Get Hooked #2 - Crochet Coasters

Ok, here it goes...

Get Hooked, Take 2!

I hope that those of you who tried the crochet bow ties found some success following my tutorial.

I would love to hear from you and see how you did!

Today's tutorial/free pattern will be for...

 Yes, that's right. Crochet coasters. 

In the 3 1/2 years that we've been married, we have never had coasters lying around.

I guess I just figured that our furniture was not expensive or fancy enough to warrant any protection from a cold glass.

Nevertheless, I decided to make a couple for our bedroom night stands and for the end tables in the living room. 

They are mostly there for the sake of decoration, but what a fun way to add spunk and color to an otherwise dull end table! 

 Let's begin.

You will need:

yarn (very little yarn is used, depending on how many coasters you want to make) - I use Sugar n' Cream as well as Lion Brand's Cotton-Ease yarns; you pick the colors, have fun with it!

Size G crochet hook - You can find a pack of crochet hooks with several different sizes at any craft/fabric store. They may even have them at Wal-mart.

Scissors

Crochet sewing needle - This looks just like a sewing needle but is a lot bigger so the yarn can fit through the eye, it is often made of plastic.

Abbreviations to know:

Slip Stitch - slst

Chain - ch

Double Crochet - dc 

Single Crochet - sc

Yarn Over - yo

Step 1. Attach yarn to hook with a slst.

Create a pretzel shape with the end of the yarn.

Thread the hook through the outer right hole and up through the middle.

Pull tight and you have a slip knot.

Step 2. Ch 4 (this includes the loop already on the hook from the slip knot).

 Forget how to chain? Check out Step 2 from last week's tutorial here.

Step 3. Slst into the first chain to create a circle.

 Place the hook through the loop made by the first chain. You should have 2 loops on the hook. Wrap the yarn over (yo) the hook and pull through both loops on the hook.

There is your circle!

Step 3. Ch 3 (this includes the loop already on the hook from the slip stitch).

Step 4. Work 11 dc into center of the circle. Slst in top loop of the first chain 3 to close circle.
 To work a double crochet (dc):
1. yo hook

2. Place hook through the center of the circle.
3. yo again.

4. Pull hook back through the circle. You should now have 3 loops on the hook.
5. yo again.

6. Pull hook through the first 2 loops on the hook.
7. yo again.

8. Pull the hook through the last 2 loops on the hook.

 The above picture shows the first chain 3 and the first dc. Now work 10 more dc into the circle. You should end up with a total of 12 (including the first chain).

 To slip stitch the circle closed, place the hook through the top loop of the first chain of 3. Yo, pull through both loops on the hook.

 This shows Round 1 completed:

Step 5. Ch 3. Work 1 dc in same stitch as the ch. Work 2 dc in each remaining stitch around. Slst to close circle.
 Chain 3 and then work 1 double crochet into the same stitch as the chain. This will create an increase which will make our circle grow larger.Continue to work 2 dc together in each stitch around. You should have 24 when the circle is complete. As before, slip stitch into the top loop of the first chain 3 to finish the round.

This is the 2nd round completed:

Step 6. Ch 3. Work 1 dc in same stitch as ch. Work 1 dc in the 2nd stitch and 2 dc in the 3rd stitch. Repeat this pattern around the circle. Slst to close circle. 
After you chain 3, work 1 dc in the same stitch. This is creating an increase to help the circle grow larger.
In the 2nd stitch: work 1 dc
In the 3rd stitch: work 2 dc
In the 4th stitch: work 1 dc
In the 5th stitch: work 2 dc
This pattern will continue around the circle finishing with 1 dc in the 24th stitch.
As before, slst into the top loop of the first ch 3 to close off the circle.

Step 7. Ch 2. Work 1 sc in the same stitch. Work 1 sc in the next 2 stitches. Work 2 sc together in the next stitch. Repeat this pattern around the circle. Slst to close the round. 

For this last round, chain only 2 and work 1 single crochet into the same stitch.

In the 2nd stitch: work 1 sc

In the 3rd stitch: work 1 sc

In the 4th stitch: work 2 sc together

This pattern will repeat around the circle and finish with 1 sc in the last stitch.

As before, work a slst into the top loop of the first chain 2 to complete the round.

Step 8. Cut and fasten off your yarn. You did it!

Forget how to work a single crochet? Check out step 3 in my first tutorial here.

Forget how to fasten off? Check out step 6 in my first tutorial here, however you don't need to leave a long tail. Weave in your loose ends to hide them away.

Here are 2 of my completed sets of coasters. I plan to make lots more in lots of bright, spring-y colors very soon!

Why do my coasters look a little different, you might ask? Well, I got a little creative with my sizes and colors, and you can too! With a couple of my coasters, I made one with 1 less round so that it would be smaller. I then simply sewed it to the bigger coaster using my crochet need and some contrasting colored yarn. You can also experiment with using different colored yarn for the different rounds. I liked using a contrasting color for the very last single crochet round.

Let me know if you have any questions! Now, go get started!


I'll be linking to these link parties:
We Did It! Wednesdays

 Whatever Goes Wednesdays
Get Your Brag On
Show Off Your Stuff Party