Brew a cup of Christmas first thing in the morning and last thing at night with these joyful festive cosies.
By Amanda Berry
YOU WILL NEED
■ Yarn from your stash or Sirdar Hayfield Bonus DK (100% acrylic, 100g/280m) 1 ball of each Yarn A Ladybird (0698) Yarn B Emerald (0916) Yarn C Royal (0979) Yarn D White (0961) Yarn E Biscuit (0963) Yarn F Chocolate (0947) Yarn G Cornfield (0574)
Yarn H Clementine (0576) Note For Yarn G and Yarn H you only require a few metres of each shade
■ A pair of 3.5mm needles
■ Bobbins for intarsia colourwork
■ Toy filling, a large handful per character
■ 2 black beads (eyes) per character (6 in total), 5mm diameter
■ 2 white felt circles (to back eyes) per character (6 in total), 8mm diameter
■ Black embroidery thread (snowman’s mouth), 30cm
■ Star-shaped buttons (1 per mug
hug) 14mm diameter
■ Cosmetic blusher for cheeks
■ Sewing needle and thread
■ A safety pin for each character, 4cm long
■ Pompom maker, 3cm diameter
TENSION
23 sts and 29 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3.5mm needles
MEASUREMENTS
30cm long (unstretched) and 7cm tall (12x2¾in)
ABBREVIATIONS
inc3 Knit into the front, back, front and back again (3 sts increased)
For a full list see page 87
FESTIVE MUG HUGS
Notes Unless otherwise specified, use the cable cast on for all pieces. The heads are pinned onto the Mug Hug Sleeve with safety pins so they can be removed if you need to wash the Sleeve. You could also wear these as festive brooches or add a loop of yarn to the top to hang as decorations on your Christmas tree.
The Mug Hug Sleeves have a slipped stitch at the start of each row which gives a neat edge to the garter stitch cosy. When working the slipped edge, after slipping the first stitch, take the working yarn to the back of the work between the two needles ready to work the next stitch on the row.
MUG HUG SLEEVE (MAKE 1 PER MUG HUG)
Cast on 5 sts using 3.5mm needles and Yarn A, B, C or D.
Row 1 Sl 1, kfb, K to end. [6 sts] Row 2 to 12 Rep Row 1 another 11 times. [17 sts] Row 13 Sl 1, K to end. Rep Row 13 until the piece meas 25cm from cast-on edge.
Dec Row Sl 1, k2tog, K to end. [16 sts] Rep the Dec Row another 6 times. [10 sts] Buttonhole Row Sl 1, k2tog, K2, yo, k2tog, K3. [9 sts] Rep the Dec Row another 5 times. [4 sts] Next row Sl 1, k2tog, lift the 2nd stitch on the RH needle over the 1st, K1, lift the 2nd stitch on the RH needle over the 1st. [1 stitch] Break yarn and thread through rem
