Teacher Gifts

My Big Ks brought home their A to Z Countdown this week, which starts on Wednesday, which means there's 28 days of school left... yikes! This school year seems to have flown by!
I decided this a good cue to start on year end teacher's gifts. I had already decided to make coffee cozies (and I'll probably put a $10 Starbucks gift card too) but hadn't started.

(There are 4 teachers I'm making them for, so there are times when you see 4 different sets, but while typing this up there is only 1 finished, I may post the others after they're all done on a day when I have nothing else to post.)

First I found a template online. (Disney's Spoonful has instructions for felt cozies, I used that, but if all else fails head to Starbucks, grab a hot coffee with a cozy and disassemble it once you get home).
Next cut them out of your fabric.

I decided I was going to put their initials on them so I grabbed some scrap fabric to match. Here's my combos:

Next, I added some Heat N' Bond to the back of the scraps for the letters.

Next I cut 4 pieces of scrap quilt batting to help contain heat, and protect hands from it - that is the point after all right?

Then I cut the letters for each teacher. I tried using Word to print fun fonts off but they just seemed really hard, and more trouble than it was worth. I ended up just free handing them. Next I secured them in place with the last step of the Heat N' Bond.

Next I secured the letters but stitching them on. I used several different methods for different looks. (You can see another one later in the finished product picture.)

Then I layered them to sew together. First the outside layers, right sides together. And then the quilt batting. Also, you need to add an elastic cord (I actually used an elastic hair tie but in half) between the outside layers, pointing inwards. Like so:

I think it's easiest to trace the template onto the batting so there are clear lines to follow when sewing.

Then sew it all together, leaving a gap (about 2-3 inches) to turn.
Turn it. I snipped the corners to make them easier to push out.
Next I ironed it and then stitched around the edge to close up the open area. (I took a couple picture but apparently none of them really turned out that great so I choose a finished product picture so feel free to ignore the button that's attached, sorry.)

Next to position the button by lining up the edges and marking how far the elastic reaches, unstretched, and make a mark. Then sew the button on the mark.

And you're done!

That's all for now,
Jo!