Crocheted Remote Control Covers – Step by Step Pattern
There is something deeply satisfying about taking a simple skein of yarn and turning it into something both beautiful and useful. Crocheted remote control covers are one of those projects that seem almost too practical to be crafted — yet once you make your first one, you will find yourself reaching for your hook and yarn every time a new remote enters the house. These little covers protect your remotes from dust and wear, add a cheerful pop of color to your living room, and make it dramatically easier to find that elusive device when it has slipped between the sofa cushions. Whether you are a beginner looking for a straightforward project or an experienced crocheter wanting to use up leftover yarn, this step-by-step pattern is designed to guide you through every single stitch.
Why Crochet a Remote Control Cover?
Before diving into the pattern itself, it is worth pausing to appreciate what makes this project so worthwhile. Remote controls are handled constantly, often by multiple people, and they accumulate grime, oils from skin, and general wear surprisingly quickly. A snug crocheted cover acts as a washable outer shell that you can remove and toss in the laundry whenever needed. This is especially appreciated in homes with young children or pets, where remotes tend to meet all sorts of adventures.
Beyond the practical benefits, crocheted remote covers are wonderful stash busters. You need very little yarn for a single cover — typically between 20 and 50 yards depending on the size of the remote — which makes them perfect for using up those small balls of leftover worsted weight yarn that never quite have enough left for a bigger project. They also make lovely handmade gifts when paired together in a little basket, especially for housewarming presents or holidays.
From a design standpoint, the covers can be made as simple or as decorative as you like. The basic pattern presented here is clean and classic, and once you have the structure down, you can add stripes, color blocks, surface embroidery, button closures, or small appliqués to make each one unique.
Materials You Will Need
Gathering your materials before you begin will make the whole process smoother and more enjoyable. Here is what you will need for a standard-sized remote control cover, suitable for most television, cable box, or streaming device remotes.
For yarn, you will want approximately 30 to 50 yards of worsted weight yarn in your chosen color. Cotton yarn is an excellent choice because it is durable, washable, and has a firm stitch definition that shows off the texture of the stitches beautifully. Acrylic worsted weight yarn works just as well and gives you more color options if you want something vibrant or variegated. Avoid anything too fuzzy or bulky for this project, as those fibers can obscure the stitch pattern and make it harder to work.
For your hook, a 4.0 mm or 4.5 mm crochet hook is the standard recommendation for worsted weight yarn, though as always you should check your gauge and adjust accordingly. If your stitches come out too loose and floppy, go down a hook size. If they feel tight and stiff, go up a size.
You will also need a yarn needle for weaving in your ends, a pair of scissors, and a ruler or measuring tape. Optional but helpful are locking stitch markers to keep track of your rounds, and a button or small piece of hook-and-loop tape if you want to add a closure at the open end of the cover.
Understanding the Sizing
One of the most important steps before casting on is measuring your remote. Remote controls come in an astonishing range of sizes, from the slim credit-card-sized remotes used for soundbars to the chunky, button-heavy remotes that come with satellite receivers. Taking just two measurements will ensure your cover fits properly.
First, measure the length of the remote from top to bottom. Second, measure the circumference — in other words, wrap a soft tape measure all the way around the widest part of the remote. Write both of these numbers down.
For this pattern, the instructions are written for a standard remote that is approximately 8.5 inches long and 5 inches in circumference. This is a very common size that fits most basic television remotes. If your remote is larger or smaller, the pattern includes instructions for adjusting the foundation chain and length so you can customize it precisely.
Gauge
For this pattern, working in single crochet with worsted weight cotton yarn and a 4.0 mm hook, you should aim for a gauge of approximately 18 stitches and 20 rows per 4 inches. A tighter gauge is actually preferable here because it creates a sturdier fabric that will hold its shape around the remote. If your gauge swatch comes out significantly larger than this, try going down a half or full hook size.
