A Cozy in anticipation of Spring . . .

I know I am not the only one that anticipates each season! I love each season and each month (oh, wait a minute, I don't like August!) Anyhow, just last week we had a lovely little snowfall and today it is almost 60 degrees. The wind is blowing as if it is March already! We have daffodils peeking their heads up and the Easter grass is coming up too! Makes me want to hurry up and lose weight!! Betty, are we there yet????
I enjoy happy colors. I like things that are borderline bright. Yellow has always been my favorite crayon, along with purple, red and robin egg blue. Oh, and I adore lime green. This afternoon while going through my stash of fat quarters I decided to make a little cover for my recycled veggie cans. Yes, I recycle almost everything. They make great pencil holders, little pots for seedlings and rootings - they are the right size for a lot of things! Sometimes I paint them and put rick rack around them or glue buttons on them. But today, well, today, I felt like making a pencil cozy.

First thing you need to do is find a can. Measure the circumference and double it. That will give you your length. Then measure the height of the can. I like a ruffly effect so I added an extra 2 inches.

After pressing, I sew two seams at the top and two at the bottom. These are for the elastic casing. When the seams are sewn, simply use a saftey pin and pull the elastic through the casing. Now this isn't rocket science. To get the right amount of elastic, just measure the circumference again and then minus a little bit. You want it to fit snugly but not so tight you can't fit your can in it. (I guess I should remember that when I try to buy jeans?)

After you have secured the elastic, it is time to sew up the side seam and fit your recycled can into it's new little cozy.

I remember my Granny doing this for flower pots back in the day. I may have to do that for some of the Easter Grass (the proper name is Bethelem Star) I plan on digging up very soon!