this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.