Heart Mug Rug – Free Tapestry Crochet Chart Pattern

Illustration of the finished mug rug (gate-checked against the chart). Real differences: the pictured hearts are plumper and smoother than the stepped chart motif, and the stitch count shown is not exact — follow the chart, not the photo.

This heart mug rug crochet pattern is a small, quick Valentine project: a cherry-red heart on a cream square, with a little soft pink peeking in at the corner. Set your coffee or tea on it and the desk feels a bit more cozy.

It is worked flat in single crochet, row by row, in tapestry crochet: the colors you are not using travel inside the stitches, so there is no sewing and no embroidery. A few rows use three colors, so read the color plan before you start.

Everything on this page (the chart, the written rows, the color plan and the stitch counts) comes from one chart. The mug rug is 28 stitches wide and 27 rows tall, about 7 x 6 in (28 sts x 27 rows), plus a round of single crochet all around. It has not been crochet-tested yet, so make a swatch first. Tick each row as you go; your progress stays saved in this browser.

Finished size: about 7 x 6 in (28 sts x 27 rows), approximate, from the suggested gauge
Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) cotton in 3 colors
Hook: US G-6 (4.0 mm)
Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in tapestry single crochet; suggested, make a swatch
Level: Easy (single crochet only, up to 3 colors in a row)
Rows: 27 rows of 28 sc + 1 round of edging (118 sc)

✓ CookZya original design · Stitch counts checked round by round and row by row — stitch counts checked round by round: all 29 rows and rounds were replayed by our stitch simulator, and the written rows were rebuilt stitch by stitch to match the chart. This pattern has not been crochet-tested: tension, gauge and final size are up to your hands.

Materials

Color A — Cream, about 40 yd
Color B — Cherry Red, about 20 yd
Color C — Soft Pink, about 10 yd
Yardage is an ESTIMATE from the stitch counts (about 1.6 in of yarn per single crochet, with a 15 % margin). It is for ONE mug rug and has not been measured.
Tapestry needle for the ends.

Notes

Worked flat in rows of single crochet (sc), 28 sc wide. The ch 1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.
Single crochet (sc): insert the hook in the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through both loops.
Odd rows are right-side (RS) rows: read the chart from right to left. Even rows are wrong-side (WS) rows: read it from left to right.
Change color on the last yarn over of the stitch before the new color. Work over the yarns you are not using, so they travel with you along the row.
When you cut a color, leave a 6 in tail.
Color plan, B (Cherry Red): join at the start of Row 5, cut after Row 19.
Color plan, C (Soft Pink): join at the start of Row 18, cut after Row 25.
Abbreviations: ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, st(s) = stitch(es), RS / WS = right side / wrong side. US crochet terms.

Chart

Exact stitch-by-stitch preview of the whole mug rug, drawn from the chart. A computer render, not a photo.

Foundation and Rows

Rows 1-27: a cream base, the cherry-red heart, then a cream top.

Edging

One round of single crochet in cream, all around the mug rug.

Rnd 1 With A, ch 1, turn. 3 sc in first st (corner), sc in each of next 26 sts, 3 sc in last st (corner). Rotate and work down the long side: sc in the end of each row (27 sc). Rotate and work across the foundation chain: 3 sc in first ch (corner), sc in each of next 26 ch, 3 sc in last ch (corner). Rotate and work up the other long side: sc in the end of each row (27 sc). Join with sl st in first sc. 118 sc

Finishing

Weave in all the ends on the wrong side. Wet the mug rug, pin it flat to size and let it dry. This is our advice: it evens out the colorwork.

Design notes

The chart is 28 stitches wide and 27 rows tall; every row uses at most 3 colors.
Edging: 118 sc in all, with 3 sc in each of the 4 corners.
The color plan has 2 yarn segments in all (joins and cuts), so expect about 4 tails to weave in.

Tips for a crisp heart

Spread each finished stitch a little before you pull the next one, so the carried strand stays relaxed.
Keep the carried yarn on top of the row below and work over it.
Block the finished mug rug flat to even out the stitches.

Common mistakes

Changing color in the stitch itself instead of on the last yarn over of the stitch before: every outline shifts by one stitch.
Counting the ch 1 at the start of a row as a stitch: the row grows to 29.
Pulling the carried strand tight across the row: the fabric puckers.

Care

Hand wash in cool water.
Reshape while damp and dry flat; do not tumble dry.

FAQ

Is this heart mug rug crochet pattern beginner friendly?

It suits a confident beginner who knows single crochet. The only new skill is tapestry crochet: changing color and working over the yarn you are not using.

How big is the mug rug?

About 7 x 6 in (28 sts x 27 rows), plus the edging. This is an estimate from the suggested gauge.

How much yarn do I need?

About 40 yd of Cream, 20 yd of Cherry Red, 10 yd of Soft Pink of worsted weight cotton for one mug rug, an estimate with a 15 % margin.

Has this pattern been tested?

Every row's stitch count was replayed by our stitch simulator, and the written rows were rebuilt stitch by stitch to match the chart. It has not been crochet-tested, so make a swatch for gauge.

Can I sell the mug rugs I make?

Yes, you may sell the finished mug rugs. Please don't sell or repost the pattern itself; link to this page instead.