# Crocheted Christmas Tree Mug Cozy Free Crochet Pattern
I’ll be honest — I have a soft spot for mug cozies that pull double duty, and this one is a real overachiever. Not only does it keep your coffee warm, it has a built-in coaster base, so you can skip the trivet entirely. The whole thing is worked in the mini bean stitch (also called the Elizabeth stitch), which slants in the loveliest textured way and makes the two little Christmas trees pop right off the fabric.
It uses barely any yarn, stitches up quickly, and the snap-fastener tabs mean it fits snugly around any standard mug. This is one of my favorite quick holiday gifts.
What you’ll need
- Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran — any worsted/aran acrylic works (100 g / 3.5 oz, 184 m per ball):
- Color A — Champagne White (202), about 40 m
- Color B — Pistachio (224), about 25 m
- 5 mm crochet hook
- Darning needle and scissors
- 2 x 7 mm invisible snap fasteners
- A standard mug
Pattern notes: Written in US terms. The base is worked in joined rounds and the sides in turned rows — and the ch-1 at the start of a round never counts as a stitch. Gauge isn’t critical; just size it to your own mug. Carry the unused color along the wrong (inside) of the cozy, and make your color changes in the ch-1 that closes a bean stitch, right before you need the new color.
Special stitch — mini bean: Yarn over, insert your hook into the indicated stitch or space and pull up a loop, yarn over and go back into the same spot, pull up a second loop, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on the hook, then chain 1. Each bean is worked into the little space at the side of the bean below it.
The pattern
The base (joined rounds, Color A):
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Round 1: Ch 4, slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring. Ch 1, then work 8 hdc into the center of the ring. Join. (8 hdc)
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Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 hdc into each stitch around. Join. (16 hdc)
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Round 3: Ch 1, *1 hdc in the next stitch, 2 hdc in the next stitch; repeat from * around. Join. (24 hdc)
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Round 4: Ch 1, *1 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 hdc in the next stitch; repeat from * around. Join. (32 hdc)
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Round 5: Ch 1, *1 hdc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 hdc in the next stitch; repeat from * around. Join. (40 hdc)
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Round 6: Ch 1, *1 bean stitch in the next stitch, skip the next stitch; repeat from * around. Join and turn. (20 bean stitches, 20 ch-1 spaces)
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Round 7: Ch 1, bean stitch in the ch-1 space under the join, skip a ch-1 space, then *1 bean in the next ch-1 space, skip a ch-1 space; repeat from * around. Join and turn. (20 bean, 20 ch-1 spaces)
The trees (turned rows):
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Row 1 (all A): Ch 1, hdc in the same stitch as the join, ch 1, skip a ch-1 space, bean stitch in the next ch-1 space, then *bean in the next ch-1 space, skip a ch-1 space* 17 more times; hdc into a ch-1 space. Leave the remaining beans unworked and turn. (18 bean, 2 hdc)
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Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in the same stitch, ch 1, skip a ch-1 space. With B, work 7 beans; with A, 4 beans; with B, 7 beans; with A, hdc in the last stitch. Turn. (A: 4 beans + 2 hdc; B: 14 beans)
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Row 3: With A: ch 1, hdc, ch 1, skip. With B: 6 beans; with A: 5 beans; with B: 6 beans; with A: 1 bean; hdc in the last stitch, then ch 6 and turn. (A: 6 beans + 2 hdc; B: 12 beans; plus a ch-6)
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Row 4: Work back down the chain — hdc in the 2nd chain from the hook and the next 4 chains, hdc in the next stitch, ch 1, skip a ch-1 space. With A: 1 bean; with B: 5 beans; with A: 6 beans; with B: 5 beans; with A: 1 bean; hdc in the last stitch. Turn. (A: 8 beans + 2 hdc; B: 10 beans)
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Row 5: With A: ch 1, hdc, ch 1, skip, 1 bean. With B: 4 beans; with A: 7 beans; with B: 4 beans; with A: 2 beans; hdc in the next stitch. Leave the remaining stitches unworked and turn. (A: 10 beans + 2 hdc; B: 8 beans)
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Row 6: With A: ch 1, hdc, ch 1, 2 beans. With B: 3 beans; with A: 8 beans; with B: 3 beans; with A: 2 beans; hdc in the last stitch. Turn. (A: 12 beans + 2 hdc; B: 6 beans)
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Row 7: With A: ch 1, hdc, ch 1, skip, 2 beans. With B: 2 beans; with A: 9 beans; with B: 2 beans; with A: 3 beans; hdc in the last stitch. Turn. (A: 14 beans + 2 hdc; B: 4 beans)
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Row 8: With A: ch 1, hdc, ch 1, skip, 3 beans. With B: 1 bean; with A: 10 beans; with B: 1 bean; with A: 3 beans; hdc in the last stitch. Turn. (A: 16 beans + 2 hdc; B: 2 beans)
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Row 9 (all A): Ch 1, hdc in the same stitch, ch 1, skip a ch-1 space, then bean stitch in each ch-1 space across to the last stitch; hdc in the last stitch, ch 6, turn. (18 beans, 2 hdc, 6 chains)
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Row 10: Work back down the chain — sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and the next 4 chains, then sc in the next stitch and in each ch-1 space and bean across; sc in the last stitch. (44 sc)
Fasten off and weave in all your ends. Sew the two snap fasteners onto the tabs so the cozy closes neatly behind your mug’s handle.
A few tips from my hook
- Any two colors work beautifully — try classic red and cream, or navy and gold for something moodier.
- If your mug is on the chunky side, go up a hook size for the base rounds; the pattern is very forgiving.
- Keep those floats tidy on the wrong side so the inside sits flat against the mug.
Nothing beats sipping cocoa from a mug dressed up in handmade trees. Make one for yourself, then make three more — your gift list will thank you. Happy hooking!
