When you download an in-the-hoop cozy critters design, you will find multiple files. Some are the embroidery files, and the others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.

First prepare the front fabric piece for file "a".

Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive. Smooth the fabric on top.

Then, spray the backside of the front piece paper dieline with spray adhesive and smooth that on top of the fabric.

Cut out the shape.

For the back fabric piece, spray the wrong side of the fabric with temporary adhesive and smooth it onto a piece of cotton batting.

Then, spray the back of the back piece paper dieline and smooth it on top of the fabric.

Cut out the shape.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.

Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices.

Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full embroidery file "a" (not the dieline files).

Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle.

A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline, or outline stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer where we'll place the fabric piece.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the back of the front fabric piece with a temporary adhesive, and place it right inside the sewn dieline.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue embroidering the design.

A tack down stitch will sew next. This binds the fabric in place for the remainder of the design.

Once the fabric is stitched in place, all of the inner details will sew.

Watch for a note on the color change sheet that says "back piece tack down."

When you get to this point, remove the hoop from the machine, but don't unhoop the stabilizer.

Turn the hoop over. Spray the batting side of the back fabric piece with temporary adhesive, and place the fabric inside the shape on the backside of the embroidery.

Since both sides of the embroidery will be seen, wind a bobbin with the same color as the top thread.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design.

Another zigzag tack down will sew followed by a finished satin border.

After the embroidery has finished, carefully tear the stabilizer away.

Next, repeat the steps above to prepare and embroider the other two embroidery files (labeled with "b" and "c").

Take the head piece (labeled with an "a") and the body piece (labeled with a "b"), and overlap them slightly with the head on top of the narrower end of the body. Make sure the feet face away from the body.

Using a hand sewing needle and the same thread as used in the embroidery, stitch along the overlapping satin border on the front side to attach the two pieces.

Make sure to only catch the first layer of fabric while sewing, and not sew all the way through the pieces of the cozy. This way, no stitches will show through to the other side. If desired, you can also glue them together.

Then sew along the satin border on the back side of the pieces to finish attaching them together.

Next, place the body piece on top of the tail piece so that they overlap by 1".

Sew them together along the satin borders on the front and back sides.

Place one side of the Velcro circle on the underside of the face piece towards the point of the nose, and sew it in place.

Make sure not to sew all the way through to prevent stitches from showing on the other side.

Next wrap the mug cozy around a mug with the head overlapping on top of the tail.

Using an air erase pen, mark where the Velcro circle rests on the tail.

Sew the other side of the Velcro dot onto the tail where it was marked.

A sweet and cuddly way to keep your coffee warm and your hands cool!