Modern Crochet Coasters

I originally shared these coasters a few weeks ago over on Craftaholics Anonymous. When I was trying to think about something to make I had a few ideas of what I wanted to make. I knew that I wanted something that would be a quick and easy project. I knew that I wanted it to be summery both in colors and in use. I thought coasters would be perfect, now I just had to come up with a design. I was inspired by modern, geometric designs and lately I have seen lots of things that combine bright pops of color with more natural elements. I wanted to recreated those things in a set of coasters and this is what I came up with.

I decided to make a set of 4 coasters, all the same pattern but different colors. For each coaster I used cream colored yarn combined with a bright color, either pink, yellow, blue or green. They are made using single crochet and woking with both colors at the same time, carrying the yarn up the back of the coaster. I made half square triangle designs, they kind of reminded me of quilt blocks when they where done.

When I am changing color in a project like this I always change color when I am making the last stitch with the previous color. To do this I start the last stitch as normal (insert into stitch, pull up yarn) but rather that finishing the stitch with that color I yarn over with the new color and pull through to finish the last stitch. This way the loop on your hook as you start the next stitch is the new color. Also, because I carry the yarn up the back of the coaster rather than cutting the yarn on each row I always make sure that the yarn tail is on the wrong side. That means that each time I change from cream to the other color I start the last stitch as I explained above but before I yarn over with the new color I first flip the tail forward so that it is on the wrong side or back of the coaster.

These pictures show the steps of switching from cream to blue. When you switch back to the cream from the blue the steps would be the same except you will not need to flip the tail over in the first step. Just make sure that you tails always end up on the same side of your work.

Modern Crochet Coasters

Finished size 4 1/2 inches Square

You will need:

• 100% cotton yarn in a natural color (I used Peaches and Cream in Ecru)
• 100% cotton yarn in contrasting color ( I used Peaches and Cream in Bright Blue, Iced Strawberry, Sunshine and Bright Chartreuse)
• G crochet hook

Instructions:

Starting with cream yarn

ch 15

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch and each ch to the end (14 sc)

Row 2: ch 1, turn sc in first 13 sc, change to color, sc in last stitch (14 sc, 13 cream 1 color)

Row 3: ch 1, turn sc in first 2 sc, change to cream, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 12 cream 2 color)

Row 4: ch 1, turn sc in first 11 sc, change to color, sc in last 3 stitches (14 sc, 11 cream 3 color)

Row 5: ch 1, turn sc in first 4 sc, change to cream, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 10 cream 4 color)

Row 6: ch 1, turn sc in first 9 sc, change to color, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 9 cream 5 color)

Row 7: ch 1, turn sc in first 6 sc, change to cream, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 8 cream 6 color)

Row 8: ch 1, turn sc in first 7 sc, change to color, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 7 cream 7 color)

Row 9: ch 1, turn sc in first 8 sc, change to cream, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 6 cream 8 color)

Row 10: ch 1, turn sc in first 5 sc, change to color, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 5 cream 9 color)

Row 11: ch 1, turn sc in first 10 sc, change to cream, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 4 cream 10 color)

Row 12: ch 1, turn sc in first 3 sc, change to color, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 3 cream 11 color)

Row 13: ch 1, turn sc in first 12 sc, change to cream, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 2 cream 12 color)

Row 14: ch 1, turn sc in first sc, change to color, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 1 cream 13 color)

Row 15: ch 1, sc in each stitch to end (14 sc, 0 cream 14 color)

At the end of row 15 pick up the cream yarn and turn 90 degrees so you are working down the side of your coaster, 1 sc in corner stitch, sc evenly down the side of the coaster, 3 sc in corner, sc in each stitch along the bottom, work 2 sc in corner joining color yarn in the last stitch, continue working with colored yarn, 1 sc in same corner, continue to sc evenly up the side, work 3 sc in corner, sc in each stitch across the top finishing with 2 sc in the corner, join to first sc finish off, weave in all ends

Repeat the pattern until you have the number of coasters that you want.

I hope you enjoy this crochet project. Small projects like this are a great way to keep crocheting through the summer when the weather is warm and you may not want to work on a big heavy afghan or cold weather things like scarves or hats. These coasters can be made in no time at all and then you can use them right away.