To make a gauge swatch, chain 22 and work single crochets across until your swatch measures about 4.5 inches tall. Block it if you are using cotton, let it dry, then measure your stitches and rows. Getting your gauge right before beginning will save you from ending up with a cover that is too loose and falls off, or so tight that you cannot get the remote in and out.
Step One: Creating the Foundation
This cover is worked in the round from the bottom up, starting at the closed end and working toward the open end that receives the remote. This construction is clean, tidy, and avoids any awkward seaming.
Begin by making a magic ring, or if you prefer not to use a magic ring, chain 2 and work your first round into the second chain from the hook.
Round 1: Work 6 single crochets into the magic ring. Pull the tail snug to close the hole. You will have 6 stitches. Do not join with a slip stitch. Instead, place a stitch marker in the first stitch of the round and move it up with each new round. This pattern is worked in a continuous spiral, which gives a neater finish than joined rounds.
Round 2: Work 2 single crochets into each stitch around. You will have 12 stitches.
Round 3: Work 1 single crochet in the first stitch, then 2 single crochets in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence around. You will have 18 stitches.
Round 4: Work 1 single crochet in each of the first 2 stitches, then 2 single crochets in the next stitch. Repeat this sequence around. You will have 24 stitches.
At this point, the bottom of your cover should measure approximately 1.5 inches across. If your remote is especially wide, you may need to continue adding increase rounds following the same pattern — add one more stitch to the “plain single crochet” section each round — until the flat circle matches the width of your remote’s bottom.
Step Two: Building the Sides
Once you have reached the correct width, it is time to stop increasing and work straight up the sides. This is where the cover really begins to take shape.
Round 5 and onward: Work 1 single crochet in each stitch around without any increases. Continue working in this way, round after round, until the side of the cover measures approximately 7 inches from where the increases stopped — or until it is about 1.5 inches shorter than the total length of your remote.
This is a rhythmic and meditative section of the pattern. Single crochets in continuous rounds have a gentle, almost hypnotic pace, and this is a wonderful project to work on while watching television or listening to a podcast. The firm, sturdy fabric building up around your hook is immensely satisfying to watch.
As you work, you can slide your remote inside every few rounds to check the fit. The cover should slip over the remote smoothly but not so loosely that it slides around. There should be very little ease — this is meant to be a snug case, not a loose sock.
Step Three: The Ribbed Cuff (Optional but Recommended)
Once you have reached the final 1.5 inches of length, you have the option to add a ribbed cuff to the open end of the cover. This cuff provides a gentle grip that keeps the cover from sliding down off the remote over time, and it adds a polished, intentional look to the finished piece.
To create the ribbed effect, switch to working in the back loop only for these final rounds. Insert your hook through only the back loop of each single crochet stitch, rather than through both loops as you have been doing. This small change creates a more textured, elastic fabric that has just enough give to grip the sides of the remote.
Work 6 to 8 rounds in back loop only single crochet to complete the cuff. When you have reached your desired length, slip stitch into the next stitch to join the final round, then fasten off and leave a tail of about 6 inches for weaving in.
Step Four: Finishing
Thread your yarn needle with the tail left from fastening off and weave it securely through several stitches on the wrong side of the work, moving in different directions to lock it in place before trimming it. Do the same with the starting tail from your magic ring.
If you are using cotton yarn, this is a good time to wet block your cover. Simply dampen it slightly, slip it over the remote, and let it dry completely. The cotton fibers will relax and bloom slightly, conforming perfectly to the shape of the remote beneath them, and the resulting fit will be precisely tailored.
Step Five: Adding a Button Closure (Optional)
For a more secure cover that will not accidentally slip off, you can add a simple button closure. This involves crocheting a short chain loop on one side of the open end and sewing a corresponding button on the opposite side.
To make the loop, attach yarn to the edge of the opening at one side of the cover using a slip stitch. Chain 8, then slip stitch back into the starting point to form a loop. Fasten off and weave in the end. Sew a button about 0.5 inch inward from the opposite edge, positioning it so the chain loop will reach it comfortably when the cover is on the remote. This simple addition makes the cover much more practical, especially if the remote tends to be tossed around or carried from room to room.
