cozying up the kitchen

I have several of these fair isle sweaters, bought second hand, some already felted, some not.  As we continue to clean out, looking at everything, questioning "what can you do for me", I wondered what to do with them.  I've saved them for something??  Just don't know what. 

I experimented with some kitchen cozies.  The inspiration hit fast, and execution happen instantaneously.  Having kids home for the summer, this is the kind of quick sewing that leaves me feeling like I did something creative, but doesn't leave my kids wondering when I'm coming out of the studio.

A new set of pot handle cozies.  I have made several of these and tucked them away in newly cleaned and organized drawer by my cook top.  If you want to make one, here's how I did it.

1. Based on the length and width of my pot handles, I created a paper template.  Keep in mind that the end cozy should have a fairly snug fit, so that you can get a good grip when handling a heavy pot.

2. I used this template to cut out two pieces of the felted sweater, then two pieces of some wool blend felt I will probably never use, only because I don't like the color.  My thinking was the felt added extra insulation.  I tried one using quilt batting, but it came out too bulky.

3. With wrong sides together, I sewed one sweater piece to one felt piece around all sides.

4. Again, with wrong sides together, sew these two pieces together, leaving the side that will slide onto the pot handle open.  And you're done!

Next is a sweater cozy for my french press.  I was looking at Steph's and just loving it so much.  Now even though we are complete coffee snobs around here, for whatever reason we've never fully committed to the french press method of brewing coffee, it does make great coffee.  Maybe something about that "auto on" on our coffeemaker I'm not ready to give up.    So, in my usual "not fully committed" way, I remember opting for this plastic carafe instead of the more deluxe version at the Bodum store several years ago.  I cut out a part of the same felted sweater to cozy it up (included the sweater band at the bottom), because yes, coffee does get cold in these.  I cut small strips of the sweater and sewed them on the open side to make ties.  We'll see how warm the coffee stays.

   
There was enough left to make a hot pad.  This one is a 9" square.  One side is a piece of the sweater, the other side is a thrifted green blanket I've had.  I stitched around the square, then tied the center with a piece of yarn.  If I did this again, it would be easy enough to include batting or timtex-type material in the center, but these layers are both so thick they work fine as they are.

Its funny how just cleaning out some unwanted clutter, wiping out cabinets, and making some simple accessories like this are making me so happy to be in my kitchen again (it helps that the weather is cooler too).

It was a good thrifting weekend (all kitchen related), and a good mail weekend.  I'll share more later in the week.