The Crochet Reindeer Cozy is a beginner friendly free crochet pattern that makes a great holiday gift idea! Full pattern and video tutorial below.
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Pattern Design + Construction:
This festive crochet pattern is quick and beginner friendly! I really enjoy the simplicity of this design, using only a few elements to create a little reindeer. It's an absolutely adorable Christmas gift idea to add some cheer to your favorite mug.
The Reindeer Cozy is great for beginners since it uses only the single crochet stitch and one color change for the base. The antlers and nose are crocheted separately and stitched on using a tapestry needle. The cozy is then seamed together using a tapestry needle.
This pattern is designed to fit a 16-20 oz. Starbucks travel mug, but another great feature is the cozy base can be adjusted to fit your mug of choice (details further down). The finished Crochet Reindeer Cozy measures approximately 3.5" tall by 4.75" wide when lying flat.
Pin this Crochet Reindeer Cozy Free Pattern to your crochet board on Pinterest for later!
Yarn:
This free crochet pattern is created using medium Worsted Weight (4) Yarn. I really enjoy designing projects using worsted weight yarn since it wears well while also being soft. It's the weight of yarn I consistently have on hand in a variety of colors. Below I've listed the specific brands and colors I've used, but you could easily substitute worsted weight as long as the ounces per gram are similar!
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color Cafe Latte
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color Cherry Red
Red Heart Super Saver, Medium 4, 7 oz / 198 g, in the color Coffee
Additional Crochet Supplies:
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Size G or 4mm Crochet Hook - https://amzn.to/3TVCtjH
Tapestry Needle / Yarn Needle - https://amzn.to/2VWOFb4
Scissors - https://amzn.to/3fjGu2o
Stitch Markers - https://amzn.to/3CRYkQU
Stitches/Techniques:
This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
Chain
SC - Single Crochet
Slip Stitch
Magic Circle
INC - Single Crochet Increase
DEC - Single Crochet Decrease
*repeat until the end of the round
(If you'd like to skip the magic circle nose, you could easily use a large red button or felt instead)
Crochet Reindeer Cozy - Free Pattern
For the PDF printable, ad-free pattern: CLICK HERE
To pin this pattern on Pinterest for later: CLICK HERE
To follow along with the video tutorial: CLICK HERE
Mug Size Adjustment
This pattern is designed to fit a Grande 16 oz. Starbucks travel mug (but I can also fit it on a venti). However, you can easily adjust your chain stitch amount on the base of the coffee cozy pattern to fit the mug of your choice! You'll chain the amount that fits perfectly around your mug + 1 chain stitch. For instance, if 32 stitches fit perfectly around your mug you will chain 33 and each row will be 32 stitches.
Reindeer Cozy Base:
With light brown yarn, chain 35
Rows 1-7: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (34 stitches)
on the last stitch of the 7th row, switch to red yarn; leave a long brown tail
Rows 8-14: SC in each stitch, chain 1 (34 stitches)
Tie off with a long red tail.
Reindeer Antlers:
With dark brown yarn, chain 7
(This gives us 6 working chains and the 7th is for the turn; so your first stitch will be in the 2nd chain from the hook)
Slip stitch in the first 3 chains
Chain 3 more
Slip stitch into the first 2 chains
Slip stitch into the last 3 chains of the original base chain.
In order to have the antlers symmetrical on the cozy, I turned the right side around backwards.
Reindeer Nose:
With red yarn,
Round 1: In a magic circle, SC 6 (6 stitches)
Round 2: INC in each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 3: SC in each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 4: DEC, SC in the next stitch* (8 stitches)
Slip stitch into the first stitch of the round.
Tie off with a long tail.
I used the beginning tail as stuffing, but you could easily add polyfil or some scrap yarn if you'd like.
Reindeer Cozy Assembly:
Using the long tails and a tapestry needle, attach the antlers and nose to the cozy base. There are 5 stitches in between the antlers and I centered the nose beneath them. Tie off on the back side and trim any excess yarn.
Invisible Seam
Fold the coffee cozy with the wrong side facing out (nose on the inside) and line up the rough edges.
Using a tapestry needle and the long cozy tails, stitch the rough ends together. You can use a whip stitch, or a simple back and forth stitch. Pay close attention to the top and bottom of the join to ensure it won't pull apart when stretched over the mug.
Tie off toward the center and weave in the loose ends.
Trim any excess yarn.
Turn right side out.
I'd love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @heathercorinne_ or Facebook @heathercorinnecrochets
(You're welcome to make and sell items using my patterns but do not use my pattern or pictures and claim them as your own. Clearly credit the design to me and provide a link back to my pattern. Personal Use Only. ©2022 Heather Corinne)
