Truth: I often don’t know what day it is… let alone if it’s someone’s birthday! Honestly, one year I went until lunchtime before I realized it was my own birthday! I have general knowledge of birthdays. My children’s and sisters birthdays I know. My niece and nephew’s birthdays are just a day apart from two of my kids, so I always know those. Once we get past family members, I’m happy to remember the month of someone’s birthday. Yep, even for one of my closest friends! Not surprisingly, even after trying to think of a good gift for my friend Gayle, her birthday crept up on me. Ironically, I finally had an idea, on her actual birthday. So, I got to work and whipped up a coffee cozy. But not just any coffee cozy… one with a sleeve for keeping your hand warm and a secret pocket for a gift card, credit card, or cash for grabbing a coffee on the run.
Coffee Cozy
I don’t have a pattern to share, I just made this on a whim and didn’t write down what I did. But, I’m thinking of making another one and creating the pattern.
Almost always, I have a crochet project in my purse for crafting while waiting for kid’s lessons or appointments. While waiting for inspiration to strike, I’ve been crocheting kitchen dishcloths. The stitch is pretty and works up quick.
Knowing my friend Gayle has several thermal to-go coffee mugs, I grabbed one of mine and just started crocheting. Starting with a flat circle large enough to fit the bottom of a few of my different coffee mugs.
Continuing working in the round, I worked up the side of the mug to a height I liked. Like a sock for the coffee mug.
Hand Warmer
I knew I wanted a sleeve to tuck your hand into. This way, Gayle can use it while we’re outside on cold spring mornings or evenings for our boys’ lacrosse games. Using the same stitch, I crochet a rectangle, large enough to cover almost half of the coffee cozy on one side.
Yep, I’ll definitely be making another one, I need one to keep my own hands warm at those games!
Secret Pocket
Gayle and I both used to be home most days, but, as the kids have gotten older, we’ve begun to work more and more. This past fall, she took a job working several days a week while the kids are in school. Our days off haven’t lined up too well lately and we haven’t been able to get together as often.
It wasn’t uncommon for one of us to stop at our neighborhood Wawa and grab coffee for both of us before getting together. Now, we try to use our blue tooths (would it be blue teeth? lol) and chat as we drive to our jobs.
But I knew I wanted to create a secret pocket, inside the hand warmer, to tuck a gift card or two into. The coffee cozy should easily hold most disposable to-go cups in addition to thermal reusable ones. Once she’s used up the gift cards I’m including, she can tuck a few dollars in there on her way out the door.
For the pocket, I simply used a gift card to get to the size I thought would work nicely. The pocket was sewed on to the coffee cozy first. I placed it towards the bottom so there would be room to maneuver the card out.
Once the pocket was stitched in place, I stitched the hand warmer sleeve on top.
Coffee Cozy with Hand Warmer and Secret Pocket
I only was able to get a picture of one of my own hands holding the mug. But, I checked, due to the stitch I used, I can easily get both hands inside. So, on one of those cool mornings when gloves get forgotten, your hands can stay toasty warm while holding the hot coffee.
So, would you be interested in a pattern for this? Let me know in the comments.
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