I just learned how to crochet the star stitch pattern and recently made a few dish towels for the kitchen. They turned out pretty well, so I thought I’d continue to ride that wave and make some coffee cozies to get an early start on holiday crafts. Typically, I follow a new pattern to the T, however I thought I’d get a little creative after mastering the star stitch.

When making coffee cozies for a mug or a recyclable cup, it’s good to make sure they’re snug so they don’t slip off, especially if your cup doesn’t have any handles. Obviously you’ll notice many mugs slim down in size the further down you go. I wish that were true for the female anatomy! So instead of ending the row with a half double crochet, you can end with a single crochet and the bottom part of your coffee cozy will decrease in size.

Once you size the sleeve to the mug of your choice, there are several ways you can finish off the cozy. One easy way is to crochet both ends together and circle the edges with one round of single crochet to even out the shape. Another way that’s super easy, but just a tad bit fancier is sewing on a button and creating a loop (using chains) that either goes through or above the handle. This requires some measuring and a few attempts to size the loop so that it hugs the button snugly.

Making coffee cozies are quick crochet projects that you can do in one sitting and it’s easy to get carried away with the small details. It’s likely you’ll end up making more than just one — especially if your friends catch a glimpse of these. They also make good Christmas presents. To go the extra mile, consider topping it off with hot cocoa and chocolate dipped spoons, or a few bags of your favorite loose leaf tea and maybe even some honey. Your friends and family are going to love you!