String Pieced Bowl Cozy Pattern and Tutorial

A must-have for microwaving leftovers, a soup bowl cozy conveniently wraps around the bowl, ensuring safe removal without risking burnt fingers. Additionally, it doubles as a solution for keeping hands warm while holding an ice cream dish.

Our String Pieced Bowl Cozy Pattern and Tutorial provides detailed step-by-step instructions for making your own cozy. Visual learners can also benefit from a free accompanying YouTube video!

It's a Perfect Holiday Gift!

Start your holiday gift-making early! These bowl cozies are fantastic presents for the festive season. They're practical for every household—making them ideal for gifting to family, friends, and teachers next Christmas!

Customize the cozies by choosing fabrics that suit the recipient's personality or match their kitchen's theme.

Once you craft one, you'll find it addictive! These bowl cozies are a breeze to assemble swiftly and effortlessly using our efficient assembly line method.

Our String Pieced Bowl Cozy

Our bowl cozy is named the String Pieced Bowl Cozy because it uses a string pieced block for the top fabric.

This step-by-step bowl cozy tutorial will demonstrate how to make this pattern using a sewing machine.  Any sewer can make this bowl cozy!  You don't need to know how to quilt.

We have another tutorial for a Crazy Bowl Cozy that uses an Accuquilt cutting machine to cut the fabrics.  This String Pieced Bowl Cozy tutorial does NOT require an Accuquilt, but we give tips on cutting with an Accuquilt if you have one. 

Learn more about the String Pieced Bowl Cozy by watching our video through the link below or keep reading this post.

IMPORTANT! Fabrics to use when making Bowl Cozies

Since bowl cozies may be used inside the microwave, it's very important to use 100% cotton fabric, 100% cotton batting, and even 100% cotton thread.  

If the fabrics and threads are not 100% cotton, they can melt, burn or cause a fire in the microwave.

I recommend using Pellon Wrap-n-Zap batting when making your bowl cozies.  This product is specifically made for use in the microwave.

If you decide to use another 100% cotton batting, ensure it does not contain polyester scrim, glues, or binders. Scrim can be a very thin polyester stabilizer and is needle-punched into the cotton fibers.  The polyester scrim makes the batting unusable for the microwave.

So, please confirm that the fabrics, batting, and thread you are using are all microwave-safe!

WHAT YOU NEED for String Pieced Bowl Cozies

• 100% cotton fabric scraps ironed and cut into 1 – 3” strips OR a Jelly roll with 2.5” strips OR a variety of strips cut from fabric yardage.
• 10” square 100% cotton fabric for back (Can also use two pieces of 10” square 100% cotton fabrics instead of the string pieced top.)
• 2 – 10” square pieces of Pellon Wrap-n-Zap 
• 100% cotton thread
• Fabric marking pencil or chalk
• Rotary Cutter, Mat, and Ruler
• Small ruler for measuring and marking darts
• Quilting Clips (optional) or pins
• Scissors
• Blade Saver Thread Cutter (optional)
• Sewing machine

Fat quarter-friendly and Jelly Roll or Layer Cake Friendly project

These bowl cozies are a fat quarter-friendly project.  Pick out two coordinating fat quarters and make a bowl cozy!

Don't stress about finding matching fabrics! Bowl cozies can also be made with a layer cake bundle and/or a jelly roll.  Purchase one layer cake and make 21 bowl cozies using it for the front and back fabrics. 

Use the jelly roll instead of fabric scraps to make the string-pieced top and a coordinating layer cake piece for the back.

Instructions for the String Pieced Bowl Cozy

Many bowl cozy patterns on the internet use one piece of fabric for the top and back.

I didn’t want to make the same old bowl cozy pattern, so I created this string-pieced bowl cozy pattern. These bowl cozies are perfect for using up scrap fabrics.  Pair it with a 10” x 10” piece of fabric for the back, and you have a unique bowl cozy.

If you don’t feel like sorting through those scraps, get a jelly roll or cut various 1-3” strips to use to piece the bowl cozy tops together quickly.  

