Blue crocheted mug with white rim and red candy cane on beige background surrounded by holiday greenery, pinecones, and lights.

Cozy Cocoa Mug Gift Card Holder Crochet Pattern

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This little mug is a gift card holder and a tree ornament in one. It has a soft light blue mug body, a cream whipped cream topping, a bumpy cream trim along the rim and a curved side handle. A red-and-cream candy cane sits on the front, and a small loop at the top lets it hang from a branch or a present.

The colors are light blue, cream and red. The style is cozy cottage Christmas: plain single crochet texture, rounded bottom corners, and a whipped cream mound that rises above the rim. The front panel stops at the rim trim, so a standard gift card slides into the pocket between the front and back panels.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is about 5.75 in (14.6 cm) wide including the handle and 5.4 in (13.7 cm) tall not counting the hanging loop.

Construction is simple. You crochet a front panel and a back panel in rows of single crochet. The front ends with a scalloped cream rim. The back continues into a shaped cream topping with a scalloped edge. You whipstitch the panels together along the sides and bottom and work one border round. Then you sew on the handle, candy cane, cream swirl and loop.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: about 5.75 in (14.6 cm) wide x 5.4 in (13.7 cm) tall, plus a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) loop
  • Skill level: Easy
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
  • Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
  • Number of pieces: one finished holder made from 6 parts: front panel, back panel, handle, candy cane, swirl and loop
  • Layout: the front panel lies on top of the back panel, and the top is left open to form a pocket
  • Panel size (mug body): 4 in (10.2 cm) wide x 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall
  • Body size before border: 4 in x 3.3 in (10.2 cm x 8.4 cm)
  • Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on the sides and bottom
  • Body size after border: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 3.6 in (9.1 cm) tall
  • Pocket width inside: about 3.8 in (9.7 cm), which fits a 3.375 in x 2.125 in (8.6 cm x 5.4 cm) card

Materials

Use a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend for crisp stitches and a firm pocket. Acrylic also works, but it makes a softer, stretchier holder.

  • Main color (MC), light blue: 15 g / 30 m (33 yd)
  • Cream (CC1): 8 g / 16 m (17 yd)
  • Red (CC2): 2 g / 4 m (4 yd)

These amounts include about 30 percent extra for checking gauge and sewing. For other colorways, change the light blue to pink, forest green or deep red and keep the cream and red the same.

Tools:

  • 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors
  • 2 locking stitch markers
  • Ruler or tape measure
  • Pins and a blocking mat
  • A gift card for test-fitting

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sc – single crochet
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc2tog – single crochet 2 together: insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, insert hook in following st, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops (1 st decreased)
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • rep – repeat
  • RS – right side
  • MC / CC – main color / contrast color

Special stitch – Scallop: 3 hdc in the same stitch.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc rows.

Make the front panel first as your test piece. Measure across the straight rows in the middle, not the shaped rows at the bottom. Check it at each stage:

  • After Row 3: 16 sts measure 4 in (10.2 cm) across.
  • After Row 15: the panel measures 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall.
  • After Row 17: the front measures about 3.8 in (9.7 cm) tall including the rim.
  • After the border: the joined body measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide.

If the panel is too big, go down a hook size (3.75 mm). If it is too small, go up a size (4.5 mm). Width matters most. The pocket needs at least 3.5 in (8.9 cm) of inside width for the card.

Close-up texture detail of cream-colored crochet stitches blending with blue yarn in handmade textile.

Front Panel

With MC, ch 13.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (12 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (14 sc)

Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (16 sc)

These two increase rows round off the bottom corners of the mug.

Rows 4–15: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (16 sc per row)

Checkpoint: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide x 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall. Fasten off MC.

Row 16 (cream): With RS facing, join cream in the first st. Ch 1, sc in first 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in last 8 sts. Turn. (16 sc worked + 1 added = 17 sc)

The extra stitch gives Row 17 an odd number of stitches, so the scallops start and end on a slip stitch.

Row 17 (rim trim): Ch 1, sl st in first st, *Scallop in next st, sl st in next st; rep from * 7 more times. (8 scallops; 33 sts: 24 hdc + 9 sl st)

Fasten off and weave in the ends. This row makes the bumpy cream rim across the front.

Back Panel

Work Rows 1–15 exactly as for the front panel in MC. (16 sc) Fasten off MC.

Whipped cream topping (cream):

Row 16: With RS facing, join cream. Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (16 sc)

Row 17: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 12 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (14 sc)

Row 18: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (12 sc)

Row 19: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog. (10 sc) Fasten off.

Checkpoint: the cream section is about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) tall and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide at the top.

Topping Edging Row A: With RS facing, join cream in the end of Row 16 on the right edge. Ch 1. Work 4 sc up the row ends of Rows 16–19. Work 2 sc in the first st of Row 19, sc in the next 8 sts, and 2 sc in the last st. Work 4 sc down the row ends of Rows 19–16. Turn. (4 + 12 + 4 = 20 sc)

Topping Edging Row B: Ch 1, *Scallop in next st, sl st in next st; rep from * 9 more times. (10 scallops; 40 sts)

Fasten off. The scallops make a soft, layered whipped cream edge. The topping now rises about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) above Row 15.

Handle

With MC, ch 18.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (17 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) 4 times, sc in next 5 sts. (17 sts worked + 4 added = 21 sc)

The extra stitches make one edge longer, so the strip curves into a C shape. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The strip is about 4.25 in (10.8 cm) long and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide.

