Since I’ve gotten quite a few queries on how I made the Christmas gift mug cozies blogged about here, I’ve decided to post these quick patterns I threw together. Sorry in advance if you catch any errors as pattern writing isn’t really my forte. Any corrections are welcome. Enjoy!
BUTTONED MUG COZY (Cabled or Plain)
Any worsted weight yarn will do. US Size 8 needles.
Start with the buttonhole strap:
CO 4 and knit two rows.
3rd row: k 2, yo (to make buttonhole) k 2 (5 st total)
Knit about 4 more rows in garter stitch (i.e. all knit st) before increasing
Work an increase row:
K1fb in each stitch (10 stitches total)
Now, choose one of the following two options for the rest of your cozy — cabled or plain.
Body for a cabled cozy:
Add one more increase row: K1, (k1fb) 3 times, k2, (k1fb) 3 times, k1 (16 stitches total)
Start 6-stitch cable pattern: (right side) K3, p2, work cable twist pattern over next 6 stitches (slip 3 st onto cable needle and move to back of work, k3, knit stitches from cable needle. Twist the cable like this every 6 rows. When not on a twist row, knit the 6 stitches), p2, k3
Next row (and all wrong side rows): k5, p6, k5
Repeat these last 2 rows until your body is the desired length (ending on a twist row). Start on button strap.
Decrease for button strap:
Dec row 1: (k1, k2 tog) 5 times, k1 (11 st total)
Dec row 2: (k1, k2tog) 3 times, k2 (8 st total)
Dec row 3: k2tog all the way across (4 st total)
Knit 4 rows even.
Bind off.
Body for plain cozy:
Add one more increase row: K1, k1fb, k1, k1fb, k2, k1fb, k1, k1fb, k1 (14 stitches total)
All wrong sides: k3, p8, k3
Right sides: knit
Repeat these last 2 rows until your body is the desired length.
Decrease for button strap:
Dec row 1: (k1, k2tog) 4 times, k2 (10 st total)
Dec row 2: k2tog all the way across (5 st total)
Knit 5 rows even.
Bind off.
Add an embroidered design to your cozy, if so desired.
THE INCURABLE HOMEBODY 
These would make nice earwarmers, too, if knit twice or 3 times as long, what do you think?
Yes! I agree that a longer version would make nice earwarmers. Great idea. 🙂
If I ever find a few spare moments, I’ll give it a go and let you know!
Definitely. I have made these for years.
Wonderful pattern! So easy to follow and comes out beautifully. AND it only takes all of an hour to make!
Working on cozy number 2 for a work gift. Thanks so much!
Hi Kinna! Thanks for commenting. So glad you like the pattern! Nothing beats simple, quick, and cute handmade gifts, eh? 🙂
Love it! I have made many mug cozies as gifts and have even made a few ear-warmers. If I knew how to post a photo here, I would!
Hi! I teach a knitting class at the library where I work and was wondering if you would mind if I used these patterns as a way to introduce my class to shaping. I will give you full credit. Thanks in advance.
I don’t mind at all! Please use it in your knitting class. I’m thrilled that you should find this patten useful for teaching shaping!
Thanks! You are wonderful!
These are absolutely adorable! Although, i am quite new to the world of knitting, so i am curious as to what “k1fb” stands for?
It means knit 1 stitch in the front of the stitch, (don’t remove the stitch from the needle yet!) then knit 1 stitch in the back of the stitch. You can search youtube for a tutorial if that doesn’t clear it up for you! 🙂
Apologies for not responding to your question, Sabina! Not sure how I missed it, but it looks like Shannon did a good job answering it for me! k1fb stands for: “knit one in the front and in the back.” It’s a method of increasing. I second Shannon’s recommendation to check out YouTube for a demo.
Great pattern. Very easy and fun to make. Thanks so much for sharing!
I have a question, is it possible to modify the stitches for a taller mug? I am sure I could figure it out, but I would probably mess it up. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
So glad you like the pattern, Allie! Now about your question. Hmmmm…let’s see. To make the plain cosy wider to accommodate a taller mug, I’d probably work the buttonhole strap and second increase row (where you end up with 14 stitches) the same as written. In the following rows, I’d add a few more increases, one at the start and one at the end of each row until I’ve added as many stitches as I need in order to get the right width. So–in the row after the second increase row when you go from 10 stitches to 14 stitches, I’d start the row with knit 1, k1fb and then knit all the way to the second to the last stitch and then end the row with k1fb, k1. This will increase your width by 2 stitches. I’d continue doing this on each row until I’ve got the right width. Then, I’d continue knitting the body as written with the garter stitch borders and stockinette in between. When it’s time to make the button strap, I’d decrease stitches in the same areas (at the beginning and end of each row) at the same rate as I made the increases. I really hope this makes sense–and that it works out ok!
Thank you so much! I am going to give that a try. 🙂
Another thought, what do you think if I doubled the yarn and used two skeins at the same time, instead of one? Do you think that would work to make it wider?
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How do we print this pattern from pinterest?
Hi Peggy. Sorry, but I don’t have a printable version of this pattern available. You’ll have to print it from your website browser. But, I’ll think about making a downloadable PDF of it. Thanks for visiting!
Do you need to block these or are they fine?
Hi Brittney! I’ve never needed to block them as the borders keep the fabric from curling. They look and work great right off the needles, in my opinion. However, if you’re gifting them and want them to be perfectly flat for presentation purposes, you may choose to block. Hope this helped.
I just finished the plain one. Fun to make and very simple. However when you do the first decrease row as written you don’t come out with 8 stitches it comes out with 9. In the middle of the row I had to k2tog twice to make it come out to 8 stitches. Maybe you need to make this change to the pattern.
My grand daughter saw this and ask me to make it for her. It will be in her Christmas stocking. Thanks for sharing this with all of us knitters…..
Hi Helen! Wow, can’t believe it took so long to catch this error. Thanks so much for pointing it out to me! I’ve updated the pattern. So glad you enjoyed making the cozy nonetheless, and I hope that your grand daughter likes her present! 🙂
So I just made a blogspot about SNSD. I dont really know how to let other people know about the blogspot, like you know famous? But not the real famous glamorous type. Because I really want to maintain the site but thats kinda tiring if you keep on posting stuffs if no one knows about it..
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Wonderful easy pattern to follow, thank you! It’s small, and fast and a great beginner project. Would you mind if I used it but adjusted it for super bulky yarn to use to teach a knitting class?
Is the increase row for the cable body the same as the plain body? The cabled body says 16 stitches and the plain body says 14 stitches.