String Pieced Blocks

This bowl cozy pattern is named the String Pieced Bowl Cozy because the top fabric is a string pieced block.  One piece of Wrap 'n Zap is used as the foundation layer for this project.

This tutorial will show how to string piece the tops of the bowl cozy.  If you need more information on string piecing a block, click the link for our tutorial.

Sort through your scrap fabrics to find pieces to use for the bowl cozy tops. I suggest sorting your fabrics by colors and/or by theme.  Sort fabrics into piles by colors like green, blue, purple, and pink.  And maybe also separate piles into themes like fall, patriotic, or holiday fabrics.

Once the fabrics are in the piles, select fabrics from each pile that would look good together and use them to piece the tops of the bowl cozies.

Wider scraps can be cut into 1” – 3” strips. It's nice to use a variety of widths for string-pieced blocks. The wider the strips, the faster the block will piece, so even wider strips can be used. 

The strips will need to be from 3” long to 11” long.  So, even those little scraps can be used in the corners.

STEP 1: Cut Fabrics for the bowl cozy

Bowl cozies can be sewn in an assembly line fashion, so don't just make one! Cut the fabrics needed for several bowl cozies at once.

For each bowl cozy to be made, cut two 10” squares of wrap ‘n zap and one 10” square of backing fabric.

Gather those 1 – 3” strips of scraps or other fabric to use for the string-pieced tops. Iron the strips.

Accuquilt Cutting Instructions: If you have an Accuquilt Fabric Cutting System and a large bowl cozy die, cut the fabrics 10-1/2" square instead of 10" square.  You can also use a small bowl cozy die by measuring the die width and cutting the fabrics 1/2" larger. 

Use the Crazy Bowl Cozy tutorial for information on cutting the fabrics using your Accuquilt and assembling the cut bowl cozy.  Use the information in step 4 - 7 below for string piecing the bowl cozy tops before cutting them with the Accuquilt.

STEP 2: Draw Diagonal lines on the backs

Prepare the backs of the bowl cozies by layering the backing fabric on top of one piece of the wrap ‘n zap.

Use a ruler and your favorite fabric marking pencil or chalk at a work table to mark two diagonal lines on each fabric/batting set.  I love to use the Clover Chaco Liner.

Place the ruler from corner to corner and mark a line.  Mark a second line from the other corner to corner, making an 'X' across the backing fabric.

If you want to save time and can stitch straight lines without a marked line, skip this step.

Step 3: Stitch Diagonal lines

At the sewing machine, thread your top and bobbin with 100% cotton thread.  Use a straight stitch and standard stitch length.

Sew from corner to corner following the marked lines.  There is no need to backtack since a seam will be sewn across later to secure it.

To speed up the process of making multiple bowl cozies, chain stitch the diagonal lines in one direction.  Chain stitching saves thread and is quicker to sew. 

To chain stitch, stitch the first line across the fabric/batting set.  Stitch 2-3 stitches off the edge of the fabric.  Then, place the next fabric/batting set under the presser foot and stitch the line without cutting the thread.  Continue stitching all fabric/batting sets.

After stitching the first set of lines, use your scissors or the handy Blade Saver cutter to cut apart the pieces.  Start with the last stitched back and stack them in the same order from last to first.  After each process step, keep the fabric/batting sets in the same order.

Continue stitching the second diagonal line across each fabric/batting set by chain stitching. Cut them apart, stacking them in the same order from last to first.

Our video tutorial for this project explains the chain stitching process, so be sure to watch that video if this is confusing. 

Set the backs aside for use in step 8.

Step 4: String Piece the bowl cozy tops

The cozy bowl tops will be string-pieced with strips of fabric scraps.  String piecing is a process of taking strips of fabric and sewing them together onto a foundation fabric or paper.  In this case, the Wrap 'n Zap is used for the foundation.

Traditionally, string pieced blocks start with a strip diagonally across the center of the block.  Strips are sewn to the center piece until half of the block is covered.  Then, the other half of the block is sewn.

