25 Easy Halloween Amigurumi Patterns Free Tutorial

22. Ghost Mug Cozy

Wrap your morning coffee in handmade Halloween magic with this quick and cozy mug sleeve, featuring a sweet appliqued ghost. It is soft, functional, and works up in no time using basic stitches. Finished size is 4 inches / 10 cm tall to fit a standard mug, and making it takes about 1 hour.

Materials You Will Need

• Worsted weight cotton yarn (Category 4): 30 grams (50 metres) of White for cozy and ghost, small scrap of Black for ghost face embroidery
• 4.0 mm (US G/6) crochet hook
• Tapustry needle for weaving ends
• Scissors

Gauge

First 3 rows of cozy measure 5 cm wide and 2.5 cm tall. Working tightly ensures the cozy stays snug around your mug, so exact gauge is not critical.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• st = stitch
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• blo = back loop only
• flo = front loop only
• inc = increase (work 2 sc in same st)
• dec = decrease (insert hook into front loop of next 2 sts, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining 2 loops)

UK terms: sc = dc, hdc = htr, dc = tr.

Pattern Notes

• Working flat: the cozy body is worked in rows back and forth.
• Ghost applique is worked in rows.
• Stitch counts are shown in brackets at the end of each row.
• Turning chain 1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.

Instructions

Cozy Band – White, make 1

Ch 31.
Row 1: Working in the second ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn (30)
Row 2: Ch 1, working in blo, sc in each st across, turn (30)
Row 3 to Row 16: Repeat Row 2 (30)
Fasten off, leaving a 40 cm tail for sewing the two short ends together to form a cylinder.

Ghost Applique – White, make 1

Ch 7.
Row 1: Working in the second ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn (6)
Row 2: Ch 1, inc, sc in next 4 sts, inc, turn (8)
Row 3 to Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn (8)
Row 6: Ch 1, dec, sc in next 4 sts, dec, turn (6)
Row 7: Ch 1, (sc in next st, ch 2, sl st in same st) across the bottom edge to form little ghost ruffles.
Fasten off, leaving a 25 cm tail for sewing.

Assembly

Wrap the cozy band around your mug, lining up the two short ends. Use the long tail and tapestry needle to mattress stitch the ends together securely, creating a seamless tube. Weave in any loose ends inside the cozy.

Finishing

Using a length of black yarn and your tapestry needle, embroider two small round eyes and a smiling mouth onto the front center of the ghost applique. Pin the ghost applique onto the front of the assembled cozy band, centered between the top and bottom edges. Use the white yarn tail to whipstitch the ghost securely to the cozy band, catching only the surface loops so stitches do not show on the inside.

Tips and Common Mistakes

• Make sure to count your stitches at the end of every row so your cozy edges stay straight and even.
• Working in the back loop only (BLO) creates a nice ribbed texture that adds stretch and grip to the mug cozy.
• Keep your embroidery tension relaxed so the ghost face does not pucker the fabric of the applique.
• Always weave your yarn tails securely through multiple stitches to prevent unraveling with frequent use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use acrylic yarn instead of cotton?
Cotton is recommended because it is heat-resistant and durable for holding hot mugs, but acrylic yarn can work if you do not use it with boiling hot liquids.

How do I wash the mug cozy?
Remove the cozy from your mug and hand wash it in warm soapy water, then lay flat to dry.

Can I adjust the size of the cozy?
Yes, simply chain more or fewer stitches at the beginning to fit wider or narrower mugs, keeping the stitch count a multiple of 1.

Is this project safe for children?
Yes, this project uses yarn embroidery for the face features, making it completely safe with no small plastic parts.