Shell Stitch Crocheted Mug Cosy Tutorial

Even though it’s still February and it’s cold, in a couple of weeks it will be March and that means spring!

I’m not a gardener. My garden is a muddy patch with a trampoline in it. Last year I tried to grow vegetables and managed 1 lettuce that bolted because I left it too long and 5 tomatoes.

Although I’m definitely better at sewing than gardening, my plan for this year is to grow some pretty pink things and not bother with the vegetables!

Being out in the garden in springtime with a cup of tea means that the tea gets cold much more quickly than it does indoors.

So the answer is a mug cosy tutorial (and keep an eye on it and drink it quickly)!

Ages ago I made this mug cosy using blanket weave stitch, and more recently, I decided to make another mug cosy, this time using shell stitch.

The mug cosy has 4 rows of shells, with a couple of rows of double crochet at the top and the bottom.

The hole for the handle is achieved by simply not joining the shell rounds and going back round the other way!

If you’d like to buy a kit for this mug cosy either for yourself or as a present for somebody, I have some for sale on Etsy here and here.

Shell Stitch Crocheted Mug Cosy Tutorial

You Will Need

DK yarn, 4 mm crochet hook.

Making the Mug Cosy

Please be aware that being English I have used British crocheting terms!

1. Make 49 ch. Join with ss.

2. Skip one chain, then sc into each chain. Join with ss.

3. Go round again! Sc into each stitch. Join with ss.

4. 1 ch, then skip 2 stitches. *5 dc into next stitch, skip 2 stitches, sc into next stitch, skip 2 stitches* to the end of the round. Don’t join!

5. 5 ch, then sc into 3rd dc of shell. 2 ch, then dc into sc of previous round. *2 ch, then sc into 3rd dc of next shell, 2 ch, dc into next sc* to the end of the round.

Repeat rows 4 and 5 3 more times.

6. Dc into each stitch. Join with ss.

Repeat row 6. Join with ss. Fasten off and weave in ends.

One of the reasons why I prefer crochet to knitting is because there is such a variety of different stitches. The other reason is that I am the world’s slowest knitter and crochet just seems to be quicker.

I like shell stitch because it is pretty. That’s a good enough reason, right? It’s very easy to do and it looks lovely. If you would like a pattern for a little purse using shell stitch, please sign up for my mailing list 🙂

Here are three variations of shell stitch. The first is the simplest. The second is a spaced shell stitch with the shells in vertical rows. The third is a combination of the other two, a semi spaced shell with staggered rows.

Basic Shell Stitch

Make a row of chains in a multiple of 6, plus 1 extra chain.

1. Into 4th st from hook, work 2 tr, sk 2, dc into next st, *sk 2, 5 tr into next st, sk 2, dc into next st* to end of row.

2. 3 ch (to count as 1 tr), then 2 tr into last dc of previous row, *1 dc into 3rd tr of shell from previous row, *5 tr into next dc, dc into 3rd tr* repeat to the end of the row.

Row 2 forms the pattern, so you just keep repeating row 2. Because you finish each row with a whole shell followed by a dc, you start the next row with half a shell into the last dc from the previous row.

Spaced Shell Stitch

For this stitch, the shells are in vertical rows and the spaces are formed by an extra row in between the shell rows.

Make a row of chains in a multiple of 6, plus one extra.

1. Into the 4th ch from hook, work 5 tr, sk 2 ch, 1 dc into next ch, *sk 2 ch, 5 tr into next ch, sk 2 ch, dc into next ch* repeat to the end of the row.

2. 5 ch, then 1 dc into 3rd tr of previous row, 2 ch, 1 tr into dc of previous row, *2 ch, 1 dc into 3rd tr, 2 ch, 1 tr into dc* repeat to the end of the row.

3. 1 ch, then *5 tr into dc (on the top of the shell), dc into tr (stitch between the shells)*, repeat to the end of the row.

Rows 2 and 3 make the pattern, so just keep repeating those!

Staggered Spaced Shell Stitch

This one’s a little bit more complicated. There is a row of chains and dcs between the shell rows similar to the previous stitch. Because the shells are staggered, the shell rows alternate between starting with a whole shell and finishing with a half, and starting with half a shell.

Make a row of chains in a multiple of 6, plus one extra.

1. 2 tr into 4^th st from hook, sk 2, dc into next st, *sk 2, 5 tr into next st, sk 2, dc into next st* repeat to end.

2. 1 ch, then dc into dc from previous row, 2 ch, dc into 3^rd tr, *2 ch, dc into next dc (between the shells), 2 ch, dc into 3^rd tr* to end of row.

3. 1 ch, then dc into dc from previous row,* sk 2 ch, 5 tr into next dc, sk 2 ch, dc into next dc* to last but one dc, 3 tr into last dc.

4. As row 2.

5. 1 ch, then 3 tr into last dc of previous row, sk 2 ch, dc into next dc, *sk 2 ch, 5 tr into next dc, sk 2 ch, dc into next dc* to end.

With this version of the stitch, rows 2 -5 make the pattern.

If you like this stitch and are stuck for ideas of what you could make with it, sign up for my mailing list and I’ll send you a pdf pattern for a little purse and no spam ever!