Small, fast, and endlessly giftable — mug cozies are the perfect tiny project for using scrap yarn and practicing stitches. Below you’ll find a full blog-ready post with a friendly introduction (tools, yarn, sizing, and general tips) followed by seven complete cozy patterns. Each pattern includes: skill level, materials and yardage, a sample finished size, stitch notes, a step-by-step pattern you can follow immediately, finishing details, variations, and care. Read the intro once and then jump to the cozy you want to make.
Quick Introduction — tools, yarn, sizing, and quick tips
Why make mug cozies?
They protect hands, keep drinks warmer a little longer, add personality to mugs, and make great inexpensive gifts or market items. A cozy can be as simple as a rectangle wrapped and buttoned or as decorative as a layered appliqué.
Tools & materials (general)
- Yarn: worsted weight cotton or cotton blend is best — it’s washable and heat-resistant (avoid acrylic if it will be used with very hot surfaces frequently). Fingering or DK yarn works for slimmer cozy designs.
- Hook: a hook that gives a firm fabric — usually 4.0 mm (G) for worsted cotton; adjust by yarn.
- Notions: tapestry needle, small button(s) or snap/magnetic clasp, scissors, stitch markers (optional).
- Optional: small piece of interfacing or fabric lining if you want extra insulation or to hide seams.
Common abbreviations (US)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- sk = skip
- rep = repeat
- BLO / FLO = back loop only / front loop only
Sizing cheat sheet (sample mug)
- Most standard mugs: circumference 9–11 in; height 3.5–4.5 in.
- Cozy sample sizes below target a mug ~3.5–4 in tall and ~9–10 in circumference. Always measure the intended mug and adjust chain length and rounds accordingly. To size:
stitches per inch × target circumference = foundation chain size(adjust to pattern multiple).
Construction approaches used below
- Tube method (work a rectangle, seam to a tube, add button or snap),
- Tube-in-the-round (crochet rounds to exact circumference),
- Appliqué or overlay decorations sewn on after the cozy is made.
Finishing & care
- Weave ends through the inside so they don’t show. Add a lining for insulation if you expect lots of hot mugs. Wash cotton cozies on gentle; air dry.
1. Crochet Flowered Cup Cozy Pattern
Skill level: confident beginner
Vibe: pretty petals layered on a neat background — great for gifts and springtime sets.
Materials
- Worsted cotton (MC) ~50 yd; small amounts of contrast colors for flowers ~10–15 yd each.
- Hook: 4.0 mm.
- 1 small button (10–14 mm) for closure, tapestry needle.
Finished (example)
- Width: 3.75 in; Circumference: 9.5 in (fits standard mug).
Stitch notes
- Background: hdc in the round for a firm but flexible fabric.
- Flowers: small 5-petal flat appliqués made separately and sewn on.
Step-by-step
Make the tube (in the round)
- Make a slip knot and chain 32 (adjust to match your mug circumference; this is sample for ~9.5 in at 3.5–4 hdc/in). Join with a sl st to first ch to form a loop—do not twist. Place marker.
- R1: ch 1, hdc in each ch around (32 hdc). Join to top of ch 1 with sl st.
- R2–R6: ch 1, hdc in each st around. (Work until cozy height ≈ 3.75 in or your target). Fasten off, leave a long tail for sewing if you plan to seam instead of joining with buttons.
Flower appliqué (make several)
- With contrast color, MR, ch 1. R1: 10 sc in MR, sl st to join. Pull ring closed.
- R2: (ch 2, 3 dc) in next st, sl st in next st repeat around to make 5 petals (adjust if petals look crowded). Fasten off and weave tail. Block lightly if needed. Make 3–4 flowers.
Attach button & flowers
- On one edge of the cozy, sew a small button centered vertically. On the opposite edge, stitch a small loop: ch 5, sl st into base to form a fixed loop; or make a small crocheted loop.
- Arrange flower appliqués on cozy front and sew with matching thread/yarn. Weave in ends on inside.
Finishing tips & variations
- Add leaf appliqués in green behind flowers.
- Use tone-on-tone colors for a subtle look or bright contrasts for pop.
Care
- Machine wash gentle or hand wash; reshape and air dry.
2. Crochet Picot Drops Mug Cozy Pattern
Skill level: confident beginner
Vibe: playful raised picot drops that look like dew or sugar crystals — textured but minimalist.
Materials
- Worsted cotton ~60 yd.
- Hook: 4.0 mm.
- 1 small snap or button for closure.
Finished (example)
- Height: 3.5 in, Circumference: 9 in.
Stitch notes
- Body: sc in the round for density; picot drops created by small puff or picot stitches placed strategically.
Step-by-step
Body (in the round)
- Ch 30, join to form loop. R1: ch 1, sc around (30 sc). Join.
