Bowl Cozy Pattern Maker
A bowl cozy is a darted, reversible cotton square for lifting a hot bowl out of the microwave. Measure the rim diameter and the depth of the bowl and the cozy is sized to fit it.
Set how many to make, the diameter of the base and how far the edge stands out, and choose whether to stitch the base circle. Read the heat note on this page before you choose materials.
Make this pattern in your size →Read before you sew
The maker prints this note with the pattern. It is guidance for choosing materials and using the finished item, not a guarantee.
- Microwave safety: use only 100% cotton fabric, 100% cotton batting and cotton thread. Heat in short bursts, never heat the cozy empty, and don’t leave it unattended.
What you can change
Size
- Bowl rim diameter: 8–30 cm (3⅛–11¾″). Across the top of the bowl, outside edge to outside edge.
- Bowl depth: 2.5–15 cm (1–5⅞″). From the table to the rim.
Sizes are typed in centimetres, millimetres or inches. The starting size is Bowl rim diameter 15 cm (5⅞″), Bowl depth 7 cm (2¾″).
Options
- Switches: Stitch the base circle
- Measurements and counts: How many, Base diameter, Edge stands out, Corner radius
Starting points
These are sizes and settings to begin from, and every one stays fully editable. Type your own measurements, or start from the nearest one.
| Starting point | Finished size, cm | Same starting point in round inches |
|---|---|---|
| Soup bowl | 2 × for a 15 cm bowl · 26.2 cm square | 2 × for a 6″ bowl · ≈10⅜″ square |
| Cereal bowl | 4 × for a 17 cm bowl · 25.69 cm square | 4 × for a 6¾″ bowl · ≈10⅜″ square |
| Large serving bowl | 1 × for a 24 cm bowl · 39.25 cm square | 1 × for a 9½″ bowl · 15⅝″ square |
Cutting list
At the starting size (Bowl rim diameter 15 cm (5⅞″), Bowl depth 7 cm (2¾″)) the pattern has these pieces. Fabric sizes include seam allowance, interfacing is cut to the stitching line, and pieces cut on the fold are shown opened out. Each size is the width and height of the piece as cut.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut | Size to cut | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cozy | Main fabric | 2 | up to 28.2 × 28.2 cm (up to ≈11⅛ × ≈11⅛″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Cozy | Lining | 2 | up to 28.2 × 28.2 cm (up to ≈11⅛ × ≈11⅛″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Cozy | 100% cotton batting | 2 | up to 26.2 × 26.2 cm (up to ≈10⅜ × ≈10⅜″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
You will also need: Batting; Thread. The cover page and materials list give the amounts for your size.
The maker’s fabric estimate at this size: Main fabric about 0.4 m of 112 cm fabric; Lining about 0.4 m of 112 cm fabric.
How it goes together
These are the maker’s own instructions at the starting size. They change with the options you pick, and the PDF carries the full set with the cover, cutting list and materials list.
- Cut 2 outer, 2 lining and 2 batting. The batting is cut to the stitching line, so it stays out of the seams. Mark the dart legs and notches on the wrong side.
- Lay the batting on the wrong side of each outer piece, inside the stitching line, and baste round close to its edge.
- Sew the four darts on the outer, through the batting: fold each dart right sides together so its two legs lie on top of each other, and sew from the notches at the edge to the point, running off the fold at the point. Trim the batting out of the dart and press the dart to one side.
- Sew the four darts on the lining the same way, pressing them the other way so the bulk does not stack up.
- Put the outer and lining right sides together, matching the darts, and sew round at 1 cm, leaving the gap between the gap notches open.
- Notch the curved corners and trim the seam to half.
- Turn right side out through the gap, push out the corners, press, and topstitch all round 0.6 cm from the edge, closing the gap. Then topstitch round the marked base circle through all the layers, so the base sits flat.
- Use: sit the bowl in the cozy and heat in short bursts; lift it out by the cozy’s corners. Wash and dry it like any cotton.
Fabric suggestions
Outer: 100% cotton only: quilting cotton, cotton canvas or cotton duck. No polyester blends, no metallic prints.
Lining: 100% cotton, the same or a contrasting print: the cozy is reversible.
Interfacing, padding or other layers: 100% cotton batting (no polyester, no bonded or fusible batting) and 100% cotton thread.
How each fabric family suits it
- Stable woven: great choice. Use it only if it is 100% cotton. It shapes neatly round the darts.
- Heavy or stiff: works well. Cotton canvas or duck works; trim the darts to keep the seams flat. Avoid coated or synthetic canvas.
- Stretchy knit: not recommended. Knits are usually blended with synthetics, which can melt in a microwave.
- Slippery or fine: not recommended. Satins and linings are usually polyester or nylon, which can melt or scorch.
The maker’s advice adjusts to the fabric family you pick in the Fabric tab.
Printing it
At the starting size the printed pieces take 4 A4 pages, taped together using the page labels, alignment marks and page map. For a print shop, choose a sheet from A0 to a 36″ roll: the pieces are packed onto as few sheets as they will fit on, and if one is too big for the sheet the maker says so. How printing, tiling and the test square work.
Frequently asked questions
What size can I make?
The bowl cozy pattern takes bowl rim diameter from 8–30 cm (3⅛–11¾″); bowl depth from 2.5–15 cm (1–5⅞″). It starts at Bowl rim diameter 15 cm (5⅞″), Bowl depth 7 cm (2¾″), and you can work in centimetres, millimetres or inches. There are 3 starting points to begin from (Soup bowl, Cereal bowl, Large serving bowl). Every starting point stays fully editable.
Which fabric suits the bowl cozy pattern?
100% cotton only: quilting cotton, cotton canvas or cotton duck. No polyester blends, no metallic prints. In the maker’s fabric advice, stable woven is a great choice; heavy or stiff works well; stretchy knit and slippery or fine are not recommended.