This crochet mug cozy pattern is free and a timely addition to your DIY Christmas gift giving. Santa-inspired (and approved), it crochets up fast and is SO fun!

Today we’re taking a plain ‘ol mug and turning it into something festive for the holidays. 

Ever since we created our Crochet for a Cure e-book, Crochet Phone Covers: The Christmas Collection, I’ve been thinking “how cute would it be to make a Santa Crochet Mug Cozy“? With Christmas fast approaching, now is the time to get those hand made gifts done for a gift exchange, stocking stuffer or for nestling under the tree.

It’s time for another Creative Craft blog hop! So if you are visiting from Donna at Modern at Monticello, welcome! Wasn’t her pine cone Christmas trees and topiary amazing? At the very bottom of this post, we’ll be directing you to the next stop on this venture. But don’t forget to check out the other stops too because you’ll find plenty more ideas. Be sure to drop back in throughout the week to visit them all!

Watch the Video

Crochet Mug Cozy Pattern

Terminology

• ch – chain
• st – stitch
• sc – single crochet
• FLO – front loop only
• MC – magic circle
• ( ) – repeat what’s inside the brackets for the indicated number of times

Materials

[If you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered (disclosure): The blue links in this post may be affiliate links. We earn a commission from qualifying purchases which we proudly donate to Alzheimer’s research. But don’t worry, you don’t pay a cent more! Thanks for helping to support our fundraiser!]

• 15 oz ceramic mug (I used an Orca Coatings mug similar to this sublimatable mug, but any 15 oz mug should do). If you use a bigger or smaller mug, you may have to experiment with the number of stitches and rows.
• Cotton yarn in red, white, yellow and black. I used dollar store yarn for the prototype, but would suggest 24/7 yarn for gift giving because of the beautiful mercerized sheen.
• 4.0 mm crochet hook
• Scissors

Free crochet Pattern

Note that this pattern as written will make a mug cozy that is suitable to lefties. If you want a pattern that is right handed, reverse the white stripe (i.e. instead of switching to white on the 6th st at the beginning of row 5, do it near the end on the 25th st, sc 6, then on 7th st, switch back to red and sc to end of row, (7 sc), ch1, turn). Once you start the white, you’ll know when to switch over.

With white yarn and 4 mm crochet hook:

R1. ch 40

R2. Turn your work and crochet into the back bump (that gives a cleaner edge). sc across, ch 1, turn (39)

R3 – R4. sc across, switch to red on last st of Row 4. Ch 1, turn

From this point, until you reach the black rows, sc in FLO

R5. sc 5 FLO. On 6th st, switch to white as you pull through the last loop, sc 6, on 7th st, switch back to red as you pull through the last loop, sc to end of row, ch 1, turn. Keep the yarn to the front of your work (as shown in the video).

R6. sc 25, on the 26th st, switch over to white, sc 6, on 7th st, switch back to red. sc to end of row. Ch 1, turn.

The red yarn will carry over across the white stripe on the back as shown.

R7. to R8. Repeat rows 5 – 6. Change back to black at end of row 8. Ch 1, turn.

R9. – R12. sc across in black into both loops. In last row, switch over to red on last st. Ch 1, turn

R13. – R15. sc across with red yarn, repeating rows 5 and 6.

Handle Holders

At the end of R15, sc down the side with red. Then ch 20, sl st at top.

R16. Continue to Sc across the top. Ch 20 and sl st to bottom. Then sc along the side toward the top.

As you can see, the stripe is on the left hand side. If you’re right handed, be sure to start the white stripe as instructed in the note at the beginning of this pattern.

Fasten off and hide tail ends.

Belt Buckle

With Yellow yarn:

ch 19. Sc 4, 2 sc in next st, sc 3, 2 sc in next st, sc 4, 2 sc in next st, sc 3, 2 sc in final st. Join to first st. and fasten off.

Stitch the buckle onto the black band around the outside and inside edges. Knot and hide all tail ends.

Fasten onto mug by wrapping each chain loop around the handle.

And there you have it! A quick and easy Crochet Santa mug cozy!

The mug, with its Santa-inspired cozy, is displayed with our gnome DIY, which has a unique light up hat!

At this point, you can stop here, but I think it was missing one last detail! Originally, I planned to make some mittens to add on around the belly – which is why I left more rows on the bottom. But I nixed that idea for something better.

Santa Hat Spoon Cozy

For the prototype, I split the red yarn into thinner plies. But, as shown on the video, it’s best to leave the yarn as-is.

R1. MC, 6 sc  (6)

R2. 6 sc (6)

R3. (sc incr, 2 sc) x 2 (8)

R4. (sc incr, 3 sc) x 2 (10)

R5. (sc incr, 4 sc) x 2 (12)

R6. (sc incr, 5 sc) x 2 (14)

R7. (sc incr, 6 sc) x 2 (16)

R8. sc around (16). Join white on last st. F/O red.

R9. With white, sc FLO (16)

R10.  Working in both loops, sc around. sl st, F/O (16)

Weave in all ends. Sew a white pom pom to the top of hat.

Make a cup of hot cocoa and pile on the marshmallows! Top off the spoon with the Santa Hat cozy. Now it’s complete :).

This is the lefty version of the mug cozy; my first prototype.

And here is the right-hand version shown on the video.

As you can see below, the crochet mug cozy can fit various shapes of mugs. And, of course, you can always adapt it to any size.

For more Christmas inspiration, check out our 32 Christmas Craft Ideas for Adults.

By the way, I didn’t skip to Christmas and forget about Thanksgiving. If you’re planning a big Thanksgiving get together, check out our place card holder crochet corn pattern.

Pin Crochet Mug Cozy Pattern – Free

Pinning is always welcome and appreciated!

Creative Craft Hop

Now it’s time to check out these Hot Cocoa Reindeer from Tammy at Patina and Paint. When you’re done, please remember to visit these other amazing talents below:

• Easy DIY Pine Cone Christmas Trees and Topiaries
• Crochet Mug Cozy Pattern Free (that’s us!)
• Hot Cocoa Reindeer
• Christmas Deer Revamp
• Easy Rag Garland Decor
• Darling Gingerbread House Crafted with Dollar Store Decor
• Christmas Glitter Foam Flower Decor
• Christmas Clay Pot Craft Ideas for Santa and Elf
• Three Easy Christmas Tree Ribbon DIY Projects