Crochet flower coaster pattern

A mug needs a flat place to sit, so start with a plain circle and add a flower edge last. This crochet flower coaster pattern uses three joined rounds of double crochet and nine small shells. You can make the center and petals in one color or use two scraps of cotton.

Work twelve double crochet stitches into a chain ring, then increase to twenty-four and thirty-six stitches. Add nine petals by repeating a five-stitch shell between slip-stitch anchors. Count each round before moving on, and check that the center supports your cup. Use US crochet terms throughout. The hook, yarn and your own tension decide the finished size.

Crochet flower coaster pattern supplies and terms

Choose a smooth cotton yarn so you can see each stitch. Use the hook size on its label as a starting point. A medium-weight cotton and a hook near 4 mm are useful supplies to try. Your stitches should form a firm fabric that still bends without bunching up.

You'll also need scissors, a yarn needle, a stitch marker and the mug you plan to use. There is no fixed finished diameter or yarn allowance here. Work the center first and set the mug on it to check the fit. For a wide cup, choose thicker yarn and start again with a matching hook.

This is a new pattern from Knitting and Sundries. The flower drawing is a shape guide. It isn't a photo of a finished sample.

• ch: chain. Yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook.
• sl st: slip stitch. Insert the hook, yarn over and pull through the stitch and the loop on the hook.
• dc: US double crochet, called treble crochet in UK terms. Yarn over, insert the hook and pull up a loop. Yarn over and draw through two loops twice.
• Increase: work two dc into the same stitch.
• Join: slip stitch into the top of the first ch-3, unless the round says otherwise.

The Crochet Guild of America stitch guide shows the basic movements. For abbreviations, use the Craft Yarn Council's US list.

Work the crochet flower coaster pattern in four rounds

Start: Leave a tail long enough to weave in. Chain four, then slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring. Work the next stitches into the hole in the ring, not into each chain. Keep the ring small enough that the mug base won't sag through it.

Round 1: Chain three; this counts as your first dc. Work eleven dc into the ring. Join to the top of the starting ch-3. Count twelve dc, including that starting chain. Put your marker in the top of the ch-3 so you can find it at the next join.

Round 2: Chain three; it counts as the first dc. Work one more dc into the same stitch at its base. Work two dc in each of the next eleven stitches.

Join to the top of the starting ch-3. Count twenty-four dc. Don't put an extra stitch into the slip-stitch join.

Round 3: Chain three; it counts as the first dc. Work two dc in the next stitch. Work one dc in the next stitch, then two dc in the following stitch; repeat that pair eleven times in total.

Join to the top of the starting ch-3. Count thirty-six dc. Spread the circle flat before adding the edge.

Round 4: Chain one; it does not count as a stitch. Slip stitch into the same stitch as the join to make the first anchor. Skip one stitch, work five dc into the next stitch, skip one stitch, then slip stitch into the next stitch. Repeat that whole sequence nine times in total. The final slip stitch goes into the first anchor position to close the edge.

You should have nine petals, each with five dc. Each petal uses four positions from the center's edge: a skipped stitch, a shell stitch, a skipped stitch and an anchor. Nine repeats use all thirty-six positions. The starting anchor and the closing anchor share one position; don't add another petal at the join.

For two colors, fasten off after round three. Join the petal color with a slip stitch in any dc, then follow round four from the first skipped stitch. That joining slip stitch is the first anchor. Keep both tails on the back so you can secure them later.

Finish a flat flower coaster

Fasten off and weave the tails through the backs of several stitches. Change direction while weaving so the ends don't slide straight out. Snip the loose ends once they hold. Avoid a hard knot under the middle of the coaster, where it could make the mug wobble.

Dampen the coaster, press out extra water in a towel and lay it flat to dry. Shape each petal with your fingers. Follow the yarn label's care advice. Don't stretch the center to force a larger size; check it again with the mug after it dries.

If the center cups, check for a missed increase or tight stitches. If it ripples, check for extra stitches near the joins. Count before changing hooks. A hook change won't fix the wrong stitch count. The center should rest flat without a cup weighing it down.

Use the coaster for cups that fit on its flat center. Keep it away from a hot pan, oven dish or open flame. It is a drink coaster, not a tested heat pad. For other yarn projects, see our crochet and knitting guide and yarn-to-needle reference.

Flower coaster questions

Does the starting chain count as a stitch?

The ch-3 counts as one dc in rounds one, two and three. Include it in the round's total. In round four, the ch-1 does not count. Mark the first stitch if you lose the join. This helps you avoid adding a stitch where the round ends.

Can I use a different yarn weight?

You can use a different weight with a hook that suits it. Keep the stitch counts the same, then check the center with your mug. The size and feel will change. Choose a smooth yarn for your first attempt so that the skipped stitches and joins are easy to find.

Why do I have eight or ten petals?

Check the thirty-six stitches in round three first. Each shell repeat spans four stitch positions. Count the skipped stitches as well as the ones you work into. The last slip stitch returns to the first anchor. Adding another repeat there will give you an extra petal and crowd the edge.

How do I keep track while making a set?

Use the round boxes on the pattern card and clear them for each new coaster. The boxes save on this device when browser storage is available. A paper copy works too. Count your stitches at every join, even if the last coaster came out well; tension and missed stitches can vary.

Verdict on this small cotton project

Use this crochet flower coaster pattern when you want a plain center with a flower edge. Count twelve, twenty-four and thirty-six stitches before working the nine petals. Check the mug fit and the flatness as you go. Save the pattern card or print it for your next set.