Over the years my generous friends have given me gifts that have built up my tea set (cups, saucers, tea pots and even tea bag squeezer tongs). I think it is about time I complete the collection with a tea cosy.

Step in Lisa Stickley. Lisa’s tea cosy instructions made it to the Guardian’s making time series, a collection of weekly craft projects. This step by step guide to making a tea cosy comes from Lisa’s Made at Home series which has similar projects to Sew! but has some different interesting makes for a beginner.

This project is simple to do, the only complicated bit being where you draw a semi circle round your tea pot. I found it easier to put a dot on the paper where the edges of your tea pot are, lid, handle, spout, then do another dot 5cm along to draw the semi-circle big enough.  Oh and remembering to pay attention to the instructions; my first attempt had me stitching the handle so that the loop was inside the tea cosy.

I chose a floral pattern for my tea cosy and then cut up one of my boyfriend’s T-shirts for the lining – thanks Matt. It is great to have such quick results that will make me smile and keep my tea warm for longer.