What’s better than a mug hug? A beer hug! This knit beer cosy pattern, designed by Sarah Murray for Simply Knitting magazine issue 146, is worked diagonally, using simple cables to create a twisted effect. It's the perfect quick-knit Father’s Day gift idea, so why not make one for Dad (and a spare for yourself, of course!)?
You can choose from a single colour or striped design, and decide whether to add a crochet base to your knit beer cosy or leave it open at the bottom. If you need a hand with the crochet section, we have loads of guides on how to crochet to help you with the basic stitches.
This pattern is suitable for advanced beginner or intermediate knitters who are comfortable with increasing, decreasing and following a pattern, and ready to dip a toe into the wonderful world of cable knitting. Whatever your skill level, use a row counter to keep track of where you are in the pattern so you don't get in a muddle, and remember to check your tension before you begin to ensure a snug fit for your finished beer cosy. Cheers!
For this knit beer cosy pattern you will need:
- Stylecraft, Special DK (100% acrylic, 100g/295m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Claret (1123), Yarn B Khaki (1027)
- Buy this yarn at The Knitting Network.
- A pair of 3¾mm knitting needles
- Buy knitting needles from The Knitting Network.
- A 3½mm crochet hook (for optional base)
- Buy a crochet hook from The Knitting Network.
- Cable needle
- Buy a cable needle from The Knitting Network.
- Locking stitch markers (or waste yarn)
- Buy locking stitch markers from The Knitting Network.
How to make a knitted beer cosy
Tension
Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm over stocking stitch using 3¾mm needles. Read our guide to find out all about knitting tension squares.
Beer cosy measurements
15cm tall
21cm diameter
Abbreviations
Patt2tog Work k2tog if second st on LH needle is a K stitch, work p2tog if second st on LH needle is a P stitch.
For a full list see our complete guide to knitting abbreviations.
Techniques used in this pattern include how to cast on knitting, how to cast off knitting, how to increase a stitch in knitting and cable knitting. You'll also need to know how to crochet chain stitch and how to double crochet.
Single colour knit beer cosy
Cast on 1 st using 3¾mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 Purl.
Row 2 Kfb. [2 sts]
Row 3 Kfb, P1. [3 sts]
Row 4 K2, kfb. [4 sts]
Row 5 Kfb, K1, P2. [5 sts]
Row 6 K2, P2, kfb. [6 sts]
Row 7 Kfb, K3, P2. [7 sts]
Row 8 K2, P4, kfb. [8 sts]
Row 9 Kfb, K5, P2. [9 sts]
Row 10 K2, P6, kfb. [10 sts]
Row 11 Kfb, P1, C6B, P2. [11 sts]
Row 12 K2, P6, K2, kfb. [12 sts]
Row 13 Kfb, P3, K6, P2. [13 sts]
Row 14 K2, P6, K4, kfb. [14 sts]
Row 15 Kfb, K1, P4, K6, P2. [15 sts]
Row 16 K2, P6, K4, P2, kfb. [16 sts]
Row 17 Kfb, K3, P4, C6B, P2. [17 sts]
Row 18 K2, P6, K4, P4, kfb. [18 sts]
Row 19 Kfb, K5, P4, K6, P2. [19 sts]
Row 20 K2, P6, K4, P6, kfb. [20 sts]
Row 21 Kfb, P1, K6, P4, K6, P2. [21 sts]
Row 22 K2, P6, K4, P6, K2, kfb. [22 sts]
Row 23 Kfb, P1, (P2, C6B, P2) twice. [23 sts]
Row 24 (K2, P6, K2) twice, K2, kfb. [24 sts]
Row 25 Kfb, K1, P2, (P2, K6, P2) twice. [25 sts]
Row 26 (K2, P6, K2) twice, K2, P2, kfb. [26 sts]
Row 27 Kfb, K3, P2, (P2, K6, P2) twice. [27 sts]
Row 28 (K2, P6, K2) twice, K2, P4, kfb. [28 sts]
Row 29 Kfb, K5, P2, (P2, C6B, P2) twice. [29 sts]
Row 30 (K2, P6, K2) twice, K2, P6, kfb. [30 sts]
Row 31 Kfb, P1, K6, P2, (P2, K6, P2) twice. [31 sts]
Row 32 (K2, P6, K2) 3 times, kfb. [32 sts]
Row 33 Kfb, P1, (P2, K6, P2) 3 times. [33 sts]
Row 34 (K2, P6, K2) 3 times, K2, kfb. [34 sts]
Row 35 Kfb, K1, P2, (P2, C6B, P2) 3 times. [35 sts]
Row 36 (K2, P6, K2) 3 times, K2, P2, kfb. [36 sts]
Row 37 Kfb, K3, P2, (P2, K6, P2) 3 times. [37 sts]
Row 38 (K2, P6, K2) 3 times, K2, P4, kfb. [38 sts]
Row 39 Kfb, K5, P2, (P2, K6, P2) 3 times. [39 sts]
Row 40 (K2, P6, K2) 3 times, K2, P6, kfb. [40 sts]
Place a marker at the start of the next row.
Now work in cable pattern as follows:
Row 1 (P2, C6B, P2) 4 times.
