# Reindeer Mug Cover Free Crochet Pattern
If your Christmas table needs a little whimsy, this reindeer mug cozy is it. A sunny yellow wrap, the sweetest brown antlers, and a fluffy pompom nose — it turns an ordinary mug into the cutest little reindeer you’ve ever sipped from. And if you’re team Rudolph, there’s a red-nose option too (obviously).
It works up fast in cotton yarn and fits a standard mug snugly, so it’s a wonderful last-minute gift or party favor.
What you’ll need
- Scheepjes Cotton 8 (100% cotton, 50 g / 170 m per ball), 1 ball of each:
- Color A — Yellow (722)
- Color B — Brown (659)
- Color C — Red (510, for the optional Rudolph nose)
- 3.5 mm crochet hook (US E/4)
- A mug about 8 cm in diameter and 9.5 cm tall
- 1 button (sized to your liking)
- A little stuffing
- A pompom maker
Pattern notes: Written with ch (chain), hdc (half double crochet), ss (slip stitch), and st(s) (stitch/es). Gauge isn’t critical — just check after a few rows that the cozy hugs your mug tightly.
The pattern
The cozy body:
With Color A, chain 45. Work back and forth in rows until you reach Row 15. In Row 15, work 12 chains to form the button loop — and here’s the important bit: size those chains to your button. A bigger button needs a few more chains, a smaller one a few less.
Sew the button right next to the top of your mug’s handle, then check that the cozy still fits snugly around the mug.
The antlers (make the Y-shape):
1. With Color B, start with a magic ring and work 1 sc in each stitch until the piece measures about 4 cm long.
2. With Color B, start another magic ring and work 1 sc in each stitch until the piece measures about 2 cm long.
3. Lightly stuff both pieces and sew the smaller one to the larger one to form the classic Y-shape of an antler. Make two.
The nose:
Make a pompom and trim it down to about 3 cm in diameter. Sew the pompom tail to the back of the cozy, roughly 2–3 rows up from the bottom edge — that’s the reindeer’s nose.
Putting it together:
Attach the antlers to the front of the cozy, and add a couple of anchoring stitches halfway down each antler so they stand up proudly and don’t topple over.
For a Rudolph: With Color C, start a magic ring, work a small round, stuff it lightly, and sew it on as a bright red nose. Instant Christmas icon.
A few tips from my hook
- Cotton yarn is perfect here — it holds its shape and shows off the stitches crisply.
- Make the pompom nice and dense before trimming; a full fluffy nose is the whole charm.
- Stitch the antlers on firmly — they’ll get a lot of admiring grabs.
Pour something warm, pop this little guy on your mug, and enjoy the compliments. Happy hooking!
