What goes with gingerbread better than hot chocolate? Nothing, I tell ya - NOTHING!

I love some good hot chocolate. Not that powdered junk dissolved in water, noooo. I like the good stuff with melted chocolate chips and warm milk with marshmallows floating in the chocolatey goodness! (And my family is known for adding a splash of peppermint schnapps to our cocoa but you didn't hear that from me!)

(Just for giggles, HERE is the recipe I always follow for holiday hot cocoa - bless the Pioneer Woman for she has shown me the way to the holy land of homemade cocoa. Amen.)

Hot chocolate always makes me think of the scene in Polar Express on the train when all the kids are drinking cocoa. Tom Hanks sings a song called "Hot Chocolate" and it just screams holiday to me. Really, it's the happiest most energizing song ever to be sung about a beverage. And because I love ya, HERE is the song too - because I like to be thorough here at Sewrella.

I love this little ornament so much! You could easily leave off the marshmallows for a "coffee ornament" or stitch on a tea bag for a "cup of tea ornament" - also feel free to make the mug in any color! I didn't have any sky blue yet on my tree, and this color in 24/7 Cotton is just so stunning - I had to have a blue mug-o-good stuff!

THE TRADITION: You guessed it, ya'll - share a cup of cocoa with someone you love! It can be the instant stuff, the pioneer woman legal-addictive substance cocoa, or your own family recipe! Whip up a big batch and share a mug-full with your kids, friends, spouse, or your favorite Grey's Anatomy character (am I right?).

If you don't like cocoa I guess you could drink coffee or tea or juice or something, but that's not very Christmas-y now is it? Also if you don't like hot chocolate, you probably haven't had Pioneer Woman's hot chocolate. Seriously. (You'd think she paid me to say this but I just really love her, okay)

Drink up & have fun!


PATTERN
Materials:
-Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in sky, cafe au lait, and white
-Size E 3.5mm crochet hook
-Stitch marker
-Small amount of polyfil stuffing
-Tapestry needle

Mug:
With sky, make a magic ring, Ch 1, 6 Sc inside ring, sl st to join, Ch 1 (6)
Round 2: 2 Sc in each st around, sl st to join, Ch 1 (12)
Round 3: *2 Sc, Sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st to join, Ch 1 (18)
Round 4: *2 Sc, Sc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, sl st to join, Ch 1 (24)
Round 5: Sc in back loops only in each st around (24)
- DO NOT join & DO NOT Ch 1 (for the rest of the mug don't join your rounds, place a stitch marker in the first stitch of the round and move it when you begin each round)
Rounds 6-15: Sc in each st around (24)
- Don't finish off yet

Chocolate:
With cafe au lait, make a magic ring, Ch 1, 6 Sc inside ring, sl st to join, Ch 1 (6)
Round 2: 2 Sc in each st around, sl st to join, Ch 1 (12)
Round 3: *2 Sc, Sc in next st, repeat from * around, sl st to join, Ch 1 (18)
Round 4: *2 Sc, Sc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, sl st to join, finish off, weave ends (24)

Marshmallows:
With white, sew 4 (or as many as you like) french knots onto the right side of your Chocolate piece, finish off & weave ends

Attaching:
*Fill mug with polyfil stuffing - insert enough to make the mug hold its shape but not so much that you see it through the stitches! There should still be some give if you squish the mug.
Round 1: Pick up sky yarn from Mug portion, holding chocolate over the top of the mug Sc the pieces together (working through both loops of the mug's Round 15 and the chocolate's Round 4) all the way around (24)
Round 2: Sl st in each st around, finish off, weave all ends

Handle:
With sky, Ch 8, sl st in 2nd st from hook, sl st in next, Sc in next, 3 Hdc in next, Sc in next, sl st in last 2 sts, finish off leaving a long tail for sewing (attach at Rows 16 & 9 on mug portion), weave ends


Don't forget to PIN this project to your Pinterest boards!


I hung this little guy on my tree by the handle and I just love him!