I felt like being a little silly this week when I designed the Sheep Mug Cozy!
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Some of the mug cozies that I have seen on Pinterest are so cute and fun. I’ve been planning on making one for myself, but couldn’t decide just what I wanted. When I first started this project, I wanted an alpaca. They’re all the rage right now and oh so adorable! They look like they’re smiling. So friendly!
Anyway, I tried for hours and just could not get the face to even remotely resemble an alpaca. Needless to say, that idea went out the window. That’s when I decided on the sheep. What says “crochetaholic” better than sheep!? Ha!
This is an easy project that works up super quickly. The Sheep Mug Cozy would make a great gift for teachers, coworkers, neighbors, church members, friends or any other sheep lover or yarn addict!
The cozy uses buttons to keep in place, so you will have to do some very minor sewing. The sheep face is an applique and will also need to be stitched on, but that one uses yarn and a tapestry needle rather than a tiny sewing needle and thread that you need for the two buttons.
Originally, I didn’t put any eyes on it. And it’s completely optional if you don’t like the googly eyes. Here is how it looked without the eyes. Very country!
I added the googly eyes because I thought it made the mug cozy more fun and my kids and husband loved it! I used craft glue to attach them.
Just know that if you use the googly eyes, I’m not sure if the eyes would pop off in the wash. It might be best to hand wash and try to stay away from the eyes. Or you could have a bag of replacements. I know the bag I bought had quite a few eyes in it and I rarely use them. I could just replace them if they pop off. Just a thought…
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Add this project to your Ravelry queue here…
Sheep Mug Cozy
Materials Used:
- Lion Brand Homespun in Deco – 6 oz/170 g – 185 yds/169 m
Or any size 5 bulky weight yarn - Red Heart Super Saver in Black – 7 oz/198 g – 364 yds/333 m
Or any worsted weight yarn - H/8 (5.00 mm) hook — My favorite hooks! I use them daily!
- K (6.50 mm) hook
- Tapestry needle
- Two ½” buttons
- Sewing needle and thread
- Two small googly eyes
- Craft glue
Finished Size Approximately:
10 ½” Wide x 3 ¼” Height
11 ½” Wide including button holes
Gauge:
10 single crochet stitches and 10 rows in a 4” (10cm) square using K (6.5 mm) hook.
Special Stitches:
Cluster Stitch
YO, insert hook in st, YO, draw back through st, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook, (YO, insert hook back into same st, YO, draw back through st, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook) twice, YO, draw through all 4 loops on hook.
Abbreviations:
FC – foundation chain (starting chain)
YO – yarn over
st(s) – stitch(es)
ch(s) – chain(s)
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
Notes:
- Fits a standard sized mug (3.75” Height, 3” Diameter, 10 ½” Circumference)
*** American crochet terms used throughout.
Instructions:
Sheep’s Body
Make 1 using Homespun and K (6.5 mm) hook
FC: Ch 30
Row 1: In 2nd ch from hook, sc. *Cluster st in next st, sc in next st* Repeat from * to * across. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in the st the ch 1 comes out of, sc in every st across. Turn. (29 sc)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the st the ch 1 comes out of, sc in next st. *Cluster st in next st, sc in next st* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Sc in next 4 sts. Repeat * to * 6 more times. Sc in last st. Turn.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in the st the ch 1 comes out of, *Cluster st in next st, sc in next st* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Sc in next 6 sts. Repeat from * to * 6 more times. Turn.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2
Row 7: Repeat Row 3
Row 8: Repeat Row 2
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in the st the ch 1 comes out of, *Cluster st in next st, sc in next st* Repeat from * to * across. Don’t turn.
Note: The next row will be worked along the short edge. You will be adding the button holes. There are no actual stitches to work into so you will be instructed to crochet evenly along the edge. No large gaps between the stitches.
Note: If you prefer your button holes to go around the outside of the mug handle instead of through it, ch 10 for those loops in Row 10 instead of the recommended ch 8.
Row 10: Ch 1. Working along the short edge of the mug cozy, evenly sc 2 sts, ch 8, working right next to the last sc you just made, evenly sc 5 more along the edge. Ch 8. Working right next to the last sc you just made, evenly sc 2 more. Sl st into the corner st. Finish off. Weave in ends.
Using a needle and thread, attach your buttons in the indents at the beginning of Rows 3 and 7 on the cluster puffs side of the mug cozy. (The side opposite the button holes)
Head
Make 1 using Black and H/8 (5.00 mm) hook
FC: Ch 5
Round 1: In 2nd ch from hook, 2 hdc. Dc in next 2 chs, 8 dc in last ch. Working along the opposited edge of your foundation chain, dc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in last st, ch 2, sl st in 1st hdc made of round. Don’t turn.
Round 2: Ch 1, skip the st the ch 1 comes out of, sl st in next 5 sts. *In the same st you made your last sl st, (ch 3, dc, ch 2, dc, ch 3, sl st) all in that same st.* Sl st in next 4 sts. Repeat from * to * once more. Sl st in next 5 sts, (sl st, ch 1, sl st) all in the ch-2 space, sl st in the 1st sl st you made of Round 2.
Finish off. Leave a 10” – 12” tail for sewing.
Note: Gently squeeze the stitches of the ears to shape them how you would like. They will be stitched to the mug cozy, which will help them keep their shape.
Place your sheep’s head in the empty sc gap in the center of the mug cozy body.
Using a tapestry needle and the long black tail from the head, stitch the head to the body. Make sure you are happy with the shape of the ears and stitch those to the body as well.
Using the craft glue, apply a tiny drop to the back of a googly eye and gently place it on the face. Don’t use too much glue because it will spill out around the eye. Most glues dry clear, so if this happens, you can try to wipe away any excess with your finger or a damp cloth. Repeat with the second eye.
Wrap your sheep mug cozy around the mug where the flat side is touching the mug and the cluster puffs are facing outward. Wrap your button hole loops around the corresponding buttons.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the Sheep Mug Cozy pattern!
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