Crochet Minion Mug Cosy Pattern

As promised here is my pattern for the Minion Mug Cosy I made.

All mugs are different shapes and sizes, they are all very unique therefore no mug cosy is going to be the same size. I will give my exact stitches and try to explain in brackets how to make the cosy fit whatever mug is being used.

For mine I used a 5mm hook however I crochet tightly so a 4mm hook is probably better.  I also used DK/8ply yarn in yellow, blue, a little bit of grey and a little bit of black.

Abbreviations: 
SC - Single Crochet
SS - Slip Stitch

In blue chain 44 and join. (chain as many as needed to fit the mug comfortably, not too loose)

Round 1: SC in each chain around, join with SS to first SC
Round 2: SC in each stitch around, join with SS to first SC (if the first row it a bit too loose or tight then increase or decrease as needed in this row)

Change to yellow yarn

Row 3: SC in next 40 stitches, turn. (Crochet as many stitches as needed to leave a gap big enough for the mug handle)

Row 4-7: SC in each stitch, turn (If the cosy is looking too long or short for the mug increase or decrease the amount of rows)
Row 7: SC in each stitch. At end of row chain 30, turn
Row 8: SC in each stitches.
Finish off.

You should end up with a tail like this:

Make a loop with the tail by sewing the end just underneath the beginning of the tail.

Place the cosy on the mug to find a suitable position for the button. Sew the button on.

That's the basis of the cosy... now for the Minion details.

Eye Strap
Using black yarn surface crochet a straight line about a third of the way down the cosy. Find out how to surface crochet Here. It's easy and once learned there are so many possibilities!

Eye
Using black yarn chain 2
Round 1: 5 SC's in the first chain - 5 stitches

Change to white yarn.

Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch around - 10 stitches
Round 3: (SC in next stitch, 2 SC in next stitch) around - 15 stitches

Change to grey yarn

Round 4: (SC in next 2 stitches, 2 SC in next stitch) around - 20 stitches
Round 5: (SC in the next 3 stitches, 2 SC in the next stitch) around - 25 stitches
Finish off.

Sew the eye on in the centre of the mug with the Eye Strap running through the middle as in the picture.

Mouth
With black yarn surface crochet a line under the eye as in the picture above.

And that's it! Here are the four I've made for gifts:

(The one on the right is the Original and a different sized mug hence why it looks different to the others)

Hamster DIY - Suspended Tunnel-Bridge

One of my DIY toys for Tim is the Suspended Tunnel-Bridge:

Equipment:

Natural String

Thick cardboard tube

Screwdriver (or anything to make a hole) 

Scissors

I bought my thick cardboard tube and natural jute string from my local pet store, they were both pretty cheap. I think the thickness of the cardboard is quite important as it needs to be quite sturdy, a toilet roll would not be suitable for this... no hamster injuries! Also natural string is a must because hamsters love to chew and 'normal' string is full of icky chemicals which cause upset tummies. 

My tube was waaaaaay to long in length so I cut it down to a suitable size. (I say cut... I ended up using a saw due to the thickness of the cardboard.). 

Then I used a screwdriver to put two holes into the top of the tube near to each end. 

I knotted my string at the end making sure the knot was big enough so that it couldn't slip through the hole in the tube. 

I threaded the string through one of the holes I'd made in the tube and cut the string to the length required. 

I did exactly the same on the other side of the tube; knot - thread - cut. Done. 

Now just to fit it into the cage. There are different ways to attach the suspended tunnel-bridge to the cage such as just knotting the string onto the cage. I decided to use clothes pegs so that it's easier to detach the toy from my cage and I can easily vary the hight of it.  

To do this I put one of the strings through the cage lid clipped the string into a peg wrapped the excess string around the peg tightly and clipped the last little bit of string into the peg nice and securely (P.S. this is how I keep my embroidery floss tidy For example). I did the same again with the other piece of string.

Before Tim could get his paws on his new toy I made sure the tunnel-bridge was secure. To do this I tugged downwards on the tunnel-bridge quite firmly making sure that it did not come loose.

Now he can enjoy his new toy:

Fluffy bum!

HI

Safety! 

• Make sure you are with an adult if using any tools to make hamster toys.
• Make sure any items you put in the cage are hamster safe.
• Don't place the Suspended Bridge/Tunnel high above the cage floor and make sure there is lots of lovely soft-squishy-bouncy bedding underneath the Bridge/Tunnel just in case the little one falls. 
• Check the natural string often to make sure that it has not been chewed. If it has remove the bridge/tunnel or replace the string. We don't want any collapsing toys.