Microwave Bowl Cozy And How To Use It
Have you seen a microwave bowl cozy? Who thought this up and can you believe how clever this really is? My mother gave me one of these and explained what it actually is. It protects your hands from hot bowls heated in the microwave. Who hasn’t grabbed a hot dish in the microwave? You can also place these on the table and pass the hot serving bowls with no burnt fingers! In addition, these little cozies can protect your hands from a chilly bowl of ice cream. At the same time, it will protect your table. Brilliant!
*A note of warning here, these are not for long term cooking in the microwave. The directions on the back of the Wrap-N-Zap bag say to microwave in 2-minute intervals for no longer than 8 minutes total.
Supplies Needed For A Microwave Bowl Cozy
100% Cotton Thread(We are an Amazon affiliate and may receive a small percentage of any sales through the links on this page. Thanks for supporting this website!)
- For this project, you will need the cotton fabric of your choice, a contrasting or coordinating cotton print, Wrap-N-Zap Batting
, and cotton thread. Wrap-N-Zap Batting is a 100% cotton fabric for microwavable projects. Using 100% cotton fabrics, batting, and cotton threads are really critical to avoid the risk of a fire in your microwave!
100% Cotton Batting and Fabric
, and cotton thread. Wrap-N-Zap Batting is a 100% cotton fabric for microwavable projects. Using 100% cotton fabrics, batting, and cotton threads are really critical to avoid the risk of a fire in your microwave!
Cotton fabrics need to be washed and dried before they are sewn! Cotton fabric shrinks. You will have puckering on the seams if you don’t pre-wash.
Cotton batting can also shrink from 3 – 5%. Before using the batting, the package suggests soaking in hot water for 20 minutes. Don’t agitate and gently wring out the water and dry on a low setting in the dryer.
- A rotary cutter makes this quick work but you can use regular scissors, too.
makes this quick work but you can use regular scissors, too.Directions For Making A Microwave Bowl Cozy
The directions for this bowl cozy made from a 10" square piece of fabric fits a 'Fiesta Gusto Bowl' perfectly. The Gusto Bowl is 3-1/16" high by 5-5/16" wide. Want to make a larger fabric bowl? Cut a 12" or 15" square. Make the darts 2-1/2" for the 12" and 3" for the larger 15" squares.
First, pull out the ironing board and the steam iron. Steam iron the cotton fabrics. Ironing your fabrics when you sew is imperative if you want to end up with a nice looking end product.
Then, cut a 10″ square of fabric from the pre-washed and dried cotton fabric and another 10″ square from the pre-washed and dried cotton contrasting fabric.
Next, cut two 9-1/2″ squares from the cotton Wrap N Zap Batting.
Place one of the 10″ squares of fabric face down. Center one of the 9-1/2″ squares of the batting on the wrong side of the fabric. Pin the batting square securely to the fabric.
Next, stitch diagonally from one corner through the center to the opposite corner. I use a water-soluble marking pen to make a light line from one corner to the opposite before stitching. It’s just easier to make the stitching line straight.
Sew another line of stitches from one of the remaining corners diagonally through the middle and to the opposite corner, effectively creating an ‘X’.
Repeat this process with the contrasting fabric.
Measure, Mark, and Make Darts
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Take one of the fabric-batting pieces and fold in half, fabric to fabric with the batting on the outside. Measure 1-1/2 ” from the folded edge along the top edge and using a water-soluble marking pen
, make a mark.
Next, measure 2-1/2″ from the top edge along the folded edge and make another mark.
Draw a line connecting the two dots and stitch along the line, backstitching at the top edge and at the point or tie a knot with the two loose threads.
Then, trim the seam allowance.
Repeat this process on the remaining three sides.
Set this aside and repeat the process of making darts along all four edges of the contrasting fabric-batting piece.
Shape and Pin Together
Take the main fabric piece, fabric side up, and fold the edges up like a bowl.
With the batting side up, fold the edges up on the contrasting fabric piece and place on top of the main fabric piece, right sides of the fabrics together.
Pin the two pieces together along the edges. Make sure to line up all the seams of the darts and pin there, too.
Sew The Pieces Together and Turn
Set the presser foot about 1″ from one of the corners and 1/4″ from the edge. You don’t want the opening to be on one of the points! Backstitch to secure the stitches. (When you are turning the bowl right side out, you will be glad you did this.) Continue to sew a 1/4″ seam around the outer edge, stopping about 3″ from the starting point, leaving a 3″ opening. Backstitch.
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Trim some of the batting and clip the corners. Turn the bowl cover right side out. To make nice sharp corners, use a point turner and creaser.
This little tool makes it easy to get sharper corners.
Iron and Finish The Microwave Bowl Cozy
Use a steam iron to press the edges, folding the 3″ opening to the inside.
Topstitch around the cloth bowl close to the outer edge. Place your bowl in the cozy!
Want to make a larger fabric bowl? Cut a 12″ or 15″ square. Make the darts 2-1/2″ for the 12″ and 3″ for the larger 15″ squares.
You can make these to match or coordinate with your dishes and kitchen! What a great gift these are! The kids have already put in requests…
If you like this project, you might want to make some matching napkins! Click here ►DIY How To Make Beautiful Custom Tea Napkins!
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