Bowl Cozy Pattern, Free PDF Printable Template

Learn how to make a bowl cozy with this free bowl cozy pattern PDF. This easy sewing project includes three sizes and simple step-by-step instructions, making it perfect for beginners. Bowl cozies help protect your hands from hot soup bowls, chili, oatmeal, and even cold ice cream bowls while adding a handmade touch to your kitchen.

What is a Bowl Cozy

A bowl cozy is a fabric holder designed to fit around a bowl, making it easier and more comfortable to carry hot or cold dishes. Bowl cozies are popular for serving soup, oatmeal, pasta, chili, popcorn, and desserts while protecting your hands from heat or cold. They also make thoughtful handmade gifts and are a popular craft fair item.

This is a beginner project, but feel free to brush up on your skills with the sewing for beginners guide.

What Can You Use a Bowl Cozy For?

There are so many items you can use this bowl cozy pattern for including:

• Soup
• Chili
• Oatmeal
• Noodles
• Rice
• Popcorn
• Ice cream
• Leftovers
• Craft fair gifts
• Housewarming presents

Bowl Cozy Supplies

• FABRIC – Square pieces of cotton fabric, in a suitable size for the pattern. This pattern is ideal for using fat quarters or fabric scraps.
• BATTING – Natural cotton batting. Must not be polyester as this can melt.
• CUTTING TOOLS – Scissors or a rotary cutter and an appropriate cutting mat.
• SEWING TOOLS – Sewing machine, 100% cotton thread. A walking foot is a good optional extra to help sew thicker fabrics and batting.
• MARKING TOOL – A marking pen or tailor’s chalk that won’t show through the fabric.

Best Fabric for a Bowl Cozy

When you choose the fabric for your bowl cozy it must be 100% cotton. Bowl cozies are a great way to use up scraps of fabric as long as you know they are 100% cotton. This applies to the batting too. 

Best Batting for Bowl Cozies

Batting should be 100% cotton or you can purchase heat-insulating batting. If you use this type of batting it is extremely important that you do not place the bowl cozy in the microwave as it may contain traces of metal or lead and catch fire.

Bowl Cozy Pattern

Download pattern (link in new window)for the free bowl cozy pattern PDF. It will print on 4 regular A4 or US Letter pages, and you can stick the pattern together as shown below. Learn how to print PDF patterns.

Finished Sizes

Finished sizes are 9.5″, 11.5″, or 13.5″

How to Make a Bowl Cozy (Step by Step)

Here is the step by step instructions for sewing a soup bowl cozy:

1. Cut the Fabric

Once you have your bowl cozy pattern, cut your pre-washed and ironed main piece of fabric to size. You can enlarge or make the cozy smaller if you wish to sew another size. 

Cut two squares of fabric and 2 squares of batting for added insulation. You can see on the paper pattern that you have the choice of rounded or square corners as well as 3 sizes.

2. Quilt the Fabric and Batting Together

Lay one square of fabric face down on the table and place the batting on top on the wrong side.  Mark and stitch diagonally across the batting side in an x as shown. Do the same on the other piece of fabric and batting. A walking foot can be a big help in sewing batting so it doesn’t catch or wrinkle.

3. Stitch the Darts

From your paper bowl cozy pattern, cut out the triangles of the darts. Transfer the dart markings to the batting using a removable pen or chalk. (Note you are only cutting the paper pattern – don’t cut these triangles from the fabric.)

Fold the piece of fabric and batting in half along the darts with the right sides touching. Sew the darts in the 4 places. Now you have two halves of the bowl cozy with batting and a set of darts.

4. Stitch Outside and Inside Together

Trim the darts to 1/4 inch (6mm) and press them open.

Inset one bowl cozy into the other, right sides together. Line them up, so the corners match, and the sides meet. Sew all around the edge with a 1/2 inch (12mm) seam allowance and leave an opening on one side of about 2 inches (5cm) for turning the bowl cozy pattern through to the right side. The raw edges will be encased, so there is no need to finish the seam with a serger or zig-zag.

5. Turn and Press

For the square corners, clip the corners. If you are making the bowl cozy with the rounded edges, do small clips at the corners so they turn neatly.

Turn the bowl cozy through the gap and press. Press the edges in at the gap and then top stitch all around the edge of the bowl cozy. If the edges are too thick to go through your machine, just hand-stitch the gap closed using an invisible stitch. I found it easier to hand stitch the gap as my machine was skipping stitches due to the thickness of the double batting layers.

There you have it a completed bowl cozy. The bowl cozy keeps the contents warm while protecting your fingers.

Bowl Cozy Safety Information

Bowl cozies are designed to protect your hands after a hot bowl has been removed from the microwave or stove. They are not intended to be used for cooking or heating food.

Always use 100% cotton fabric, 100% cotton thread, and 100% cotton batting when making a bowl cozy. Synthetic materials such as polyester can melt when exposed to heat.

Can a Bowl Cozy Go in the Microwave?

Do not place a fabric bowl cozy in the microwave. Some specialty battings may contain metallic fibers or other materials unsuitable for microwave use, which could damage your microwave or pose a fire hazard. For safety, heat your food first, then place the hot bowl into the cozy before serving.

Using Your Bowl Cozy Safely

Carefully remove the hot bowl from the microwave or stove using appropriate oven mitts or other protection if needed. Once the bowl is safely removed, place it inside the bowl cozy to make it more comfortable to hold. Keep in mind that the amount of insulation varies depending on the thickness and type of cotton batting used, so the bowl may still feel hot. Always test the temperature carefully before handling.

Pin for Later

Washing Your Bowl Cozy

Wash your bowl cozy in cold water and lay it out flat to dry. Alternatively, dry in a dryer on a low setting and press with a steam iron to return the bowl cozy to its shape.

Bowl Cozy Pattern FAQs

In Conclusion

Now you know how to make a bowl cozy using this free printable pattern. Whether you’re sewing one for yourself, making handmade gifts, or stocking your next craft fair, this quick beginner project is a practical way to use your favorite cotton fabrics while protecting your hands from hot and cold bowls.

More Sewing Patterns for Your Kitchen

• Potholder
• DIY Tea Towels
• How to Make an Apron
• Half Apron Pattern
• Table Runner