I is for Insulated

Welcome back for letter I in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge! This is number 9 people...we're more than 1/3 of the way through. Amazing.

Because I'm sooooo nice, I'm going to give you another super easy project that looks fancy. These insulated beverage cozies are also pretty popular if you give a batch to a friend who likes to barbecue. There will suddenly be birthday and Christmas requests coming from the left and the right. Ask me how I know this...

Alrighty...let's get down to brass tacks and make us up some cozies. I originally got the idea from Amy over at Positively Splendid, but we're Bronco fans around here so obviously I needed to show a little team spirit. I also changed things up just a bit for my project because, you know, I do that.

You need five layers of fabric to make these babies:

• 1 layer of fabric for the outside. (My BSU fabric)
• 1 layer of fabric for the inside...my blue fabric is actually cut from a cotton sheet.
• 2 layers of fusible fleece. (Believe it or not - only one of the two white pieces up there is fleece)
• 1 layer of Insulbright. (The other white piece up there. This is what keeps these insulated. I know, you're bummed, you were planning on just putting these together with supplies you already have in the house. Sorry. You need this.)

Start off by cutting rectangles from each of your fabrics to build your five layers. Amy suggested 11 x 5" pieces in her tutorial. I tend to make larger seams than a lot of others, so mine were a smidge bigger at 11 1/2 x 5 1/2.

Iron a piece of fusible fleece to the back of each of your two fabrics. 

Layer as follows: 

• Outside layer/fusible fleece with outside layer facing up.
• Inside layer/fusible fleece with inside layer facing outside layer (fleece facing up).
• Insulbright (don't worry about sides...it's all good).

Sew 3/4 of the way around the cozie, leaving one of your narrow ends about 3 1/2" open (make sure to close your corners and sew a little beyond them or keeping your edges clean will be awful. (Ask me how I know...)

Trim your seams so you won't have as much bulk to manipulate and cut your corners at an angle so you'll get a nice crisp point when you flip. Leave your unsewn edges alone. Don't touch them. Seriously. 

Flip your cozie inside out so that the Insulbright is the center layer. Poke the corners out fully with your weapon of choice. (I use a chopstick.) Tuck the open edges from your narrow end inside, pin closed, and top stitch all the way around the cozie.

Add 4 1/4" of Velcro to each narrow edge (one on the outside, one on the inside). I used 3/4" Velcro and it holds just great, but using a wider piece of Velcro could potentially allow your cozies to fit a wider range of beverages. As it is, these will fit beer bottles, soda cans, and disposable coffee cups (you don't need a sleeve any more).

They'll keep cold ones cold and hot ones from burning your freaking hands off. Multiseasonal & multipurpose presents are the best!


Miss any of my A to Z posts so far this year?

1. A is for Anna (Easy Anna Cape)
2. B is for Bath (Appliqued Bath Mat)
3. C is for Child (Children's Growth Ruler)
4. D is for Denim (Denim Bib)
5. E is for Etch (Etched Casserole Dishes)
6. F is for Felt (Felt Hopscotch Mat)
7. G is for Good Night ("Good Night" Envelope Pillows)
8. H is for Hood (Easy Hooded Towel)

Are you visiting from A to Z? 

Be sure to leave me a comment (including your blog link) so I can come over and return the favor!

I can't believe this week is almost over! I'll be back for J tomorrow and then I'll be enjoying my day off. (Okay...really I'll be finishing up the projects that still aren't done for letters M & N and then working on getting going for letters U and W-Z, but we won't talk about that...)