Easy Crochet Ice Cream Cozy
Crochet the ice cream pint cozy for pure fun. Features a strap for your hand and a pocket for your spoon. This project uses single crochet and double crochet with just a bit of basic shaping. The yarn comes from your stash! Delight in a sweet treat in style. Please enjoy this free pattern.
Inspiration —
Ice cream is my favorite treat. The first time I saw a crochet ice cream cozy I knew I wanted to make one. Not only are they practical (keep your hand from freezing), they are so cute! One evening when sitting down with a pint of pistachio, I thought about what features would make a cozy really great. I knew it needed to be thick and that a slot for your hand would be really, well, handy. And a pocket for the spoon—well that’s the cherry on top.
This idea was brewing for a while and then my daughter brought me a huge bag of stash yarn from a friend. As I was sorting through it I started putting skeins in groups of cool coordinating colors. I realized it was time to design the ice cream cozy. The half and quarter skeins were perfect for this project. And grouping colors together is just as much fun as making this project!
Design —
It was tough, but I made my way through a pint of Ben & Jerry’s to wash it out and use it to design this cozy. The base is three increasing rounds then the fourth round is worked in back loops only to give some structure to the sides. The sides are worked in rows of single crochet with two rows of double crochet to add some interest and also make it work up super quickly. A few increase stitches are worked in rounds six and eight to match the shape of the ice cream pint.
The hand strap and spoon pocket are worked across from each other on the body of the cozy. Both are worked in single crochet rows and attached in the front loops of round four (which was worked in back loops). The hand strap is attached with slip stitches at the top row of the cozy. The spoon pocket is attached with a whip stitch down and back up the sides. Don’t sew across the top—because it’s a pocket.
Yarn —
Is there anything more satisfying than using up your extra yarn on a fun project? The best part might be going through your stash and picking out yarns that look great together. I had little piles all over the floor! Then seeing them work up together is another satisfying turn. Using your stash yarn makes it a “reuse” project, another big bonus in my book.
And you can use all different weights of yarn. In fact, the varying weights of yarn make this project not only cute but interesting. To start, choose four coordinating colors from your stash, three medium weight and one chunky weight. Or use five medium weight. If using sport weight, use two strands to count as one strand. You will need about 25 yards of each, plus ten yards for the hand strap and five yards for the spoon pocket. These look great worked in two of the colors from the body of the cozy. Also see Pointers below for more helpful tips about working with your stash yarn.
A ball of yarn that fills your hand should be enough. A quick way to measure approximate yardage is to pull yarn with your arm straight out from your side and the length from your fingers to the middle of your chest is about a yard. Use a yardstick to see where the measurement is most accurate for you and use that as a guide going forward.
Selling points —
Thick. Quick. Slick. Using multiple strands of yarn makes a thick cozy, perfect for keeping fingers from freezing when enjoying your frozen ice cream or yogurt. The body of the cozy is worked with the mighty N hook, so it’s quick to make. And you do a fast shop of your stash for the yarn! The hand strap and spoon pocket make it so slick—a cozy with all the bells and whistles! Fun to make and fun to put to use!
Further, it is for all seasons. Use it on a hot summer night sitting on the porch eating ice cream. Use it in the winter with a muffin cup in front of the fire. Use it any time of year with an oatmeal cup, mac and cheese cup or ramen cup. It also fits a red Solo cup, pop a straw in the pocket! It works to keep your hand warm or cool, depending on the need!
And it makes a great gift for anyone. Present it to your sweetie with ice cream in it as you snuggle in for a movie on Valentine’s Day. Put a brownie cup in it with a candy cane in the spoon pocket and you have the perfect stocking stuffer or hostess gift that anyone will enjoy at the holidays. Gift it to your kid’s teacher with a bag of candy and a gel pen in the pocket. Give it to a friend with a candle and perfume roller in the pocket. Just make sure you let them know it’s for ice cream or frozen yogurt too! Work it up in the colors of a favorite sports team to use when watching games.
Also makes a great project for a beginner with a few increase rounds to start, learning to work in back loops, rows of single crochet and double crochet (foundation stitches in crochet), and some very simple shaping. And it’s a small project that works up quickly, including when you need to pull out your work and start over!
Pointers —
After working the first three rounds which is the base of the cozy, the diameter should be approximately 3.5 inches across. If it is too small, start over and add a strand of yarn. If it is too large, start over and remove a strand of yarn. It’s never fun to frog (pull out) your work, but it’s even more unsatisfying to finish the project and it doesn’t fit a pint properly (I learned this from experience). Take the time to do a quick measure to save some frustration.
I have made so, so many of these fun cozies. I have used anywhere from one (super chunky) strand of yarn to seven strands of yarn (including sport weight super fine). Again, the key really is to do a quick measure after working the first three rounds to make sure your base is approximately 3.5 inches.