- R2–R7: ch 1, sc in each st around. (Adjust height to mug; R7 ≈ 3.5 in.) Do not fasten off.
Picot drops row (worked intermittently)
3. R8 (decorative): ch 1, sc 3, picot (ch 3, sl st into top of last sc), sc 4 — space picots every 7 stitches or as desired; complete around. Join.
- Alternative tiny puff: sc 3, small puff (yo, insert, pull loop 3×, yo pull through 4 loops), sc 3.
Finish & closure
4. Work 1 round of sc to stabilize. Create button and loop closure as in Pattern 1 or sew a small snap.
Variations
- Work picots in two staggered rows for more texture.
- Change to a metallic or variegated cotton for little sparkle.
Care
- Cotton: wash gentle and lay flat to dry.
3. Crochet Heart Granny Square Mug Cozy Pattern
Skill level: confident beginner → intermediate
Vibe: sweet granny-heart square wrapped around the mug — perfect for Valentine’s Day or small romantic gift.
Materials
- Worsted cotton: main color ~40 yd; heart color small scrap.
- Hook: 4.0 mm.
- 1 button or snap.
Finished (example)
- One 5-round granny square made to 4 in, folded and seamed into a cozy (~fits 9 in circumference).
Stitch notes
- Granny square is modified to include a heart motif in the center via a small appliqué or by working the heart as the first rounds.
Step-by-step
Option A — applique heart sewn onto granny
- Make a standard 4-round granny square (~4 in) in MC. (MR, round of clusters to square up).
- Make a small crocheted heart appliqué (MR, ch 2, 3 sc, inc to shape a little heart — simple heart pattern) in heart color. Sew heart to center of granny square.
- Fold square into a tube (bring two opposite edges together) so the heart faces out; seam edges with whipstitch leaving slight overlap; attach button/loop.
Option B — heart in center as part of square (charted)
- Start with heart motif rounds: MR, ch, work petal-style stitches to shape a heart (6–8 sts), then work square rounds around it making sure heart sits centered (place clusters and corners). This requires a simple small chart—if you prefer simpler, use Option A.
Closure
- Sew button on one side and make a loop on the other side with ch 5 and sl st base or simply seam and leave a small opening for slip-over design.
Variations
- Make multiple small heart granny panels and join vertically for taller cozies for tumblers.
- Use contrasting border rounds to frame the heart.
Care
- As above; avoid high heat if decorations include glued elements.
4. Crochet Poinsettia with Leaves Mug Cozy Pattern
Skill level: intermediate (appliqués + layering)
Vibe: festive and layered — perfect for holiday tea gifts and winter markets.
Materials
- Worsted cotton: red ~20 yd, green ~20 yd, background color ~40 yd.
- Hook: 4.0 mm.
- 1 small button or snap, tapestry needle.
Finished (example)
- Height ~4 in; circumference ~9–10 in.
Stitch notes
- Background cozy in hdc; poinsettia made of layered petals worked in the round and sewn on; optional seed bead center.
Step-by-step
Background cozy
- Ch 32, join. R1: ch 1, hdc in each ch. R2–R7: ch 1, hdc around (32 hdc) — adjust for height.
Poinsettia appliqué
- Small center: MR, ch 1, 8 sc in ring. Join. Fasten off (or continue onto petals).
- Petal round 1 (red): join red in any st, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 3, sl st) in next st around to create 5–6 petals — make 2–3 layers slightly offset to create fullness. Fasten off.
- Leaf round (green): Using green, attach around petals and work elongated leaf shapes by sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc into a chain-space to create pointed leaves.
Attach & finish
- Sew poinsettia to one side of cozy securely. Add a tiny seed bead or French knot (embroidered) at center for a gold seed look (avoid bead for kids’ mugs if safety issue).
- Add button and loop/snap as closure.
Variations
- Make mini poinsettias and scatter them for garland-style cozies.
- Use fuzzy yarn for petals for a plush winter look.
Care
- Hand wash recommended if beads used; otherwise machine gentle.
5. Crochet Candy Cane Mug Cozy Pattern
Skill level: confident beginner
Vibe: classic holiday stripes — red & white diagonal or horizontal stripes that look like a candy cane.
Materials
- Worsted cotton in red & white ~60 yd total.
- Hook: 4.0 mm.
- Small button or toggle closure.
Finished (example)
- Height 3.75 in, circumference 9 in.
Stitch notes
- A stripe pattern worked in sc or hdc; to get a diagonal candy-cane feel, use front loop only (FLO) color changes or surface slip-stitch stripes diagonally after knitting main tube.
Step-by-step
Simple horizontal stripe cozy
- Chain 30, join. R1: ch 1, sc around (30 sc). Join.
