Crochet Coasters: Four Free Patterns for One Evening
A plain circle, a granny square, a ridged spiral and a scalloped flower — four coasters, four techniques, all from a single ball of cotton.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Beginner
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) cotton, about 25 yd each
- Hook
- 4 mm (G-6)
- Time
- 15 minutes each
- Finished size
- 4 in (10 cm)
You'll need
- 100% cotton worsted weight (#4) yarn — about 25 yd per coaster
- 4 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle and scissors
In this post
Coasters are the best possible practice project: small enough to finish, varied enough to teach you something, and genuinely useful. Four patterns here, each teaching a different technique, all finishing at about 4 in (10 cm).
Use cotton — it absorbs condensation and handles a hot mug. Acrylic can melt under a very hot cup and doesn't absorb.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
1. The plain circle
The one that teaches you how a flat circle works.
- Rnd 1: 12 dc in a magic ring, join with a sl st. (12)
- Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (24)
- Rnd 3: Ch 2, (dc 1, 2 dc in the next st) 12 times. Join. (36)
- Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join and fasten off. (36)
A flat circle in double crochet adds 12 stitches per round. Too few and it cups; too many and it ruffles.
2. The granny square coaster
Three rounds of the classic square — the same stitch as our granny cardigan, just smaller.
- Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st to form a ring. Ch 3, 2 dc in the ring, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2* three times. Join. (4 clusters)
- Rnd 2: Sl st to a corner. (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in that corner, then (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each remaining corner. Join. (8 clusters)
- Rnd 3: As Rnd 2, with 3 dc in each side gap. Join. (12 clusters)
- Edging: Ch 1, sc in each st and 3 sc in each corner. Fasten off.
3. The ridged spiral
Back-loop-only work makes concentric ridges and a lovely sturdy coaster.
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2 (BLO): Inc in each st around. (12)
- Rnd 3 (BLO): (Sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 4 (BLO): (Sc 2, inc) 6 times. (24)
- Rnd 5 (BLO): (Sc 3, inc) 6 times. (30)
- Rnd 6 (BLO): (Sc 4, inc) 6 times. (36)
- Edging: Sl st in each st around. Fasten off. (36)
4. The scalloped flower
- Rnd 1: 12 dc in a magic ring. Join. (12)
- Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (24)
- Rnd 3: *Skip 1 st, 5 dc in the next st, skip 1 st, sl st in the next st.* Repeat from * around. (6 scallops)
Fasten off and press flat. The scallops are the same technique as the hem on our crochet ghost.
Make it your own
- A matching set of six in one colour looks far more deliberate than six different ones.
- Car coasters: size them down to 2¾ in — see our cup-holder pattern.
- Trivet: keep increasing the plain circle to 8 in for a pot stand.
- Double thickness: make two and sc them together around the edge.
Common questions
What size should a coaster be?
4 in (10 cm) suits most mugs and glasses. Go to 4½ in for large tumblers.
Why does my circle ruffle?
Too many increases for your tension. A dc circle needs exactly 12 extra stitches per round; a sc circle needs 6. Drop a hook size if it still waves.
Can I put a hot mug on a crochet coaster?
On cotton, yes. Acrylic can soften or melt under a very hot cup, so keep acrylic coasters for cold drinks.
How do I stop them curling?
Press with a steam iron under a damp cloth, or wet them and pin flat to dry. Cotton holds the shape afterwards.
One ball of cotton, a full set of coasters. ☕
Did you make this?
Tap a star to rate this pattern — it helps other makers find it.
Be the first to rate it!
YarnBloom
Crochet patterns & tutorials
YarnBloom shares cozy, beginner-friendly crochet patterns written in clear US terms, with a stitch count on every round and tips for the tricky bits. Grab your hook — let’s make something lovely.
Leave a comment