In this tutorial we’ll be making a cute crochet set for your favourite mug: a cute cosy (mug hug) with a matching coaster (rug). We were inspired by coastal colours for our colour palette, but you can use any three shades of your choice. The pattern uses US terms and stitches include slip stitch (sl st); single crochet (sc); double crochet (dc); chain (ch); and increase (inc).
Supplies
- Cotton yarn, or any other yarn that doesn't felt when you wash it.
- Crochet hook in a suitable size. I'm using a 4mm hook.
- Two buttons.
- Large darning needle for sewing in the ends.
- Pair of scissors.
- Sewing thread to attach the buttons.
- Threading needle.
1. Crochet the Mug Rug
Step 1
Start with a slip knot on your hook. Chain 16.
Step 2
If you look at the back of your chain, you can see little bumps, whereas on the front of the chain there are 'v' shapes. We're going to crochet our first row into the bumps on the back.
Crochet 15 single crochet until you reach the end of the chain.
Step 3
When you reach the end of the row, chain 1 and turn your work. The extra chain helps you turn, and to keep the edges neat.
Work another row of 15sc, chaining 1 after each row, until you have 15 rows.
Step 4
Cut the yarn and sew in the ends using your darning needle. Don't worry if your square looks a bit wobbly as the edging we're going to make next will help straighten it out.
Step 5
Using a different colour yarn, we are now going to crochet the border of the mug rug. Start with a slip knot on your hook, and begin with a single crochet in one of the sides of your square. Chain one, skip a stitch, make a single crochet and repeat.
When you get to a corner, make a single crochet, chain 1 and make another single crochet in the same stitch. Then continue with a chain 1, skipping a stitch, and making your next single crochet. Finish your round by slip stitching into the first single crochet of that round.
Step 6
With a new colour, make another round like this, only this time work your single crochets into the chain 1 spaces of the previous round. This is called the seed stitch.
Make two more rows using the seed stitch, finishing with the last row in the same colour as your mug rug's centre.
2. Crochet the Mug Hug
Step 1
The cosy in this tutorial was made to fit a standard mug from IKEA (as pictured below). Starting with a slip knot on your hook, chain 31. Working in the bumps on the back of the chain, make 28 double crochets (the extra three chains are for turning).
Step 2
Chain 3 and turn your work. Work your next double crochet in the same stitch as the chain 3. Double crochet until the end of the row, and increase in the last stitch by making 2 double crochets in the same stitch.
Repeat this step until you have made 5 rows of dcs with increases at the beginning and the end of each row. Chain 3 and without increasing work a double crochet into each stitch until you reach the end. Don't increase in the last stitch. You now have 6 rows.
Step 3
We're now going to put a single crochet border around our piece. Work 3 single crochets around the double crochet you are now on; this is the corner. Work 2 single crochets around each double crochet until you reach another corner. Make 3 single crochets. You have now reached the original starting chain, and we're going to single crochet into the 'V' shapes until you reach the end.
Step 4
Work 2 single crochets around the next double crochet, then chain 20 to create the button loop. Work another single crochet in the same space to complete the corner. Work another 2 single crochet in each of the next double crochets. When you get to the last row, chain 17 to create the second button loop. Working 3 single crochets in the corner and 1 single crochet in each next stitch, complete your border.
Step 5
Using a different colour yarn, pull up a loop in between the first and second double crochet of the top row. Put your hook in between the next two stitches, pull up a loop and pull through the loop on your hook. Slip stitch around the next stitch in the same way until you reach the end of the row.
Make two more stripes using the slip stitch.
Step 6
Grab your two buttons, sewing thread and threading needle and sew on the buttons. Make sure you place them in the corners of your piece.
Step 7
If you had any ends left to sew in, now is the time. Use your darning needle to sew in the ends. It's usually a good idea to bring the ends to the back of your work and sew them in there, so they will be invisible from the front.
Give Your Mug a Hug and a Rug
You have now completed a cute crochet set for your favourite mug. Congratulations!
In this tutorial we've demonstrated how to crochet a simple coaster, with a seed stitch border. We've also made a cup cosy with contrasting stripes using the slip stitch.
Now all you need to do is give your mug a hug and a rug. Make a set using different colours and gift it to a loved one, or create one for yourself and be a hit at the office.
Are you going to create this set? Did you get inspired after seeing this tutorial? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
