Bring holiday cheer to your coffee table with this crochet Santa mug rug!
Using soft cotton yarn, this beginner-friendly crochet pattern combines festive colors and a simple Santa-inspired design.
Perfect as a crochet gift idea or a fun crochet idea to add to your holiday décor, this mug rug is quick to make, charming, and functional.
Keep your mugs cozy and your surfaces protected while celebrating the season in handmade style.
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This crochet Santa mug rug is the perfect little project to add holiday charm to your kitchen or coffee table.
Small, festive, and beginner-friendly, it works up quickly and brings a pop of Christmas spirit to every cup of cocoa, coffee, or tea.
Featuring Santa's classic colors - red, white, and black - this crochet pattern is both playful and practical.
The design is simple yet eye-catching. The red section represents Santa's suit, the black stripe forms his belt, to mimic his outfit.
Even beginners can make this festive crochet idea, as it uses basic stitches with a few simple color changes!
These crochet santa mug rugs are also excellent crochet gift ideas.
Make a set of four or six, bundle them with a festive mug and some hot chocolate, and you've got a charming handmade present ready to delight friends, family, or coworkers.
The small size and quick make time make them perfect for last-minute gifting or craft swaps.
Because they are small, portable, and fun to make, these mug rugs are a great way to practice neat color changes, stitch tension, and finishing techniques.
Plus, they're fully customizable: adjust the size for larger mugs, add a little pom-pom embellishment, or try different yarn textures for extra coziness.
Whether used as holiday décor, a gift, or a personal treat, the crochet Santa mug rug brings warmth, and fun to every holiday gathering.
Why You'll Love This Pattern
- Beginner-friendly and quick to make
- Small, festive, and functional
- Uses basic stitches with simple color changes
- Perfect crochet gift idea for the holidays
- Fun and practical crochet idea for Christmas décor
Materials Needed
Yarn
#2 light (DK, light worsted, 8ply) 100% cotton or cotton blend yarn with about 15 wraps per inch (WPI)*
- You will need about 0.50 ounces (15 grams) of yarn.
- You will need 3 different colors (suit color, belt color, belt buckle color).
Hook
- 3.5 mm (E/4) hook
- 3 mm hook
Other
- Yarn needle for weaving ends
- Scissors
*Wraps per inch (WPI) - this is a measure of yarn thickness. To measure WPI, count how many times the yarn wraps around a ruler in one inch. There are more wraps for thinner yarn and fewer wraps for thicker yarn.
Stitches and Abbreviations - US Terms
- Ch/s - Chain/s
- St/s - Stitch/es
- Hk - Hook
- Col - Color
- Sc - Single Crochet
- Sk - Skip
- Ch1sp - Chain 1 Space
- Ch2sp - Chain 2 Space
- Hdc - Half Double Crochet
- Sl St - Slip Stitch
- Traverse Sl St - Traverse slip stitch (see special stitches below)
- [ ] at the end of each row indicates how many stitches are needed in that row.
Special Stitches
Traverse slip stitch
- Insert hook into stitch, yarn over (1 loop on hook).
- Insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop and then pull that loop through the 1st loop already on your hook. Completed traverse slip stitch.
Gauge
Gauge is not too important for this crochet mug rug.
Finished Size
The finished size of this Christmas crochet mug rug is about 5 inches x 3 inches (12 cm x 7.5 cm) excluding the fringe.
Copyright Notice
This pattern and its contents are protected by copyright law. It may not be copied, altered, redistributed, resold, translated, or used to produce photo or video tutorials in any format, either in whole or in part.
You are permitted to sell finished items made using this pattern. However, the written pattern itself may not be sold, shared, or distributed in any form. When marketing or displaying your finished items, please photograph your own work and refrain from using any of my original images.
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Instructions
- Col A - Suit Color, e.g. red or green
- Col B - Belt Color, e.g. black
- Col C - Buckle Color, e.g. yellow or gold
Foundation: 3.5mm hk, Col A, Ch 28.
