Bowl Cozies - the Microwavable Potholder

Do you enjoy hot bowl of soup? Do you have a bowl of oatmeal every morning? Are you tired of burning your fingers holding the bowl or trying to get it out of the microwave? These bowl cozies are the easy solution. They are simple to make and you can work up a set of four in an evening. They also make wonderful gifts.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

2 pieces of 100% cotton fabric 10 1/2 inches square. You can use different fabric for the inside and the outside of the cozy if you would like.

2 pieces of 100% cotton batting 10 1/2 inches square Please make sure your batting is 100% cotton, I suggest Warm Tater by The Warm Company

Hairspray Cheap super sticky hairspray is the best.

Basic Sewing/Quilting Supplies Rotary cutter, mat, ruler, sewing machine, thread, iron, marking pencil

Step 2: Prep Fabric and Batting for Sewing

We need to draw some sewing lines onto our fabric. With a ruler and marking pencil on the right side of both squares draw an X. You then need to draw a line down the center of each square and across the center of each square. You are making an * basically.

Giving each batting piece a light spray of hair spray. Smooth fabric onto the batting, right side up. With a dry iron, no steam, iron the fabric to the batting. The heat will dry the hairspray. You may notice your fabric is a little stiff but that's OK. The hairspray will wash out.

Step 3: Sewing the Batting and Fabric Together

Just stitch on the lines we drew in the last step. If you would like to do some free motion quilting now is the time. I do like to do some quilting at this point because it helps me practice my quilting. You certainly do not need to do that if you aren't comfortable with it. Square, trim, your fabric as needed.

Step 4: Marking and Sewing Darts for Square Skip If Making Octagon

Measuring from the center stitching, measure 1 inch from each side of the line and make a mark. Measure down the center line 2 1/2 inches and make a small mark. Draw a line connecting the top marks to the bottom mark. You should have a V. You need to do this to all four sides of both squares. Cut out the V you just drew.

Fold your square in half, fabric inside, with a 1/4 inch seam sew each notch close. See the second photo. Follow the cut edges until you run off the edge. Do this to all four sides of each square. You should now have a bowl shape.

Step 5: OPTIONAL STEP Turning Into an Octagon

My husband has made me a handy template for this step. Without this template you have to do a little marking. From the center line measure 3 1/4 inches to the right right and to the left on all four sides. Using your ruler and rotary cutter cut off all four corners, using the lines you drew. Cut out notches and proceed as in step 4.

Step 6: Sew and Turn Right Side Out

We now have 2 bowl cozy looking things but they both have batting on the outside. Do NOT start sewing on a corner. We have to leave an opening so we can turn it right side out. I usually leave it in the middle. Sew 1/4 inch seam all around leaving a 2 inch opening. Turn right side out through the opening we left.

Step 7: Closing the Opening

With a denim needle, making sure that the edges of the open side are tucked in, stitch a 1/4 inch top stitch all the way around.