Hearthside Ridges Glass Cup Cozy

A thick, snug sleeve for a drinking glass or pint glass, worked in chunky yarn so it stitches up in one evening. Back-loop half double crochet stacks into warm horizontal ridges — a little like tree bark or a harvest pumpkin — and a tiny leaf-and-tendril applique is sewn to the rim. Beginner-friendly: no increases, no fancy stitches, and a straight tube that stretches to fit.

Materials

• Yarn: Chunky / bulky weight (#5), 50 yd (46 m) main color (MC). About 5 yd (5 m) contrasting color (CC) for the leaf.
  • Suggested MC: rust, oatmeal, burgundy, or forest.
  • Suggested CC: olive or moss green.
• Hook: US K-10.5 / 6.5 mm (or size needed to obtain gauge). Dense fabric is the goal — the glass should not show through.
• Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, 1 stitch marker.

Yardage is for the cozy plus leaf. One typical chunky skein (100–120 yd) will make two cozies.

Gauge

12 hdc and 9 hdc rounds = 4 in (10 cm) with US K-10.5 / 6.5 mm, measured over hdc BLO after a few rounds.

Check gauge before you start. If you have fewer than 12 sts in 4 in, go down a hook size. If you have more than 12 sts, go up a hook size. A too-loose cozy will slouch; a too-tight one will be hard to slide on.

Stitch gauge used for sizing: 12 sts ÷ 4 in = 3 sts per in. Round gauge used for sizing: 9 rnds ÷ 4 in = 2.25 rnds per in.

Sizes

One size, to fit most glass tumblers, 16-oz pint glasses, and wide mason jars.

• Finished circumference (unstretched): 9¼ in (23.5 cm) — 28 sts ÷ 12 sts × 4 in = 9.33 in ✓
• Finished height: 3½ in (9 cm) — 8 rnds ÷ 9 rnds × 4 in = 3.56 in ✓

The fabric stretches about 1–1½ in in circumference, so it fits glasses measuring 9½–11 in (24–28 cm) around at the midpoint. For a custom fit, measure your glass at the middle and make the cozy ½–1 in smaller than that number. Add or subtract 2 foundation chains for every ⅔ in (2 sts ÷ 3 sts per in = 0.67 in ✓) of circumference change. Keep an even stitch count.

Abbreviations (US)

• BLO — back loop only
• CC — contrasting color
• ch — chain
• hdc — half double crochet
• MC — main color
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• RS — right side
• sc — single crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)

Pattern Notes

• US crochet terminology throughout.
• Worked in joined rounds, always with the RS facing. Do not turn at the end of a round.
• Ch 2 at the start of a round does NOT count as a stitch. Skip it when you join.
• Join every round with a sl st to the first hdc of that round (not to the ch-2). This keeps the count at 28 and avoids a growing bump at the seam.
• Place a stitch marker in the first hdc of each round and move it up as you go.
• BLO: yarn over, insert the hook under the loop farthest from you only, complete the hdc as usual. This is what creates the ridges.
• Rnd 1 and Rnd 8 are worked through both loops so the top and bottom edges sit neatly and resist stretching out.
• Keep a firm, even tension. Chunky yarn loves to loosen; if you see gaps, drop to a US J-10 / 6 mm hook.
• The “seam” from joining will stack along one side — wear that at the back of the glass.

Cozy (MC)

With MC, ch 28. Being careful not to twist the chain, join with sl st to the first ch to form a ring. (28 ch ✓)

Rnd 1 (both loops): Ch 2 (does not count as a st here or throughout), hdc in the same ch as the join and in each ch around, join with sl st to first hdc. (28 hdc ✓)

Rnds 2–7: Ch 2, hdc BLO in each st around, join with sl st to first hdc. (28 hdc each rnd ✓)

Rnd 8 (both loops): Ch 2, hdc in each st around, join with sl st to first hdc. (28 hdc ✓)

Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15 cm) tail. Height after 8 rnds = 8 ÷ 9 × 4 in = 3½ in ✓.

Try the tube on your glass now, before weaving ends. It should slide on with a gentle stretch and sit without sagging. If it is too short, add 1–2 extra BLO hdc rounds (each extra rnd ≈ 4 in ÷ 9 = 0.44 in ✓) before Rnd 8. If it is too tall, pull out 1 rnd.

Leaf and Tendril (CC)

The leaf is a small oval worked on both sides of a chain. It should measure about 1½ in (4 cm) long.

With CC, ch 6.

Leaf: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch. Rotate the piece so you can work along the opposite side of the foundation chain: hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. Join with sl st to the first sc. (4 sts down the first side + 3 sc in the tip + 4 sts up the second side = 11 sts ✓)

Tendril: Ch 10. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of the remaining 8 ch. (9 sl st ✓)

Sl st to the base of the leaf (the same st where the tendril began) and fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25 cm) tail for sewing.

Finishing

1. Weave in the cozy’s starting tail on the WS. Leave the ending tail until the leaf is placed, in case you want to nudge the seam.
2. Pin the leaf to the top edge of the cozy, just to one side of the join, with the tendril curling along the rim. Using the long CC tail and a yarn needle, sew the center vein of the leaf and the first 2–3 tendril stitches to the cozy with small whipstitches. Do not stitch the leaf edges down — they should sit slightly off the fabric.
3. Weave in all remaining ends on the WS.
4. Light steam block (optional): Hover a steam iron over the cozy without crushing the ridges. Do not press. Let dry fully on the glass so it remembers the shape.

Wear: Slide the cozy onto the glass from the bottom. Park the join at the back and the leaf at the front. Hand wash cold, lay flat to dry.

Beginner tips

• Counting 28 at the end of Rnd 1 catches a missed or extra stitch before the ridges begin.
• If the join looks gappy, pull the sl st snug and make the first hdc of the next rnd a little firm.
• Working BLO is easier if you tilt the top edge toward you so the back loop pops up.
• Two cozies from one skein make a matching set for iced tea and hot cider.