Meet the cutest way to carry your iced coffee! This free cat mesh cup holder crochet pattern starts with a round Siamese-style cat face, adds a stretchy mesh net for your cup or bottle, and finishes with a little crochet fish charm. It's a fun weekend make, a sweet handmade gift for cat lovers, and a great way to use up cotton scraps.
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Pattern at a glance
- Skill level: Easy to Intermediate (you should be comfortable with a magic ring, single crochet and working in rounds)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Hook: 3.0 mm
- Yarn: 5-ply cotton or milk cotton yarn
- Price: free! You're welcome to sell the finished items you make – please credit "Pattern by Yarntasy (yarntasy.com)".
Materials
- 5-ply cotton or milk cotton yarn in cream/beige (cat face, tail and lower mesh), dark and light brown (ears, upper mesh and face embroidery) and orange or light blue (fish charm). Feel free to choose your own colors!
- 3.0 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle, stitch markers and scissors
- Optional: 2 pairs of small black safety eyes (or embroider the eyes), a little fiberfill stuffing, a lobster clasp or jump ring for the fish, and pink or terracotta blush for rosy cheeks
Abbreviations (US terms)
- MR – magic ring
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet (yarn over twice)
- dtr – double treble crochet (yarn over 3 times)
- inc – increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec – decrease (sc 2 together)
- sk – skip
Note: Chains at the beginning of rounds do NOT count as stitches. The number in brackets at the end of each round is your stitch count.
Cat body (make 2)
Use beige yarn held double (two strands together).
- R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- R2: 6 inc (12)
- R3: (sc, inc) × 6 (18)
- R4: (sc, inc, sc) × 6 (24)
- R5: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
- R6: (2 sc, inc, 2 sc) × 6 (36)
- R7: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
- R8: (3 sc, inc, 3 sc) × 6 (48)
Tip: To get the Siamese "toasty" face, work the first 2–3 rounds in light brown and change to beige after that.
Hanging strap
Crochet halfway around Round 8, make the strap, then finish the round as written.
- At the top of the body edge, ch 35 (or adjust to the length you like), then continue Round 8.
- On the first piece make this long chain for the hanging strap. On the second piece make only a small chain loop – it works as a button/closure loop.
Tail
Do not cut the yarn. Attach it on the opposite side from the strap: ch 11, then starting in the 3rd ch from the hook, work 9 hdc back along the chain. The tail will curl naturally.
Ears (make 2)
Use brown yarn, single strand, 3.0 mm hook: 1 sc, (hdc-dc), 2 tr, (hdc-dc), 1 sc – where (hdc-dc) means a hdc and a dc worked into the same stitch. Place the ears 8 stitches away from the hanging strap on each side and sew them in place.
Assembly
- Place the two body pieces right sides facing each other.
- With beige yarn, start at the middle of the left ear and join the pieces with sc through the outer loops of both pieces.
- Continue around the bottom to the middle of the right ear.
- Leave the top (between the ears) open.
The mesh net
Use beige yarn, single strand, 3.0 mm hook. Start at any point on the outer edge of the cat body.
-
R1: ch 1, sc in the same stitch. *Ch 10, skip 4 sts, sc in the next st*; repeat around.
Ear area: don't work into the ear stitches – skip the 4–5 stitches below each ear and sc into the next stitch on the body. This keeps the bag opening clear.
To close the round: ch 5, then 1 dtr into the first sc of the round. This completes the 10th mesh loop and puts your hook at the top center of the loop. - R2–R9: ch 1, sc into the mesh loop below. *Ch 10, sc into the next mesh loop*; repeat around. Close each round with ch 5 and 1 dtr into the first sc of the round.
Color change (optional): to switch colors, pull the new color through the last two loops of the dtr. Our sample changes from beige to mustard to brown for an ombré look.
Want a taller holder for a big tumbler or water bottle? Simply add more mesh rounds.
Handle and strap
- After 9 rounds of mesh (or your desired height): ch 1, sc into the current mesh loop.
- Ch 70 (or adjust to your preferred strap length).
- Skip one mesh loop to the left and join the chain to the next mesh loop with a sl st.
- Turn, and work 1 sc into each of the 70 chains (using the back bumps of the chains).
- When you reach the starting side, work 1 sc into the mesh to secure it. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
- For a double handle, repeat on the opposite side.
Face embroidery
- Find the center circle (Rounds 1–2) of the cat face.
- With a yarn needle and dark brown yarn, embroider a small "V" or "Y" for the nose, curved lines for the sleepy smiling eyes, and a few whiskers.
- Tie the ends in a double knot on the inside and hide them.
Little fish charm
Use orange or light blue yarn, single strand, 3.0 mm hook.
- R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- R2: (sc, inc) × 3 (9)
- R3: (2 sc, inc) × 3 (12)
- R4: (3 sc, inc) × 3 (15)
- R5–R8: 15 sc (15)
- R9: (sc, dec) × 3 (10) – add a little stuffing
- R10: 6 dec (6) – close the hole
- R11: 6 inc (12)
- R12 (tail fin): repeat 4 times: 3 hdc in one stitch, sl st in the next, skip 1.
Finishing the fish
- Embroider small "v" shapes with dark brown yarn for the scales.
- Attach a small safety eye or bead (or embroider the eye).
- Connect the fish to the side of the cat face with a jump ring, a lobster clasp or a short strand of yarn.
Finishing touches
For extra character, dab a little brown or terracotta blush below the whiskers with a cotton swab. It gives the face that soft Siamese gradient and makes your cat look extra cozy.
Frequently asked questions
Is this pattern good for beginners?
If you can make a magic ring and crochet in the round, you can make this! The mesh uses only chains, sc and a dtr to close each round.
What size cup does it fit?
The mesh is very stretchy and hugs most iced-coffee cups and small water bottles. For a bigger tumbler, add a few more mesh rounds or lengthen the chains.
Can I sell what I make?
Yes! You're welcome to sell handmade items made from this pattern in small quantities. Please credit "Pattern by Yarntasy (yarntasy.com)" and use your own photos. Please don't share or repost the pattern itself.
Can I get a printable version?
Yes – join our newsletter in the "Stitch Along With Us" box below and we'll email you the free PDF with step-by-step photos.
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- Shop all crochet patterns – buy 3 patterns and save 20%, or 5 and save 30%
Made one? We'd love to see it! Share your cat cup holder on Pinterest or Instagram with #yarntasy. Happy crocheting! 🧶
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