Easy Crochet Mug Rug Pattern for Beginners
A handmade mug rug is a small, practical first project: it lets you practice even rows, tidy edges, and a simple border without committing to a blanket. This free pattern uses US crochet terms and basic single crochet stitches.
At a glance
- Skill level: Beginner
- Finished size: About 5 × 5 in (12.5 × 12.5 cm), depending on your yarn and tension
- Time: Around 1–2 hours
- Construction: Worked flat in rows, then edged in the round
Materials
- Approximately 35–45 yd (32–41 m) of worsted weight cotton yarn
- 5 mm (H/8) crochet hook, or a size that gives a firm fabric
- Yarn needle and scissors
- Stitch marker, optional
Cotton is a useful choice for a mug rug because it is absorbent. Keep hot cookware away from the finished piece; this project is intended for cups, not as a heatproof trivet.
US stitch key
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
The turning chain does not count as a stitch. Check the stitch count at the end of every row; each row should have 20 sc.
Pattern
Foundation: Ch 21.
Row 1: Sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. You have 20 sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 2–18: Sc in each of the 20 sts across. Ch 1 and turn after Rows 2–17. After Row 18, do not turn and do not fasten off.
Simple border
At the end of Row 18, you are at the top corner. Work 2 more sc in the last stitch to complete that corner (the final sc of Row 18 is the first of the 3 corner stitches). Work approximately 18 sc evenly down the side, placing one stitch in each row end. Work 3 sc in the bottom corner. Work 1 sc in each of the 20 foundation stitches along the bottom. Work 3 sc in the next corner. Work approximately 18 sc evenly up the other side. Work 3 sc in the top corner, then 1 sc in each of the remaining 19 stitches along Row 18. Join with a sl st to the first border sc. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
If the border ripples, use fewer stitches along the sides. If the edges pull inward, add a stitch or two. The goal is a flat square, so the side counts may vary slightly with your tension.
Finishing and care
Lay the mug rug flat and gently shape it into a square. Follow the care instructions on your yarn label. For a set, repeat the pattern in two or three coordinating colors.
Beginner tips
Place a marker in the first stitch of a row if you tend to miss the edge. Count across before turning. If your square becomes narrower, you probably skipped the last stitch; if it grows wider, you may have worked into the turning chain.
Pattern note: This is an original Crochet Mirth pattern written in US terminology. Finished dimensions are approximate.