Growler Cozy Project (from sister #2)

For those of you unfamiliar with craft breweries, this is a German-style growler from Victory Brewing Co. It holds about 4 pints, and it's more cost efficient (and greener!) than buying bottles and cans. The following project is a way to make an insulated cozy for the growler so you can take your time enjoying your specialty beer without it getting warm - hooray! This is my first actual craft blog post, so I've learned a little something about taking more photos next time. Some things are just easier to show in pictures.

 STEP 1: Trace around the base of the growler on muslin, adding about 1/4" seam allowance. You should end up with a circle. Align the long, straight side of the muslin to the bottom of the growler and wrap it around the bottle to get an idea how wide your pattern should be, and trim. Cut some curves to overlap around the handle (check out the photos at the bottom to see what I mean.) Fold the fabric in half longways, then in half again, then in half again, and mark on seams. These even marks will be where you'll put the pleats to fit fabric to the round top of the bottle.

STEP 2: Choose some fabric. I chose a synthetic (so it would be quick drying) pattern fabric for the outside and one insulated liner fabric for the inside. 

STEP 3: Trace the muslin onto the good fabric and trim. Fold your pleats at the even marks measured earlier and sew them. Wrap this much of the project around your growler to be sure it fits, and to start getting an idea of how to overlap the S-curve edges around the handle.

STEP 4: Measure one length of ribbon to go around the top and two sides, and then a second 14" piece for a handle. On the handle, I folded each side in 1/2" for aesthetics. To prepare the ribbon for edging (A) lay a 2" ribbon flat (B) fold down about 1/2" at the top and pin (C) lay your fabric inside the ribbon, matched to the bottom edge of the folded ribbon (D) fold the top 1/2" down to encase the top 1/2" of fabric.

TIP: If the bottom raw edge of the ribbon sticks out juuuuust a little farther than the folded bit you can machine stitch along the folded edge and be sure you're catching the other side of the ribbon underneath.

STEP 5: Pin everything. I know it's a pain, but it's the best way to make sure everything ends up where it should be and nothing slips. Match right sides together and machine stitch the circular bottom pattern piece to the straight, un-edged side of your cozy. The sides of the upper will overlap leaving space to affix the velcro.

STEP 6: Slip your growler into your newly edged cozy and pin velcro where the side flaps overlap. Machine stitch velcro in place.

Fill with your favorite local craft brew and enjoy!