Variations and Customizations
Once you have mastered the basic pattern, the real fun begins. There are so many ways to personalize these covers and make them your own.
Striped covers are perhaps the easiest variation. Simply change yarn colors every two or three rounds by cutting your working yarn, joining a new color, and continuing. The result is a cheerful, multicolored cover that can coordinate with your living room palette or simply celebrate your favorite color combinations. Weave in your ends as you go to avoid a pile-up at the end.
For a more textured effect, try substituting half double crochet stitches for the single crochets in the main body of the cover. The half double crochet creates a slightly taller, looser stitch that gives the finished piece a softer, squishier feel. This is especially lovely with a soft acrylic yarn.
A basketweave or bobble stitch panel on the front of the cover can turn a simple project into something that looks very impressive. Work the front and back of the cover as flat panels using rows rather than rounds, then seam them together and add a crocheted ribbing around the edge. This approach requires a bit more planning but allows for much more decorative stitch work.
You can also personalize covers by adding monogrammed letters using surface slip stitch or Swiss darning once the cover is complete, turning them into thoughtful and personal gifts.
Tips for Success
A few practical tips will help your finished covers come out looking polished and professional every time. Always weave in your ends very securely, particularly if the cover will be washed frequently. Loose ends have a way of working free over time, and a tiny bit of extra care at the finish line saves you from future frustration.
If you find that the bottom of your cover is slightly uneven or puckered, try blocking it before judging the result. Blocking — particularly wet blocking for cotton yarn — smooths out most imperfections and really evens out the stitches.
When measuring your remote before beginning, take the measurements with any batteries already inside, since some remotes bow outward very slightly when full. This ensures your cover accounts for the real working size of the remote.
Keep a small label with the remote brand or room designation tucked inside the cover if you are making several at once. It is surprisingly easy to confuse covers for remotes of similar size, and a quick label saves any puzzling later.
How to Care for Your Crocheted Remote Cover
The care instructions will depend on the yarn you chose. Cotton covers can typically be machine washed on a gentle cycle in cool water and air dried flat. Acrylic covers are similarly easy to care for — most acrylic yarns are machine washable, though air drying is always gentler on the fibers and helps the cover retain its shape.
If the cover shrinks very slightly over time from washing, simply slip it back onto the remote while it is damp and allow it to dry in place. The remote will gently stretch the fabric back to the correct dimensions as it dries.
A Note on Yarn Substitutions
While this pattern was written with cotton and acrylic worsted weight yarns in mind, you can use almost any yarn at the worsted weight level with good results. A bamboo-cotton blend has lovely drape and a slight sheen that looks elegant. Organic cotton gives a more matte, natural look. Even a rustic wool yarn can work beautifully if you want something warm and heathered, though keep in mind that wool may felt slightly with agitation in the wash, so hand washing is advisable for those.
Avoid anything at bulky weight or heavier — the resulting fabric will be too thick and stiff to let you feel the remote’s buttons through the cover, which defeats the practical purpose of the project entirely.
Final Thoughts
A crocheted remote control cover is one of those small, humble crafts that quietly makes daily life a little nicer. It takes only an evening or two to complete, uses very little yarn, and results in something genuinely functional that will be noticed and appreciated every single day. The pattern is flexible enough to fit almost any remote you own, and the possibilities for personalization are essentially limitless once you have the basic construction in your hands.
If you are new to working in the round, this is an ideal practice project. The stitches are simple, the rounds are short, and the closed bottom means you will quickly see a three-dimensional object taking shape, which is enormously encouraging for newer crocheters. If you are more experienced, the project rewards your skill with fast, satisfying progress and a finished object that is genuinely useful rather than merely decorative.
Make one in each room of the house. Make a set as a housewarming gift. Make them in holiday colors to dress up the living room in December. However you use this pattern, enjoy every single stitch — and enjoy the pleasure of a beautifully covered remote the next time you reach for it.
