Mug Cozy Tutorial!

Okay...grab you crochet needles and some yarn, 'cause here is my very first tutorial! Quite some people asked for a crochet tutorial, so I thought I'd start with that. I kept it pretty simple, this must be do-able even if you're just a beginner! I know it's not a very original pattern, I'm definitely not the first one making a mug cozy. Still, I tried to give it a little unique twist with the wooden buttons. I hope you like it!

Now, get ready...let's start with what you will need.

I found my mugs at a thrift-store. I think it's the perfect place to find the right cups for this project! The yarn I used is fingering weight, in a slightly changing color. My crochet needle is 3.5.

Oh, one more thing...I won't explain the used stitches in this pattern ('chain' (ch), 'half double crochet' (hdc) and 'slip stitch' (sl st)). 

If you're not familiar with these stitches: just google them! There are plenty of places on the Web where you can find them explained, in pictures or in little Youtube movies. 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start with making a chain. The length of this chain depends on the size of your mug, actually the length of your chain will be the 'height' of your cozy. Look at the next picture to see what I mean!

2. When you've decided how long your chain should be, crochet 2 extra chains. This will be your first half double crochet (hdc) from  row 1. 

After this you will work al the way back on your chain, crocheting a hdc in every single chain, starting in the 3rd chain from the hook. 

In this little movie showing how I make some hdc's in the row 1 (in the chains):

3. You've worked your way through the chain and finished your first row of hdc's. Now it's time to turn around, and start working on row 2! To do this, you crochet two chains. Now you turn around your work (I usually put my crochet needle into the other side of the loop too, but this isn't absolutely necessary), and start crocheting hdc's again, starting in the 3rd stitch from the hook (just like with the first row!). 

Here's a movie showing how I turn around at the end of the row. I'm a few rows further already, but that doesn't mind, 'cause the technique is the same at every row.

4. Okido, now you know how to make a row of hdc's, and how to turn around at the end of the row. Keep repeating this for a long time!

6. Of course you will want to know when to stop crocheting new rows (unless you have a huuuuuuge mug ;-)). To decide when you're done, hold your cozy around your mug. You will have to leave a space between both ends of at least 2-3 cm. Don't be afraid to stretch your cozy a líttle bit for this!

7. Now it's time to make the two loops at the end! To do this, start crocheting slip stitches until you're at 1/3 of the row. Now stop crocheting in the row below, but start making a chain. When your chain is long enough, slip stitch again in the stitch where you started with your chain. From there, you will proceed slip stitching until you're at 2/3 of the row. Repeat making a loop, slip stitch again in the stitch where you started the chain, and proceed slip stitching in the rest (1/3) of the row until you're finished.

I made one of my loops slightly bigger than the other, because my mug isn't completely straight. By putting the smallest loop on the bottom, it will pull the cozy tighter at that point, following the shape of the mug.

Here's another movie, showing you how I made one of the two loops.

8. Tie off your yarn, the crocheting part is done now!

9. It's time to attach the buttons. Simply do this by putting a little sewing thread (color of your own choice) through the sewing needle. Of course you will sew them on the end of the cozy withóut the loops ;-) Sew them on the same heights as the loops (1/3 and 2/3 of the height). Just stitch your needle through your cozy, and tie off on the backside. 

10. You're almost done now! I decided to make 2 mug cozies, so maybe you want to finish some more too...

READY? Now go ahead and put your mug cozies around their mugs. Warm and snuggly...YAY!

These mugs are perfect for a hot cuppa'tea or coffee, or you can put little candle lights into them and use them as decorative items in your room!

So, that was my first tutorial. I hope you liked it, and I really hope the instructions were understandable! I thing I noticed is that it isn't easy to explain things well in a language that is not your own. Another thing is, that it costs quite some time to make good pics and movies, and put everything together! I really had fun doing this though, I just want to do something back for the craft community and everything I've learned from it for the past few years.

Did you like this tut, do you need help or did you make the cozies and wanna show them? Please leave a note, I'd LOVE that!