Learn how to make a fabric bowl cozy that will protect your fingers from burns when reheating soups in the microwave. Includes bowl cozy pdf pattern in 3 sizes!

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how to make a bowl cozy step by step pinterest image

Ever tried to grab a bowl of hot soup right out the microwave only to drop it seconds later because it’s so hot? Ouch! Not to mention the annoyance of having to mop up messy soup!

Been there, done that. However, never have that problem again once you learn How To Make a Fabric Bowl Cozy that can be microwaved along with your soup!

What is the Point of a Bowl Cozy?
What Are the Measurements of a Bowl Cozy?
What Fabric is Used for Bowl Cozy?
What Do You Use to Make Bowl Cozies?
- Materials
- Tools
How Much Materials is Needed To Make a Bowl Cozy?
What is the Best Batting To Use for Bowl Cozies?
Do Bowl Cozies Need 2 Layers of Batting?
Can You Wash Bowl Cozies?
Free Microwaveable Bowl Cozy Pattern
How To Make Bowl Cozies: Step-by-Step

What is the point of a bowl cozy?

The purpose of a microwavable bowl cozy is to keep your hands from getting burned so you can easily remove a hot bowl of soup right out of the microwave.

It acts like an oven mitt that’s already nestled around the bowl to protect your hands from directly contacting the heated ceramic or glass bowl.

Additionally, you can use the bowl cozy for cold treats such as ice cream and sundaes. Again, the cozy shields your skin from direct contact with the chilled bowl. For example, you can now comfortably rest a bowl of ice cream in between your thighs while watching your favorite show on the couch!

Set of 3 finished bowl cozies with bowls in them, stacked on top of each other

What are the Measurements of a bowl cozy?

Please note that all measurements are approximate and not exact. The final dimension of your bowl cozy may differ slightly from what is listed here.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make a bowl cozy that consists of 4 petals. The bowl cozy PDF pattern comes in 3 sizes: Small, Medium, and Large.

Dimensions of bowl cozies after finished

The Small Cozy Measures approximately 5.5″ (14cm) in width and 1.75″ (4.5cm) in height. It fits bowls that are 4-5″ (10cm – 12.7cm) in diameter.

The Medium Cozy Measures approximately 6.75″ (17cm) in width and 2.25″ (5.7cm) in height. It fits bowls that are 5.5-6″ (14cm – 15.24cm) in diameter.

The Large Cozy Measures approximately 8″ (20.32cm) in width and 3″ (7.62cm) in height. It fits bowls that are 6.5-7″ (16.5 cm – 17.8cm) in diameter.

What fabric is used for bowl cozy?

For this easy sewing project, you will need to use 100% cotton fabric as well as 100% cotton batting. Additionally, you will need to use 100% cotton thread if you plan on sticking the cozy into the microwave.

Also make sure that the cotton fabric is not embellished with vinyl prints, metallic accents, or embroidered designs as the threads could be polyester material. Use fabric that is labeled 100% cotton. Save those pretty fabrics for other projects such as Fabric Containers, Jewelry Bags or Drawstring Bags.

On a side note, curious me decide to stick a bowl cozy sewn with polyester thread into the microwave just to see what would happen.

After microwaving in 2 minute intervals for a total of 4 minutes, the cozy warmed up but otherwise everything was fine. However, I’m NOT going to recommend that it’s ok for you to use polyester thread and stick it in the microwave because every microwave is different.

Additionally, polyester thread is not labeled safe for microwave use.

With that said, please use 100% cotton everything for this project!

What do you use to make bowl cozies?

Materials

FABRIC 1– Use 100% Cotton, see table below for measurement
FABRIC 2 – Use 100% Cotton, see table below for measurement
100% COTTON BATTING – See discussion below on “What is the Best Batting To Use for Bowl Cozies“
100% COTTON THREAD – Use if you want to be able to microwave the bowl cozy with the bowl. However, if you are just wanting to keep the food warm after microwaving, you can use regular polyester thread.
BASTING ADHESIVE

Tools

HOME SEWING MACHINE
FABRIC SCISSORS
FABRIC CHALK
IRON – for pressing
SEWING PINS & SEWING CLIPS
POINT TURNER (optional) – can also use chopsticks or a blunt tipped scissors.
HAND SEWING NEEDLES (optional) – if you want to hand close the opening of bowl cozy

How much material is needed to make a bowl cozy?