We can be creative with our string piecing.  For these bowl cozies, I pieced the blocks with strips going in two directions.

This tutorial will show how to piece blocks like the ones shown above.

You can also piece the blocks in three sections, giving them a different look.  For this block, I started piecing the first quarter of the block, then turned it and placed the next pieces at a 90-degree angle to the first pieces. Then, I finished up by piecing the remaining section.

Vary the blocks by using some smaller strips and some larger strips.  The larger the strip you use, the less seams and time it will take you to piece it.

Step 5: Draw lines on the foundation Wrap 'n Zap

Take the second piece of Wrap ‘n Zap and draw two diagonal lines from corner to corner, marking with your pencil or chalk marker.  This is similar to step 2 above, except the lines are drawn on the Wrap 'n Zap.  These lines will help you place the fabric strips.

This piece of Wrap 'n Zap will be called the foundation.

Step 6: Start String Piecing the bowl cozy top

At the sewing machine, thread your top and bobbin with 100% cotton thread.  Use a straight stitch and standard stitch length.

Start by placing a strip of fabric right side up along the center line from the halfway point to the corner.  Ensure the strip extends past the center line by at least ¼” and extends past the corner of the Wrap 'n Zap.  Pin the strip in place to hold it if needed.

Place a second strip right side down, along one edge of the first strip.  Line up the raw edges of the strips.  Each strip must extend at least 1/4" past the center line and the foundation's edge.

Sew a ¼” seam from the center to the corner along the raw edge.

Press the seam open. To speed up the process of piecing the tops, have a pressing mat and a small iron by the sewing machine. 

Add another strip with the right side facing down and sew.  Make sure each strip added extends at least ¼” past the center line and the edge of the foundation.

Align the raw edges and sew the strip.  Press the seam open.

Continue adding strips in the same direction until the first quarter of the foundation is covered all the way to the corner.

Then, work your way across the other direction to finish half the string pieced block.

Next, add strips to the other half of the block. Start with a long strip across the center.  Place the strip with the right side facing down.  Lay this strip so it covers all of the previous strip ends with a ¼” seam allowance.

Sew across with a 1/4" seam allowance and press the seam open.

Add more strips to finish covering the foundation.

Have fun strip-piecing the bowl cozy tops! 

Step 7: Trim the bowl Cozy Top

Now that the bowl cozy top has been string pieced trim the fabrics to match the foundation's edge.

Turn the bowl cozy top with the right side facing down.  Align a long ruler along one edge of the foundation.  Use a rotary cutter to trim the fabric on all four sides.

The bowl cozy tops are complete.

Step 8: Mark the darts

Four darts will be sewn in the middle of each side of both the top and the back fabrics. The darts form the bowl cozy into a bowl shape.  

To sew the darts, take one of the fabric squares (top or back) and fold the fabric in half. Place a small ruler along the folded edge.  Measure ¾” from the fold and 2” from the raw edge.

Make a mark at the ¾” and 2” with a chalk marker or your favorite marking pencil.

Line the ruler up between the marks to draw a dart sewing line.  If needed, pin the dart in place.

Mark the dart on the other side of the folded fabric as shown below.  Mark two darts on each of the front and back fabrics of the bowl cozies.

Step 9: Sew the darts

Line up all of the marked bowl cozy fronts and backs and sew the darts by chain piecing one dart on each cozy.  Then turn them and chain piece the 2nd dart.

Change to your standard presser foot.  We will continue to use 100% Cotton Thread and sew a standard straight seam.

Stitch the darts starting from the center point at the fold and working towards the edge.  Back tack at the beginning of the dart.  It is not necessary to backtack at the end of the dart because the seam holding the layers together will keep the dart from coming apart.

Start to chain stitch by stitching the first dart on the first fabric.

Stitch a few stitches off the end of the fabric.  Continue stitching by inserting the dart for the next fabric under the presser foot. Don't forget to backtack at the beginning of each dart.

Finish stitching the first dart of each fabric. Cut the fabric/batting sets apart, keeping them in the same order.

