Sew a tea cosy of patchwork fabric 09. March 2022

Download the template and draw your pattern on pattern paper following the measurements and guidance in the template. Cut out pattern part A-E.

Make three copies of pattern part A.

The sides of the tea cosy are sewn first. Iron the patchwork fabric and lay two pieces of fabric on the table back to back. Pin pattern part A with needles to the fabric and cut the fabric in the shape of the pattern. Repeat with the two other A parts so you have three sets of patchwork squares laying back to back.

Remove the pins and the pattern paper and place cotton batting between the fabric layers on all three sets of fabric cut as the A pattern part. Then, place the pattern paper on the top layer of the fabric again on all three sets and thoroughly pin together all the layers so they do not shift.

Using the sewing machine, sew the fabric layers and cotton batting together along all the markings on the pattern paper to quilt the fabric. With larger stitches, sew along the edges approximately 0.5 cm from the edge to keep the edges together for later. Repeat on the two remaining sets of A parts.

Tear the pattern paper off the three pieces of quilted fabric.

Gather the three sides and sew them together with 0.5-0.7 cm seam allowance.

Iron pattern part D to be folded like a bias binding as shown in the template. You can cut small notches at the end of the ribbon where it is to be folded at the stippled lines on the fabric. This makes it easier to fold the fabric precisely. Place the bias binding on the back of the sides so it covers the seams and sew it on. The bias binding will be too long at this point.

Sew the three smaller pieces of bias binding (pattern part C) and iron this so it is folded like one bias binding. Sew the bias binding onto the bottom of the tea cosy. The seams on the bias binding should align with the three seams where the sides are sewn together.

Now, you will sew the tunnel that goes on top of the tea cosy. For this, use fabric part B of which you have cut two pairs. Sew together the two pairs of pattern part B at the short side so you now have two long strips of fabric in the same pattern on the entire strip. Split the seam by ironing it flat. Now, sew together the two long strips at the long side. Fold the fabric at the notches you have cut as shown in the template and iron the fold flat. Secure the long strip of fabric to the tea cosy with sewing clips and sew it on at the edge.

Fold the other side of the fabric strip down over the opposite side of the tea cosy, pin it with needles and sew it on. The tea cosy now has a tunnel of fabric all the way around the top which is still open.

Now, you will sew the ribbon that closes the tea cosy in the top. Sew the two pieces of fabric cut like pattern part E together at the diagonal ends, right side to right side. Split the seam by ironing it flat. Now, fold the entire piece of fabric at the middle, right side to right side. Sew the ribbon together from each pointy end towards the middle. Leave approx. 10 cm open in the middle.

Cut off the excess fabric from the seam allowance in the pointy ends on the backside of the ribbon and flip the pointy ends through the 10 cm hole in the middle. The ribbon is now right side out. You can poke a knitting needle into the pointy ends through the 10 cm hole to make the ends of the ribbon nice and sharp. Finally, sew together the 10 cm hole by hand or by using a sewing machine.

Iron the ribbon nice and flat and use a safety pin to bring it through the tunnel at the top of the tea cosy. Tighten the ribbon and finish with a bow.

Place the finished tea cosy on your teapot. If your teapot is to the smaller side, you can fold the tea cosy a bit inside out at the bottom. This way, it will stand more securely on the teapot.