SIZE	FABRIC DIMENSIONS	FABRIC YARDAGE NEEDED
SMALL (4 Petal)	Two Fabric Piece – each 7” x 7” (18cm x 18cm) 1-2 Piece of Batting – each 7″ x 7″ (18cm x 18cm)	1/4 Yard of Fabric 1 1/4 Yard of Fabric 2* 1/4 Yard of Batting
MEDIUM (4 Petal)	Two Fabric Piece – each 9” x 9” (23cm x 23 cm) 1-2 Piece of Batting, each 9″ x 9″ (23cm x 23cm)	1/4 Yard of Fabric 1 1/4 Yard of Fabric 2* 1/4 Yard of Batting
LARGE (4 Petal)	Two Fabric Piece – each 11.5” x 11.5” (30cm x 30cm) 1-2 Piece of Batting, each 11.5″ x 11.5″ (30cm x 30cm)	1/3 Yard of Fabric 1 1/3 yard of Fabric 2** 1/3 Yard of Batting

*If using the same fabric for both sides of the cozy, you will just need 1/4 Yard of Fabric – This goes for both the small sized cozy and medium sized cozy

**If using the same fabric for both sides of the large cozy, you will need a total of 1/3 Yard of Fabric

What is the best batting to use for bowl cozies?

The best batting for bowl cozies are anything that is 100% Cotton. In theory, cotton is a natural fiber so can be microwaved without any safety concerns.

With that said, I recommend the Wrap-N-Zap 100% Natural Cotton Batting that is specifically labeled “microwave safe”. It was specially designed for microwaveable projects such as baked potato zappers and casserole warmers.

On the back of the package, the following warnings are listed:

Use only 100% cotton fabrics, threads, and trims (no scrim).
Do not use more than two layers of the batting, even at the seams.
Do not put fabric or batting piece goods in microwave.
Do not use this product in the microwave without food.
Do not leave microwave unattended while in use.

Do bowl cozies need 2 layers of batting?

Using 2 layers of batting will increase the thickness of the bowl cozy. In addition, this helps to add structural support to your cozy so that it can stand up better on its own.

Furthermore, the extra layer of batting improves the insulation of the bowl cozy. This helps keep your hot soup warmer and your ice cream colder.

However, I find that one layer of batting is generally sufficient to prevent burns from transferring hot soup bowls from the microwave to the dining table.

In conclusion, whether or not you want use 2 layers of batting for this project is completely up to you! The tutorial below shows you how to make a bowl cozy with just one layer of batting. If you want to use 2 layers, simply cut another piece of batting and apply it to the second piece of fabric in the same way.

How Do You Make a Large Bowl Cozy?

The extra large bowl cozy fits bowls 8-10” in diameter. It has 6 petals and is about 10.5” in width (measured from petal to opposite petal) and is approximately 2.25” tall. The steps for making this large bowl cozy is exactly the same as making the other sizes.

Large Bowl Cozy PDF Template is available in MY SHOP and comes with all the cozy patterns in 7 sizes. This includes 4-Petal Cozy in size S, M, L and 6-Petal Cozy in size S, M, L, XL. Additionally, you will receive a copy of the PDF step-by-step tutorial that is ad-free and printer friendly. Print a copy today for easy reference as you sew!

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Can you wash bowl cozies?

Absolutely! For best results, machine wash bowl cozy in cold water on gentle cycle and dry on low settings.

Free Microwaveable bowl cozy pattern

To download the Bowl Cozy PDF Pattern in 3 sizes, subscribe to the MindyMakes Email List to receive the password for the Mindy Makes Free Resource Library.

Please allow up to an hour for the welcome email to fly through cyberspace and travel into your inbox. If you still don’t receive the email, make sure to check your junk or spam folders and add my email to your safe list!

Need more help? Be sure to check out this step-by-step guide that shows you exactly how to get the password, enter the library, and download the PDF.

How to Make Bowl Cozies: Step-by-Step

Before You Get Started

Let batting sit still and soak in hot water for 20 minutes. Gently wring out water and dry on low setting (or lay flat to dry). This will help prevent shrinkage.
Pre-wash and dry cotton fabrics prior to use.
Cut out pattern pieces on fabric, following the instructions below:

Cutting large bowl cozy pattern on fold of fabric. How to make bowl cozies

First, cut out paper pattern and assemble the pieces if necessary. Place pattern on fold and cut out fabric pieces.

fabric pieces to cut out to make a simple bowl cozy

You will end up with one piece of Fabric 1, one piece of Fabric 2, and 1 piece of cotton batting.

