Tutorial - Candle Cozy

This project is so easy and quick to make that you can make up one in less than an hour, or a whole bunch of them in an afternoon. Add ribbons, bows, appliques, buttons, fabric flowers, binding, anything you want to add your own personal and or festive touch! I went a little crazy and made them for all the holidays and every room in the house! I can't take full credit for this smart idea since they've been around for a while. I saw some really cute ones on my friend Duke's Ann's blog recently and loved the idea so much that I thought I'd make some for myself. While I'm at it, why not share the process with you!

Supplies to make one cozy:
Jar candle
Scraps of fabric
Scrap of batting or fleece (cotton batting was used in the samples)
Sewing thread to match fabric
4 to 5” piece of narrow elastic, elastic cording, or a ponytail holder
Large button

General supplies:
Scissors, pins, sewing needles, fabric marking chalk, pen or pencil, iron & ironing board, sewing machine, cutting mat with ruler & rotary cutter (optional), general sewing supplies

Important tips & general instructions:
**Read tips and instructions thoroughly before beginning.

**Iron your fabrics before starting.

**Be sure to secure the beginning and the ending or your stitching with a couple of back stitches to secure your seams.

Instructions:
1.  Measure around your candle and round up to the next quarter inch. If you want an overlap, you can add another inch. My candle is between 10 1/2 and 10 3/4 inches, so I’ll round up to 10 3/4 inches. (Image 1)

2.  Now measure how high you want your cozy. I like to see a little of the jar light, and I want the bottom of it to touch the table, so I’m thinking 3 1/4 inches will be a nice height. Basically, I want to cover the ugly label. This is the best smelling, and best burning candle (best price too), but the label is quite ugly. You also want to remember that you don't want your fabric too close to the upper edge of the candle jar, for this can become a fire hazard. (Image 2)

3.  Take those measurements and add 1 inch to each. This is to allow for your 1/2 inch seam allowance. Since my finished cozy will be 10 3/4 inches by 3 1/4 inches, I will cut my fabric (outside and lining), and my batting to 11 3/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches. (Image 3)

NOTE: I also made some where I allowed an overlap and I rounded the corners of one of the short ends. I just really liked how this looked. If you plan to do this, you can add an additional 1 1/2 inches to the measurement of the longest edge, plus the one inch for the seam allowance.

4.  Lay your batting piece on the table. Place the fabric piece that will be facing out on top of the batting with the right side facing up. Lay the lining piece on top of this with the wrong side facing up. Make sure all three pieces are stacked evenly and neatly. Pin or clip to secure. (Image 4)

If you have added the additional inch and a half for the overlap and you want it rounded, just find something to trace around to get the roundness that you desire. I used a candle cup for mine. You are only going to do this on one end. Cut on the curved lines.

5.  In the center of one of the long edges, mark off about a 2 inch section. If your fabric is a one way design, make sure to make this at what will be the bottom of your cozy. This is where you will leave the opening to turn the cozy right side out after stitching. (Image 5)

6.  Form your elastic piece in half, forming a loop. Slip this through the center of one of your ends with the loop toward the inside of the fabric, and the ends sticking out about a quarter inch. If you made one of your edges rounded or curved, this is the end where you will place the elastic. Pin to secure in place. (Image 6)

7.  Using no more than a 1/2 inch seam allowance, pivoting at each corner, stitch around the entire piece but make sure to begin and end your stitching at the 2 inch marked off area. You will need this opening to turn right side out. Run a few back stitches at the beginning and ending of your stitching. You can also run a little row of stitching next to your first row where you inserted the elastic for extra security. Just make sure that your second row of stitching is in the seam allowance and not on the other side of the first row of stitching.

8.  Trim away about 1/4 inch of the seam allowance, then trim each corner at an angle, making sure not to cut into the stitching. Turn right side out, pushing out corners and iron. Fold the excess fabric at the opening to the inside even with the edge of the cozy. Pin to secure. (Image 7)

Top stitch all the way around the cozy about 1/8 inch away from the edge, pivoting at each corner.

9.  Wrap cozy around candle and mark with an “X” just inside your loop. Stitch button on the center of that “X.” (Image 8)

Wrap cozy around candle and place the loop over the button.

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