- R2: Switch to red, sc in each st around. R3: change to white, sc around. Continue alternating every 1 or 2 rounds (1 round = thin stripes; 2 rounds = bolder stripes) until height = 3.75 in. Fasten off.
Diagonal candy-cane effect (optional)
3. Work body in solid white in sc rounds. After finishing, take red yarn and surface slip stitch diagonally across cozy in even spaced lines (this simulates diagonal stripes without shaping). Start at one edge and work sl st diagonally across stitches, spacing every 2-3 sc.
Finish & closure
4. Add button and loop (or use a wooden toggle). Optionally add a tiny crocheted candy-cane applique sewn on.
Variations
- Add a little bow in green for gift embellishment.
- Make a set of 6 for a holiday coffee bar.
Care
- Cotton stripes wash well; gentle machine cycle recommended.
6. Crochet Duck Embroidered Mug Cozy Pattern
Skill level: intermediate (embroidery on crochet + appliqué)
Vibe: whimsical and cute — perfect for baby shower gifts or playful kitchen sets.
Materials
- Worsted cotton MC ~50 yd, accent colors for duck: yellow ~10 yd, orange ~10 yd, small black for eye.
- Hook: 4.0 mm.
- Tapestry needle for embroidery; 1 small button.
Finished (example)
- Fits standard mug: Height 3.75 in, circumference 9 in.
Stitch notes
- Background cozy in hdc; duck silhouette crocheted or embroidered on afterwards.
Step-by-step
Background
- Ch 30, join, hdc around for 6 rounds.
Duck appliqué (simple)
- Make a small oval for body: MR, ch 1, 8 sc in MR, 2 rounds of sc increase until oval is ~2.0 in length. Fasten off.
- Head: MR, 6 sc; fasten off. Sew head to body offset to create duck shape.
- Beak: small triangle – ch 4, sc 3, fasten off, sew at head.
- Eye: embroider with black yarn a small French knot or sew a tiny contrasting stitch.
Alternative embroidery
- Instead of crocheting appliqué, embroider a stylized duck directly: use satin stitch for body, backstitch for outline, and French knot for eye.
Attach & finish
- Sew duck piece to cozy and secure with tight, neat stitches. Weave ends on inside. Add button/loop closure.
Variations
- Make a set of animal cozies (duck, frog, bunny) for a baby shower.
- Embroider name initials beside the duck.
Care
- Gentle wash recommended to preserve embroidery.
7. Crochet Mermaid Blossom Mug Cozy Pattern
Skill level: intermediate (appliqué + textured stitches)
Vibe: whimsical ocean-inspired cozy with scalloped “scale” texture and a tiny blossom accent.
Materials
- Worsted cotton in teal/sea-glass ~70 yd; blossom color small scrap.
- Hook: 4.0 mm.
- Small button or snap.
Finished (example)
- Height 4 in, circumference 9–10 in.
Stitch notes
- Body worked with a scallop/scale texture (crochet shell stitches staggered). Blossom made separately and sewn on.
Step-by-step
Body (staggered shell scales)
- Ch 32, join. R1: ch 1, sc in each ch (32 sc). Join.
- R2 (scale row): skip 1, 5 dc in next st, skip 1, sc in next repeat around — this creates shells.
- R3 (anchor row): sc in each st across the backs of shells (work into spaces between shells to stabilize). Join.
- R4 (offset shells): sc in sc, (5 dc) in ch-space between shells — this staggers shells to create a scale pattern. Continue alternating rows until height ~4 in.
Blossom appliqué
- MR, ch 2, 8 dc in MR, sl st. R2: ch 2, 3 treble in same space, sl st around to make ruffled blossom. Sew blossom to cozy front.
Finish & closure
- Work 1 round sc for stability and attach snap or button.
Variations
- Make the cozy doubly lined for extra insulation and to keep shells from catching.
- Add tiny glass bead “sea pearls” sewn into shell tips for sparkle (securely stitch).
Care
- Hand wash recommended if beads used; otherwise gentle machine cycle.
Conclusion
Mug cozies are satisfying small makes that let you experiment with color, texture, appliqués and embroidery in a handful of rows. The seven designs above cover a wide range of moods: floral and delicate (Flowered), textured and contemporary (Picot Drops), cozy vintage (Heart Granny), festive (Poinsettia & Candy Cane), whimsical (Duck Embroidery), and ocean-dreamy (Mermaid Blossom).
Quick tips for success:
- Always measure the target mug and swatch your stitch to get the right circumference and height.
- Use cotton or cotton blends for heat safety and washability.
- Securely sew appliqués and beads (avoid small loose bits if the cozy may be used around children).
- Make a set — a matching cozy + spoon rest + coaster makes a lovely gift box.