NOTE: If you are planning to use 2 layers of batting, cut out a second layer of batting.

spraying basting adhesive onto batting of bowl cozy

LEFT: Next, spray basting adhesive over entire cotton batting. Make sure to do it over a cardboard box or some newspaper so your work surface doesn’t get all sticky.
RIGHT: Then, stick the cotton batting to wrong side of Fabric 1.

Quilting Bowl Cozy

NOTE: In these next steps you will be quilting the cotton batting to Fabric 1. You can do any quilt design you like. However, I will be showing you a very basic quilt design to stitch the batting to the fabric.

LEFT: Flip Fabric 1 to right side
RIGHT: Quilt cotton batting to Fabric 1 by making two perpendicular stitches (green dotted lines) from the pointy end of the dart.

NOTES:
1. You can gently mark the stitch line using fabric chalk to make sure you quilt on a straight line. However, especially for making the smaller sized cozies, you can probably just eyeball the line.
2. For a very quick and easy bowl cozy, just sew these two perpendicular stitches and proceed to sewing darts (page 7). It’s totally up to you if you want to add more quilting stitches like I show you in the next step.

Mark midpoints of “petals”by folding the petals in half and making a small snip at the ends to mark where the midpoint is. Repeat on all 4 petals.

Quilt cotton batting to fabric by stitching midpoint to midpoint (black dotted line).

If you want to use 2 layers of batting, apply batting to Fabric 2 and quilt in the same way.

Sewing Darts

First, fold bowl cozy in half and sew both darts, 1/4” (6mm) from edge, point A to B and point C to D (black dotted line). Be sure to back stitch at the ends.

Next, fold bowl cozy in half the other way and sew the other two darts in the same way (blue dotted line). You will end up with a clamshell-like shape as in the photo.

Sewing Bowl Cozy Together

First open up the fabric and you will see the shape of the bowl cozy

Next, repeat sewing darts in the same way on Fabric 2.

sewing bowl cozy together by putting fabric 2 into fabric 1, right sides together.

Third, place Fabric 2 into Fabric 1, right sides together.

stitching top edges of bowl cozy, leaving an opening to be able to turn to right side later.

Then match Fabric 1 to Fabric 2 at the darts and each of the petals. Pin in place and stitch together at 1/4” (6 mm) seam allowance, starting at one of the darts. Leave a 2-3” (5-8cm) opening, making sure to back stitch at both ends of opening.

pivoting at top edge of cozy to create sharp corners

When stitching in between the petals, pivot with the needle down to get that nice corner.

NOTE: Pivot is where you leave the needle down (going through the fabric), lift up the pressor foot, then turn your fabric to the correct orientation and continue sewing. This allows you to get a nice sharp corner.

Finally, clip curves (around petals), making sure not to cut past the sew line.

bowl cozy ready to be turned to the right side, with all curves clipped.

NOTE: I made notches in the photo so it’s easier for you to see. However, you can just make a snip, versus cutting a notch.

Turning bowl cozy to right side through opening

Now turn bowl cozy to right side through the opening you left earlier.

View of fabric soup holder turned to right side

Your bowl cozy will look something like this! Use a pair of blunt scissors or chopsticks to push out the corners and petals.

push seam allowance of opening into wrong side of sewing project

Next, push the seam allowance of the opening into the wrong side of bowl cozy.

Then give your bowl cozy a good press all around the top edge.

You can close this hole using the invisible ladder stitch or simply just top stitch all around the cozy to close the opening, 1/8” (3mm) from the seam (black dotted line)

Finished soup holder, large size, birds eye view.

Bowl cozy is finished! (Bird’s eye view).

alternative view of finished soup holder, large sized.

Another view of the finished bowl cozy. Wasn’t that easy? Now go make a bunch for gifts!

The ad-free, printer friendly version of this sewing tutorial is available in our Etsy Shop. This digital PDF tutorial comes with 18 pages of detailed step-by-step instructions. Additionally, it comes with ready-to-print PDF Sewing Pattern in 7 sizes. This way, you can print a copy in a breeze to keep by your sewing machine for easy reference.

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How to Make Bowl Cozies (in 3 Sizes)

Learn how to make simple fabric bowl cozi to protect your fingers from burns when reheating soups in the microwave. Great Sewing project for beginners!