Due to the weight variations when using your stash yarn, you may find you need to work more or fewer rows of the hand strap or spoon pocket to make it flush with the top of the cozy—more important than the number of rows is that these features line up with the top of the cozy lengthwise. For the strap, just be sure to end with a row that leaves your working yarn and hook in the top-right corner for attaching. For the pocket, it doesn’t matter which side you end with, just sew up the side with the yarn tail first, then the other side.
Pattern
CROCHET | SKILL LEVEL: Easy
SIZE
4 inches in diameter (across top) and 4 inches tall
MATERIALS
Yarn – 4 coordinating colors from your stash, 3 medium weight and 1 chunky weight (or 5 medium weight; if using sport weight, use 2 strands) – approx 25 yds each, plus 10 yds for the hand strap and 5 yds for the spoon pocket
N (10 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
I (5.5 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Scissors
Yarn needle
Ruler
ABBREVIATIONS
approx = approximately
BLO = back loop only
dc = double crochet
rep = repeat
rnd(s) = round(s)
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
yd(s) = yards
Pattern uses U.S. crochet terms.
GAUGE
7 sts and 5 rows = 4 inches (body of cozy)
8 sts and 9 rows = 2 inches (hand strap and spoon pocket)
NOTES
Cozy is worked in rounds, joining each round with a slip stitch.
INSTRUCTIONS
Final stitch counts for rounds listed in ( ).
Using N hook (larger hook) or size needed to obtain gauge, and holding 4 strands of yarn together, make a magic loop.
Rnd 1: ch 1, 6 sc in magic loop, pull tail tightly to close and work over loose ends in next rnd. sl st into first sc of rnd to join. (6)
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in same st and in each st around. sl st into first sc of rnd to join. (12)
Rnd 3: ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in next st. (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) around. sl st into first sc of rnd to join. (18)
Piece measures approx 3.5 inches in diameter.
PATTERN NOTE: If diameter of base is not 3.5 inches across, adjust as needed and restart. For example, add a strand of yarn (if it is too small) or remove a strand of yarn (if it is too large).
Rnd 4: ch 1, working in BLO for all sts in this rnd, sc in same st. (sc in next st) around. sl st into first sc of rnd to join. (18)
Rnd 5: ch 3 (counts as first dc), (dc in next st) around. sl st into top of ch 3 to join. (18)
Rnd 6: ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in next 8 sts. 2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts. sl st into first sc of rnd to join. (20)
Rnd 7: ch 3 (counts as first dc), (dc in next st) around. sl st into top of ch 3 to join. (20)
Rnd 8: ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in next 9 sts. 2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts. sl st into first sc of rnd to join. (22)
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Make hand strap:
Strap is joined directly to bottom row of cozy, then worked in rows of sc, turning at the end of each row and joining strap with sl sts at top row of cozy.
With 1 strand of 1 of the medium weight yarns and I hook (smaller hook), join with sl st to any front loop in rnd 3 (bottom row of cozy).
Rnd 1: ch 1, 2 sc in same front loop, 2 sc in each of next 3 front loops, turn. (8)
Rnd 2: ch 1, sc in same st and in each st across, turn. (8)
Rnds 3-16: rep rnd 2.
(Crochet hook and loop are in top-right corner of strap. Strap is approx 2 inches wide and 3.75 inches tall.)
Move working strand of yarn to back of strap, sl st to join strap in front loops in rnd 8 (top row of cozy) — be sure strap is straight up from the bottom. Inserting hook through top row of strap and through front loop, work sl sts across 4 front loops, 2 sts in each loop, joining last row of strap to top row of cozy body.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Make spoon pocket:
Pocket is joined directly to bottom row of cozy, then worked in rows of sc, turning at the end of each row. Fasten off and sew sides of pocket to cozy.
With 1 strand of 1 of the medium weight yarns and I hook (smaller hook), join with sl st to front loop in rnd 3 (bottom row of cozy), directly across from strap.
Rnd 1: ch 1, 2 sc in same front loop, 2 sc in next front loop, turn. (4)
Rnd 2: ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (4)
Rnds 3-16: rep rnd 2.
(Crochet hook and loop are in top-right corner of strap. Strap is approx 1 inch wide and 3.75 inches tall.)
Fasten off leaving 20 inch tail for sewing.
Working down side, whip stitch pocket to cozy, slide yarn through bottom stitches of pocket (threading yarn on wrong side) and whip stitch up other side of pocket. Secure knot on inside of cozy. Fasten off.
Weave in ends.
CARE
Spot clean. If needed wash in cold water, gentle cycle, in mesh laundry bag or pillow-case with zipper. Reshape and air dry.
The ice cream cozy is available for purchase on Etsy.
If you’re looking for another easy project for the home or as a gift, you may also like the Crochet Bottle Gift Bag.