Sew the second dart. Start with the first fabric in the stack, flip it around, and stitch the 2nd marked dart on the folded edge starting by the fold. Sew all of the 2nd darts by chain stitching, cutting them apart, and stacking.

Continue to mark and then sew the 3rd and 4th darts in the same way.  Take each fabric and fold it in half in the opposite direction, mark the darts, and then sew them.

The bowl cozies are starting to look like a bowl now.

Trim all of the dart seams, leaving a ¼” seam allowance.  This will reduce the bulk when putting together the bowl cozy.

Step 10: Place the bowl cozy front & back together

If you've kept your bowl cozies in order, the fronts and backs should all be next to one another in the stack.

Take the first front and back bowl cozy pieces and place them with the right sides facing together.  I like to use quilting clips to hold the cozy together, but you can also use pins if you don't have clips.  The fabrics are thick, so the clips are worth it!

First, match and finger press open the dart seams and clip them together.  Then, place a clip on each corner.

Step 11: Sew the bowl cozy together

Sew around the bowl cozy with a 3/8” seam allowance. Continue to use your standard presser foot for this seam. Leave a 3” opening for turning on one side between the dart and the corner. 

I like to start sewing just before a corner. Remember to backtack at the beginning and end of the seam.  To remind you to stop sewing and leave the opening, take the first corner clip and place it next to the last clip by the dart.

As you approach each corner, stop a few stitches before the corner, pivot the fabric 45 degrees, and stitch several stitches across the corner.  Then, pivot another 45 degrees and continue stitching down the next side.  The corner will look something like the photo below.

Stitching across the corner like this helps when turning the cozies right side out.  The corners can be clipped close to the stitching and they will pop out easier.

Sew around, removing the clips as you stitch.  When you get to the two clips, remove them, stitch over the dart, and then stop.  There will be an opening for turning the cozy.  Remember to backtack at the end of the seam. 

Continue to sew together all of the cozies leaving an opening for turning on each.

Step 12: Clip corners and turn right side out

Next, clip the corners and around each dart before turning the cozy right side out. Clipping will help the seams lay flatter and have less bulk.

Cut off the point on each corner leaving about 1/4" seam allowance from the stitches.  Since we stitched across the corner, we can cut off the whole point.

Clip on each side of the corner near the pivot points.  This will also help the corner lay flat.  Do not cut over your stitch line.

Clip on each side and the center of the darts to help them flay flat. 

Turn the bowl cozy right side out through the opening.  Use a turning stick or chopstick to help push the corners out and the seams flat.

Step 13: Press the bowl cozy

At the ironing board, give the bowl cozy a good press.  Press around the edge and the darts.

Finish the opening used to turn the bowl cozy by turning the raw edge to the inside and press flat.  Pin or clip the opening closed.

Step 14: Edgestitch around the bowl cozy

At the sewing machine, edgestitch around the cozy 1/4” away from the edge. The edgestitch will hold the layers together and help keep the bowl cozy layers in place when it’s laundered.  This stitching will also close the opening.

If you have a 1/4" foot with a guide, this foot is handy when stitching this edgestitch. Stitch slowly over the darts and around the corners as they are thick. 

The string-pieced bowl cozy is finished!

Wash the bowl cozies before gifting or using them. This ensures there is no sizing or anything on the fabric that can cause a fire in the microwave. Don't use fabric softener.

Always use caution when using the bowl cozy in the microwave and always supervise when microwaving with a cozy.

Gifting the Bowl Cozies?

Remember to include our Free Printable Bowl Cozy Tags with your bowl cozy gifts.  These instructions and care cards are perfect for letting your gift recipient know how to properly use the microwavable bowl cozies.

We hope you enjoyed learning how to make this String Pieced Bowl Cozy. Make some for yourself, friends, and for gifts.

Other Kitchen Sewing Projects you may be interested in are:

• String Pieced Potholder
• Hanging Kitchen Towel Pattern
• Inside Out Placemats
• Simple Tote Bag