Candy Cane

With cream, ch 11.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (10 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in each of next 4 sts. (10 sts worked + 4 added = 14 sc)

The end with the increases curls into the hook of the cane. Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Shape the curl with your fingers. The cane is about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tall.

Stripes: Thread red onto the needle. Wrap it diagonally around the cane 6 times, about 0.3 in (0.8 cm) apart. Secure both red ends on the back.

Swirl and Loop

Swirl: With cream, ch 13. Work 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (12 ch worked x 2 = 24 sc) The strip twists into a corkscrew. Coil it into a small mound about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across and tack it in place with the tail.

Loop: With MC, ch 10, then sl st in first ch to form a ring. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The loop stands about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.

Make All Pieces

Parts by color:

  • MC: front panel (Rows 1–15), back panel (Rows 1–15), handle, loop and border
  • Cream: front rim (Rows 16–17), topping (Rows 16–19, Edging Rows A and B), candy cane and swirl
  • Red: candy cane stripes

How the parts stack, seen from the front:

        [ loop ]
        [ swirl ]
   [ cream topping - back ]
   [ rim trim - front     ]
   [ cane | mug body      ] ( handle
   [ border: sides + bottom ]

Joining

Place the back panel face down. Lay the front panel on top, RS up, with the bottoms and sides lined up. The front rim sits in front of the cream topping. Put a locking marker at Row 15 on each side so you know where to stop.

Thread a 24 in (61.0 cm) MC strand on the needle. Start at the top of Row 15 on one side. Whipstitch down that side, across the bottom and up the other side to Row 15.

Stitch-to-stitch logic:

  • Each side: the 15 row ends on the front match the 15 row ends on the back. Make 1 whipstitch per row end.
  • Bottom: the 12 foundation sts on the front match the 12 on the back. Make 1 whipstitch per st.

Leave Rows 16 and above unjoined. This is the pocket opening.

Tension: Pull each stitch snug but not tight. A tight seam puckers the sides and narrows the pocket.

Checkpoint: The body still measures 4 in (10.2 cm) wide. Slide in the card now to test the fit.

Border

Border gauge: Work 1 sc per row end along the sides and 1 sc per stitch along the bottom, in MC through both layers.

Border Round: With the front facing you, join MC at the top of the right edge (the Row 15 row end), working through both layers.

  • Right side: 1 sc in each row end down Rows 15–1. (15 sc)
  • Bottom: 2 sc in first foundation st, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in last st. (12 sts worked + 2 added = 14 sc, including both corner increases)
  • Left side: 1 sc in each row end up Rows 1–15. (15 sc)

Total: 15 + 14 + 15 = 44 sc. Fasten off.

Why the math works: Each side has 15 rows, so 15 sc cover the side with no gaps. The bottom has 12 stitches, so 12 sc match them. The 2 extra stitches turn the rounded corners and keep the edge flat. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each side, so 4 in + 0.25 in + 0.25 in = 4.5 in (11.4 cm).

Final Assembly

  1. Handle: Pin the handle to the right border with the longer curved edge facing out. Sew one end at Rows 12–13 and the other at Rows 3–4. It sticks out about 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
  2. Candy cane: Pin the cane to the front panel 0.5 in (1.3 cm) from the left edge, with its base at Row 4 and its hook at Row 12. Sew through the front layer only so the pocket stays open.
  3. Swirl: Sew the swirl to the top center of the topping.
  4. Loop: Sew both ends of the loop behind the swirl, on the back.

The card can sit fully inside the pocket. You can also pull it up about 1 in (2.5 cm) so its top shows above the rim.

Final Blocking

  1. Weave in all ends inside the pocket or under the border.
  2. Slide a card-sized piece of cardstock into the pocket.
  3. Pin the body to 4.5 in x 3.6 in (11.4 cm x 9.1 cm).
  4. Pin the handle into a smooth C shape.
  5. Spray lightly with water until damp.
  6. Shape the scallops with your fingertips.
  7. Let it dry fully, then remove the cardstock.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • The body is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide and 3.6 in (9.1 cm) tall
  • The front rim shows 8 even scallops
  • The topping edge shows 10 scallops
  • The border has 44 sc with smooth corners
  • The pocket opens fully across the top
  • A gift card slides in without forcing
  • The handle forms an even C
  • The candy cane stripes are evenly spaced
  • The loop is secure and centered

Troubleshooting

The card doesn’t fit: Your gauge is tight. Remake the panels with a 4.5 mm hook, or loosen the whipstitch.

The sides ripple: The border is too loose. Use a smaller hook for the border only.

The bottom corners are pointed: Check that you worked 2 sc in the first and last foundation st.

The handle is too straight: Add 2 more increases in Row 2.

The topping leans: Check that Rows 17–19 each have 2 decreases.

The scallops look flat: Make sure each scallop is 3 hdc in one stitch with a sl st between scallops.

The rim trim curls: Pin it flat and mist it with water.

Care

Remove the gift card first. Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry.

Blue crocheted mug ornament with candy cane and cream rim, hanging on evergreen tree with red berries and glowing lights.

Final Notes

Each size depends on the step before it. A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 4 in (10.2 cm) wide panel. The 15 rows give 3.3 in (8.4 cm) of height. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) to each edge, for a 4.5 in x 3.6 in (11.4 cm x 9.1 cm) body. The topping and swirl bring the height to 5.4 in (13.7 cm), and the handle brings the width to 5.75 in (14.6 cm). Check each stage and the card will fit.

Happy crocheting!

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