Row 1: Working in the back bump of the chs, in 3rd ch from hook 1 sc. *Ch1, sk next ch, 1 sc in next ch*, repeat from * until you reach the end. Make sure your final st is a sc in the last ch. Turn. [14 sc, 1 ch2sp, 13 ch1sp]. Ch2sp is made by skipping the 1st 2 chs from your hk when you start.
Row 2: Ch2 (doesn't count as a st), in 1st ch1sp make 1 sc (new ch2sp formed), *ch1, 1 sc in next ch1sp,* rpt from * until you reach the last sp (ch2sp). Ch1, in the last sp (ch2sp) 1 sc. Turn. [14 sc, 1 ch2sp, 13 ch1sp].
Row 3 - 5: Repeat row 2.
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Row 6: Join with Col B, Ch2 (doesn't count as a st), in 1st ch1sp make 1 sc (new ch2sp formed), *ch1, 1 sc in next ch1sp,* rpt from * until you reach the last sp (ch2sp). Ch1, in the last sp (ch2sp) 1 sc. Turn. [14 sc, 1 ch2sp, 13 ch1sp].
Row 7 - 8: Ch2 (doesn't count as a st), in 1st ch1sp make 1 sc (new ch2sp formed), *ch1, 1 sc in next ch1sp,* rpt from * until you reach the last sp (ch2sp). Ch1, in the last sp (ch2sp) 1 sc. Turn. [14 sc, 1 ch2sp, 13 ch1sp].
Row 9: Join with Col A, repeat row 2.
Row 10 -12: Repeat row 2. Turn. Don't fasten off. Your rectangle piece should be about 4.5 inches long and 2.5 inches (11 cm x 6 cm) wide.
Making the border
For the border, you will be working in rounds instead of rows.
Round 1: Ch1, make 1 sc in each st around, starting from the top right corner. In each corner make 3 sc. Sl st into top of 1st sc to join.
Round 2: Ch2, 1 hdc into each st around sl st intop to of 1st hdc to join. Fasten off and weave in any ends.
Adding the belt buckle
Using Col C and your 3mm hk:
With the right side facing up. Traverse sl st into top of row 8 into the 5th st (not counting the border), sl st across the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th sts.
Turn your work anti clockwise and work 4 sl st down rows 8, 7, 6, and 5.
Again, turn your work anticlockwise and work 5 sl st parallel to the ones you made in the top of row 8.
Once more, turn your work anticlockwise once more and sl st up rows 5, 6, 7, and 8 and join with the first sl st.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Adding the fringe
Step 1: Cut yarn strands that are at least double the desired length of your fringe. You will also need a little extra for trimming.
We cut out strands to about 5 inches (12 cm) long. For the fringe, you could use all the same color yarn strands or mix it up and use a variety of different yarn colors. Then, take 4 or 5 strands for each fringe and fold them in half.
Step 2: Insert your hook into the crochet mug rug's end space where you want the fringe to be. Then, place the folded yarn loops on to the hook.
Step 3: Pull the yarn strands and hook through the stitch, but don't pull the ends of the yarn strands through.
Then, wrap the ends of the yarn strands around the hook and pull them through the loop to create a knot. Gently tug of the strands to tighten the knot.
Step 4: Repeat previous steps with about 4-5 yarn strands per fringe. Make sure you space the fringe strands evenly.
Step 6: Once the strands are all attached, trim them to an even length.
Crochet Tips, Yarn Choices, and Color Inspiration
- Cotton yarn works best for coasters or mug rugs - it absorbs spills and is easy to wash
- Acrylic yarn gives soft, vibrant colors and durability
- Try embellishing with a small pom-pom or embroidered face for extra charm
- Make a set with matching easy Santa crochet coasters for a festive table
- Perfect for gifting - pair with a holiday mug and cocoa mix
FAQ
Absolutely! It's made with basic stitches and simple color changes.
Yes! Add rows and stitches to fit larger mugs or travel cups.
Optional - blocking helps edges lie flat but isn't necessary.
Definitely. Multiple mug rugs make a lovely crochet gift idea or holiday table set.
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