My Cup of Tea

Someday I will make a real sweater.

Someday, when I find not only time, but also the perfect design. Something wonderfully classy that won’t go out of style before I finish knitting it. And something I will actually wear – and I mean a lot, if I’m going to spend that much time making it.

It’s a bucket list kind of thing.

In the meantime, I’m making sure the people I love stay warm.

Their heads, hands, ears, feet… and also their insides.

Hence, the mug sweater. It keeps the scalding heat in the drink and out of the fingers – and it lets me get creative!

This pattern begins with the same base as my Spring Wind mug sweater. If you don’t want a base, simply cast on 58 sts and begin knitting in pattern from the bottom edge of the mug sweater.

Basketweave Mug Sweater

Download printable PDF

Size: Fits a mug 3 ¼” (8.5 cm) in diameter, 3 ¾-4 ½” (10-12 cm) tall

Materials:

Worsted-weight yarn
size 5 (3.75 mm) double-pointed
size 10 ½ (6.5 mm) double-pointed needles
cable or extra double-pointed needle
button
tapestry needle

Gauge: This project isn’t large enough to make it worth your while to make a swatch. Just measure it against your mug as you go. (If you switch it to a circular needle, you can try it on.)

On smaller needles, CO 1 st, using a slip knot.

RS: K1, p1, k1 in same st. (3 sts)

Pass stitches to the other end of the needle and knit on the RS again (as for an i-cord): Kfb each stitch. (6 sts)

Repeat last row. (12 sts)

Divide the 12 sts onto 3 dp needles.

Round 1: *Kfb, k1, repeat from*

Round 2 (and all even rounds): Knit.

Round 3: Repeat round 1

Round 5: *Kfb, k2, repeat from* (36 sts)

Round 7: *Kfb, k3, repeat from* (45 sts)

Round 9: *Kfb, k4, repeat from* (54 sts)

Round 10: Knit.

You should now have a flat circle the same size as the base of your mug. If you need to make it a bit larger, knit additional increase rounds according to the same pattern.

Now, switching to larger needles, purl one round.

Next round: Knit, increasing four stitches evenly spread out.

Basketweave Pattern:

Abbreviations: C4F = Slip two stitches purlwise onto cable needle and hold in front of work. Knit the next 2 stitches from the left-hand needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.

C4B = Slip two stitches purlwise onto cable needle and hold behind work. Knit the next 2 stitches from the left-hand needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.

Round 1: K2, *C4F, repeat from * to end.

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: *C4B, repeat from *, K2.

Round 4: Knit.

Knit in the basketweave pattern to the height of your mug’s handle.

Then work back and forth, purling all stitches on all even or WS rows.

Row 1 (RS): K2, *C4F, repeat from * to end.

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: *C4B, repeat from *, K2.

Row 4: Purl

Work in pattern until the piece reaches your desired height, ending with row 4.

Next row: K2tog, *slip two stitches purlwise onto cable needle and hold in front of work. K2tog from left-hand needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. Repeat from * to end.

To bind off:  Go back to the first dpn with the RS facing you. Slip 2 stitches purlwise onto your left-hand needle, then pass the first over the second. Continue in this manner until all stitches are bound off.

Sew a button to one of the top corners. On the opposite corner, make a loop large enough to pass over the button. Weave in all ends.

Button it up, then go pour a mug of whatever you like to keep your insides warm. Or fill the mug with tea bags and hot chocolate mix, and give it as a gift!

P.S. Thanks to Rachel at Knitting Pattern Central for linking to my patterns!