Koozie Tutorial and Bean Soup

Let's start with the bean soup.  When we have ham like we did on Thanksgiving, one of the things we look forward to is bean soup.  Mom made bean soup at home, but I didn't particularly like it.  Bud's family made it very thick and pressure cooked it so it was kind of pasty.  I have always made it for Bud and some of the kids eat it, but not all. Ours has varied over the years from mostly potatoes and beans to now where we have lots of ham!  And I have learned to enjoy it.  So, on with the recipe--

BEAN SOUP

Ingredients:  Ham & ham bone 

                     Potatoes

                     Great Northern Beans

                        

Simmer the ham bone in water until the meat falls off of the bone.  Peel and slice potatoes and add to the pot.  (This is where I often put everything into the crockpot for the afternoon.)  Cook until almost tender.  Add Great Northern Beans.  Heat until warm.  Optional: Leftover ham gravy.  (We make ham gravy.  I know not everyone does, but it adds a lot of flavor to the soup if you have some.)

                                  ENJOY!

Please stop visit Colleen's blog--And Baby Makes Five--for more yummy recipes!

I began making koozies about a year ago.  I made myself a pattern out of some paper that came on some warm and natural, which you will see in the photos.  I have made so many of them that I'm over it!  But people continue to ask for them.  They make a great gift.  Use leftover fabric, use fabric from a team of their liking, or match it to a purse.

Supplies:  Fabric scraps

                 Trim pieces

                 Insul-Brite

Step 1--If you are making more than one you may want to make a pattern.  The rectangular piece is

9 1/2 " x 4 1/2".  This will be for the outside fabric, insul-brite, and lining.  The bottom piece is a    3 1/4"diameter  circle.  This will be for the outside bottom, insul-brite, and lining.

Step 2--  Cut your fabric.  Cut one outside piece of fabric, one inside piece of fabric, and one piece of insul-brite out of each pattern piece.

If you want to get creative, you could piece the outside piece using two different fabrics.

Step 3--Stitch the Insul-brite to the fabric sewing as close to the edge as possible. Do this on the bottom and side pieces. This is just to stabilize the fabric.

Next, add the trim.  If you are piecing the front you might want to put the trim on before you stitch the pieces together.  Or not, your choice!

Step 5--Now you are ready to sew the outside to the lining using a 1/4" seam.  After pressing topstitch close to the seam.

Step 6--Now pin the edges matching seams.  Stitch using a 1/4" seam.  Turn.

Step 7--By now both the outside and lining should be stitched to the bottom piece.  Pin the bottom to the sides with right sides together using a 1/4" seam.  Finish with a finishing stitch and turn right side out.

You can make these koozies to fit any size bottle or can.  Just measure around the container and add seam allowance plus a little.  For the bottom trace around the container and add the seam allowance.  Have fun with the trim and the fabric!

This is my first tutorial, so please ask if you have questions because something isn't clear.