This French press coffee cozy is a fun, fast project, and it keeps your coffee warmer than a bare glass pot. I used to make and sell dozens of these at every craft show while we were stationed in Europe. They're a great scrap buster, a sweet housewarming gift, and a bestseller at craft fairs!
Get the French Press Coffee Sleeve PDF pattern here.
What You'll Make
A padded, lined cozy that wraps around a standard French press and closes with snaps. It's machine washable and dryable. I've washed mine hundreds of times.
Skill level: Beginner.
Supplies
- French Press Coffee Sleeve PDF pattern
- Exterior fabric and lining fabric (non-directional prints are easiest)
- Fusible fleece, one or two layers. Leftover quilt batting works too.
- Woven fusible interfacing like SF101 for the exterior
- Snaps and a snap press. Hook-and-loop tape or a button and loop also work.
- Chalk, a 28 mm rotary cutter, a point turner, and a stiletto
How to Sew a French Press Cozy
Step 1: Cut the pieces
Trace the pattern with chalk where you want your fabric motif. Chalk brushes off or washes right out. You can cut on the fold or trace the full shape. Cut one exterior and one lining. Making these to sell? Cut two layers at once. It's just as fast to make two as one. I use the shallower curve as the top and the deeper curve as the bottom so the cozy fits around the handle, but it works either way. With a directional print, check which way it will face.
Step 2: Fuse the interfacing and fleece
Fuse woven interfacing to the wrong side of the exterior fabric first. Fusible fleece on quilting cotton sometimes leaves lumps, and this prevents them. Then fuse fleece on top of the interfacing, and fuse a layer of fleece to the lining. Trim everything to match.
If your machine hates layers, cut the interfacing 1/4" smaller so it stays out of the seams. But it can separate in the wash unless you quilt the layers.
Step 3: Sew around the edges
Place the exterior and lining right sides together with the curves matching. Sew around with a 1/4" seam and a 2.5 stitch length, leaving a big opening on the straight end for turning.
Step 4: Trim and turn
Trim the corners and some of the seam allowance to reduce bulk. Pinking shears are optional on the curves. Turn right side out and push the corners out with a point turner and your fingers. Run the tool gently along the straight edges to make them crisp. Press.
Step 5: Topstitch all around
Tuck the open edges under and clip them. Starting at a corner, topstitch around the whole cozy with a 3 stitch length, which also closes the opening. A stiletto helps hold the open edges in place. Don't obsess over it. Nobody else will notice!
Step 6: Add the snaps
Wrap the cozy snugly around your French press to find where the snaps go, and mark it. Make sure the mating parts end up on opposite sides, one facing out and one facing in, so they actually snap together. I've mixed that up before! Set the snaps with your press, then slide the cozy on over the metal band.
Jump to a Step in the Video
- 0:47 Tracing and cutting the pieces
- 4:32 Fleece and interfacing
- 12:31 Sewing the cozy
- 15:09 Trimming corners and seams
- 16:55 Turning and pressing
- 20:16 Topstitching
- 22:56 Adding snaps
- 28:11 The finished cozy
Tips for Selling Coffee Cozies
- Display them on a French press so shoppers instantly know what they are. Thrift stores almost always have French presses for a few dollars.
- Tag them as handmade and one of a kind, and talk to shoppers about them.
- Make a gift basket: a thrifted French press, a cozy, a bag of coffee, and maybe some hot pads. It costs next to nothing and makes a lovely housewarming gift.
Coffee Cozy FAQ
Are French press cozies washable?
Yes. Mine go through the washer and dryer all the time.
What can I use instead of fusible fleece?
Leftover quilt batting works well. Use one or two layers depending on how padded you want it.
Why does my fusible fleece look lumpy?
Fleece fused straight onto quilting cotton can show lumps. Fuse a woven interfacing to the fabric first, then the fleece.
What closure should I use?
I use snaps, but hook-and-loop tape or a button and loop work too.
Does a cozy keep coffee warm?
Yes. It keeps your coffee warmer than a bare glass French press.
More Projects You'll Love
- Heart Potholder Project
- Scrap Busting Hot Pads
- Scrapbusting Coaster Sewing Project
- How to Use a Snap Press
Shop fabric, interfacing, patterns, and tools and notions in the Sew Hungry Hippie shop.
Thanks for sewing along! Post your cozies in the Sew Hungry Hippie Makers Group on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube, and join our email list for new tutorials and restocks.
Peace, Love, Sewing,
-Natalie
