Marking chalk or marking tool of choice to draw circle
Iron & ironing board
DIRECTIONS:
NOTE: All seam allowances sewn will be 1/2"
For a 10" Plant Cozy:
Cut rectangle 31 1/2"x 12" of both face and lining fabric.
On leftover piece of both face and lining fabric, draw a 10" circle and add 1/2" seam allowance all the way around (you can also draw the circle on paper, with seam allowance, to make a pattern to use on the fabric). Then cut out the circle.
Stitch at 1/2" down one long side of each rectangle (this is a staystitch)
Stitch at 1/2" around each circle (this is a staystitch)
Snip in toward the stitch line (not cutting the line) at 1/2" intervals all the way around the stitching. The stitching will help you match the circle to the straight edge and the snipping wil make it very easy to manipulate the curve.
Fold the circles across one way then the other to find and mark the four opposite side points.
With rectangles right sides together, stitch along the long sides that do not have the stitch lines already. Then press the seam allowance to the lining side and topstitch the seam at 1/4" on the lining side to flatten the seam.
If you are adding trim: the trim should be sandwiched into this seam, fringe facing away from the seam and the seam allowance being caught when sewing.
Fold the larger rectangle you've made so that the right sides are together and the edges with no staystitching are lined up (making sure to line up the seam where the seam meets). Stitch the seam with 1/2" seam allowance. Stop stitching on the lining side 7 1/2" from the end, backstitch. Start seam again 3 1/2" from end and continue stitching to end, leaving 4" open to turn the cozy. You should have a tube.
Flatten the end of the tube across one way then the other to find and mark the four opposite side points. The first point should be the seam.
With right sides together, match up the four points on the circle with the four points on each end of the tube. Pin or clip together. Stitch slowly along the staystitch line you already created making sure the stitch lines on both pieces are aligned. Try to stay on the line or very slightly inside the line so that you don't see your original stitch lines when you turn your cozy right side out. Do this for both ends.
Turn the cozy right side out and push all the edges of the circles out flat. Slipstitch the 4" opening that you left. Push the lining circle into the outer fabric circle to make your lining and fold over the top open edge of the cozy.
For an 8" Plant Cozy:
Cut rectangle 25 1/8" x 9" of both face and lining fabric.
On leftover piece of both face and lining fabric: Draw 8" circle and add 1/2" seam allowance all the way around and cut out circle (you can also draw the circle on paper, with seam allowance, to make a pattern to use on the fabric).
Continue all the other steps the same as the 10" plant cozy.
JOANN HACKS:
If drawing circles using a tape measure: To secure the tape measure, you can pushpin through the center if you have a cutting board you can pin into, then slide the tape measure around the circle while holding your marking pen right next to the measurement you want to mark - it makes a smooth curve.
Another hack to drawing a perfect circle: measure your plates or cake pans (anything round you might have around the house) that is that size and trace it.
Snipping the curves and straight seams going into the curves at approximately every 1/2" will help the circle lay completely flat and remove a lot of frustration while trying to match a straight seam to a circle seam.
If you want to make a different size cozy, adjust the length of the rectangle to match the circumference of the circle, and adjust the height as you want.