Rows 2–6 Work all sts as they appear.
To measure your work, with the RS facing you, hold the knitting so that the long length of increased sts is horizontal, measure perpendicularly from here to the sts at the end of the current row.
Rep the last 6 rows until work measures approximately 14cm (when measured as described above), or desired height to fit your favourite bottle, ending with a WS row.
Place a locking marker (or knot of waste yarn) at the end of the last row worked (ie at the blunt end of the knitting needle – not the pointy end).
Proceed as follows, keeping cable patt correct:
Next row (RS) Patt to last 2 sts, patt2tog. [39 sts]
Next row Patt2tog, patt to end of row. [38 sts]
Rep last 2 rows until 2 sts remain.
Next row P2tog. [1 st]
Fasten off.
Upper edging
With RS facing, using 3¾mm needles, pick up and knit 34 sts between fastened off st and second marker.
Knit 2 rows.
Cast off knitwise.
Base (if not working lower edging)
Note: The Base is worked using crochet in the round. If you’d rather leave the bottom of the Cosy open, jump to the Lower Edging section.
Using 3.5mm crochet hook, make 3ch and join with a sl st into a ring.
Round 1 6dc into ring. [6 sts]
Round 2 *2dc into next dc; rep from * to end of round. [12 sts]
Round 3 *2dc into next dc, 1dc into next dc; rep from * to end of round. [18 sts]
Round 4 *2dc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 2dc; rep from * to end of round. [24 sts]
Round 5 *2dc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 3dc; rep from * to end of round. [30 sts]
Round 6 *2dc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 4dc; rep from * to end of round. [36 sts]
Round 7 *2dc into next dc, 1dc into each of next 5dc; rep from * to end of round. [42 sts]
Fasten off.
Lower edging (if not working base)
With RS facing, using 3¾mm needles, pick up and knit 34 sts between 1st cast-on st and first marker.
Knit 2 rows.
Cast off knitwise.
To make up
Twist the piece around so the cast-off corner meets the second marker, and the cast-on corner meets the first marker. Join seam from top to bottom using mattress stitch. If using a base, place the base on the bottom of the bottle and sew to the lower edge of the cosy. Sew in loose ends.
Easy knitting patterns
Quick stashbusters, gift ideas, easy TV knitting patterns… we have them all! Check out some of our super-simple knits, including a Fair Isle mug hug, easy phone cover, knitted heart pattern and knitted cactus pattern.
Two colour knit beer cosy
When working the two colour cosy, before you start, wind off a small ball of each colour, then use a separate ball of yarn for each vertical stripe. Use the intarsia knitting technique to work the stripes, and ensure you twist the two yarns when changing colour to avoid a hole.
When using the intarsia method, to keep your yarn from getting in a twist at the end of each row, turn your work clockwise after knitting the right side of your work and anti-clockwise after purling the wrong side of your work. This will stop the yarns twisting around.
Simply Knitting magazine
Cast on 1 st using 3¾mm needles and Yarn B.
Work as for Single Colour Bottle Cosy to row 12.
Join in Yarn A.
Row 13 With Yarn A, kfb, P1, with Yarn B, P2, K6, P2. [13 sts]
Row 14 With Yarn B, K2, P6, K2, with Yarn A, K2, kfb. [14 sts]
Continue to work as for Single Colour Bottle Cosy from rows 15–40, AT THE SAME TIME working vertical stripes as set, remembering to twist the two colours together at the back when changing colour, and working rows 23 and 33 as folls:
Row 23 Join in Yarn B. With Yarn B, kfb, P1, with Yarn A, P2, C6B, P2, with Yarn A, P2, C6B, P2.
Row 33 Join in Yarn A. With Yarn A, kfb, P1, with Yarn B, P2, K6, P2, with Yarn A, P2, K6, P2, with Yarn B, P2, K6, P2.
When all increases are complete you will have 40 sts in total, with 4 vertical stripes, each with 10 sts.
Place a locking marker (or knot of waste yarn) at the start of the next row.
Now work in cable pattern as follows:
Row 1 (P2, C6B, P2) 4 times.
Rows 2–6 Work all sts as they appear.
Rep the last 6 rows until work measures approximately 11cm (when measured as described for Single Colour Bottle Cosy), or desired height to fit your favourite bottle, ending with a WS row.
Place a marker at the end of the last row worked (ie at the blunt end of the knitting needle – not the pointy end).
Proceed as follows, keeping cable and stripe patt correct:
Next row Patt to last 2 sts, patt2tog. [39 sts]
Next row Patt2tog, patt to end of row. [38 sts]
Rep last 2 rows until 2 sts remain.
Next row P2tog. [1 st]
Fasten off.
Upper edging & lower edging (if not working Base)
Work as for Single Colour Bottle Cosy using Yarn B.
Base (if not working lower edging)
Work as for Single Colour Bottle Cosy using Yarn A.
To make up
Work as for Single Colour Bottle Cosy using Yarn A.
Download your knit beer cosy pattern:
Get a PDF version of this pattern here: Knit beer cosy pattern PDF
If you liked this knit beer cosy pattern, we also have lots more knitting patterns to inspire you! Plus check out our how to knit tutorials for knitting tips and advice.
