A Zarf
I learned the word zarf when I was writing about a coffee travel kit with a list of accessories that included “Two Felt Zarfs.”
Looking it up, I found out it’s another word for something that goes around a coffee cup to keep you from burning your hands on it. Like a scarf for your coffee.
They definitely could have said “coffee sleeve” or “cozy” instead. But zarf is kind of a cool word. Originally, it was a fancy metal thing used with glass tumblers. Now it’s a cardboard ring around a disposable cup.
***insert pithy observation about the decay of civilization here***
The good news is there are several ways to make a zarf/coffee sleeve/cozy that you can use over and over.
(My sister-in-law Liz made me the cool fabric one above. I love the colors!)
Craft
1. Reusable Coffee Sleeve: First, a coffee sleeve in the most literal sense – made by upcycling the cuff of an old shirt.
2. Leather Cup Jacket: Make a leather jacket for jars or other cups without handles.
3. Fabric Coffee Sleeve: Inspired by projects she had pinned, Sarah from One Crafty Home sewed up a reusable sleeve and a put together a tutorial with a template, so you can make your own, as well!
4. Crochet Cup Cozy: Julie Tarsha of Simply Notable created this cute pattern for a cable-knit cozy that you wrap around a mug and secure with a button.
5. Felt Coffee Cozies: Tutorial for making 16 felt coffee cozies at once, so you can give them as gifts or set them out next to cups for hot chocolate at your holiday party.
6. R2D2 Coffee Cup Cozy: Twinkie Chan created this clever crochet pattern that uses acrylic yarn, a red button, a silver eyelet, and a safety eye with the post snapped off to make exactly the droid you’re looking for.
Shop
And, of course, if you’re not up for DIYing this time, there’s always Etsy!
Caffeinating Please Wait Cup Cozy by Sew Tara ($14).
Happy Fox Cup Cozy by Tiny Bubbles Crafts ($12).
“You Got This” Leather Coffee Cozy by Wilhelm and Friends ($18).
If you do end up with a cardboard sleeve around your cup, you can still re-purpose it as a travel flower press or work it into collage and other paper craft projects.
Photos via:
DIYs –
1+2. Me
3. Modcloth
4. Matt Pierce / Design*Sponge
6. Julie Tarsha / Simply Notable
7. Purl Soho
8. Twinkie Chan
Etsy sellers –
1. Sew Tara
Hi! I just wanted to say thanks for featuring my fox cup cozy in your post, I just came across it and it made me really happy!!
Lisa of Tiny Bubbles Crafts
You’re very welcome! It’s such a cute design – I was glad to point people your direction. :)
Thanks for saying hello!