Knitted Mug

After knitting the cupcakes I thought I might make up my own free knitting pattern for a mug. I did toy with the idea of a chintzy teacup and saucer but that was a pattern too far! The instructions are for a striped mug, but the body of the mug is really a blank canvas. Why not create your own design, plain, patterned or even words. You could also add a tea bag tag. On the tag you could write a message "Happy Birthday", "Thank You" etc. To knit the mug I used double knitting wool in white, green and brown. 4 UK No. 9 (3.75mm, US 5) double ended knitting needles. Polyester wadding for stuffing. A disc of plastic or cardboard, to put in the base of the mug, with a diameter of about 7cm.

Using white yarn, cast on 6 sts on dpns.

Row 1 (and all odd-numbered rows): k all sts

Row 2: kfb into each st (12 sts)

Row 4: [kfb, k1] across (18 sts)

Row 6: [kfb, k1] across (27 sts)

Row 8: [kfb, k2] across (36 sts)

Row 10: [kfb, k2] across (48 sts)

Row 11: k (48 sts)

Row 12: p (48 sts)

Rows 13-15 k

Rows 16-19 change to green colour k

Rows 20-23 change to white colour k

Rows 24-27 change to green colour k

Rows 28-31 change to white colour k

Rows 32-35 change to green colour k

Rows 36-39 change to white colour k

Rows 40-43 change to green colour k

Rows 43-45 change to white colour k

Row 46: p

Rows 47-54 k

Change to brown colour

Row 55: k

At this point I cut a circle of plastic 7cm wide, place it at the base of the mug. Fill mug with stuffing, up to about row 35

Row 56: k2tog k2 across (36 sts)

Row 58: k2tog k2 across (27 sts)

Row 60: k2tog k1 across (18 sts)

Row 62: k2tog k1 across (12 sts)

Row 64: k2tog across (6 sts)

Cut the yarn. Thread a needle with yarn and run it through the remaining stitches and fasten off.

Push down the brown top to form the drink inside the mug.

Alternatively you can make an "empty" mug.

Omit the stuffing.

Rows 47-77 k

Place plastic circle in the base

Row 78: k2tog k2 across (36 sts)

Row 80: k2tog k2 across (27 sts)

Row 82: k2tog k1 across (18 sts)

Row 84: k2tog k1 across (12 sts)

Row 86: k2tog across (6 sts)

Cut the yarn. Thread a needle with yarn and run it through the remaining stitches and fasten off.

Push inside to form mug

The Handle (made from I-Cord)

Cast on 8 sts using 2 double pointed needles. Knit, don't turn.

Slip the sts back to the beginning of the needle and k the row again.

Continue in this manner until you have a short length of knitting, pull down on the cord and the gap at the back will close.

K about 38 rows. Cast off leaving a long enough length of yarn to sew the handle on to the body of the mug. To stuff the handle I rolled a piece of polyester fleece and threaded it through the I-Cord. Attach the handle to the mug.

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