How To Crochet a Coaster - Easy DIY Tutorial

Learn how to crochet a coaster! Crochet coasters are quick and easy to make, they look good on your coffee table, and they absorb drips or condensation so that your furniture does not get stained. It is easy to pop a coaster into the washing machine to get rid of those drips, rather than have to live with rings on your furniture!

How to Crochet a Coaster

The simplest type of coaster to make is a square coaster. These are made using straightforward side-to-side crochet in any stitch of your choice. I would suggest a dense, tight stitch, rather than a loose lacy one as this will be more absorbent and allow less liquid through the fabric.

You will also need to choose the types of yarn carefully for coasters. Cotton yarn or cotton blend is the ideal choice here, as it is absorbent and can easily soak up any spills or drips. It also needs to be machine washable. If you make your coasters out of shiny acrylic, they make look pretty, but the liquid could just roll off the top of your coaster and end up staining your furniture anyway!

Materials

• Cotton or cotton blend yarn. These coasters are great for using up some of your scrap yarn.
• Crochet hook suitable for your chosen yarn. In order to get smaller holes, you may want to try using a smaller hook than that recommended on the yarn label.
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Abbreviations

All crochet terminology in this article is written in US terms.

• sl st - slip stitch
• ch- chain stitch
• sc- single crochet
• dc- double crochet
• inc- increase
• dec- decrease crochet

What Size Should I Make My Crochet Coasters?

This is one of the joys of crafting things for yourself! You can easily adjust the size to however large or small you would like it to be!

An average coaster is usually around 3-5 inches. (7.6-12.7 cm)

Skills Needed to Crochet Coasters

To make the simplest square coasters, you will need to be able to do the following:

Skill 1 - Slip Knot

• This will be the first ‘link’ of your chain. Make a loop of yarn, then hook another loop through that. You can do this with your fingers or a hook. Tighten gently.

Skill 2 - Foundation Chain

• To make a chain stitch, wrap the yarn around the hook from back to front.
• Pull that loop through your slip knot.
• Repeat this wrap and pull through until you have the required number of chain stitches for your foundation chain.

Skill 3 - Single Crochet

Single crochet is the recommended stitch for most coasters since it is dense making it more absorbent.

• Insert your hook into the 2^nd chain from the hook. (It must go through both loops of your chain stitch.)
• Now wrap the yarn around the hook from back to front again.
• Pull a loop through that chain stitch. (You will still have 2 stitches on the hook.)
• Wrap again, and pull through those 2 stitches. (You have now created a single crochet stitch.)
• Continue inserting your hook into each chain stitch, and forming a single crochet from that loop. Work all the way along the row, until the end of the row of chains. You have now worked a whole row of single crochet (sc).

Turn at the end of a row:

• Once you reach the end of the row, you will need to turn your work to continue.
• Turn the piece around so that you can work from right to left again.
• Chain 1 to start your new row.

Skill 4 - Slip Stitch

Slip stitch is required to join the last and first stitch of each row. It can also be used for borders and decorating your coasters.

• Insert the hook into the required chain stitch.
• Wrap yarn around hook from back to front.
• Pull this loop through both stitches. (1 loop on hook.)

How to Crochet a Coaster Tutorial

Here I will show you 5 easy styles of coaster to crochet. They all use either single or double crochet stitch so are suitable for beginners and crocheters of all levels. These easy stitches will have your table decorated and protected in a short amount of time!

Style 1 - Simple Square Coaster

This simple coaster is worked from side to side. The instructions below use single crochet but you can easily substitute any stitch. The coaster on the right was made using double crochet. You can see how it is not quite as dense but it was, however, faster to make.

How to Crochet a Square Coaster

• Make your slip knot to start, then work 15 chains. See how that size looks to you, then use the 15 chains if it looks right, or add or subtract stitches accordingly.
• Sc in 2^nd chain from the hook, then sc in each chain across. (14 sc stitches)
• Chain1 to turn, sc in each stitch across.
• Repeat this row until you have a square. To check if your coaster is square, fold the fabric across diagonally. If the sides line up perfectly, it is a square!

How to Crochet a Coaster Border:

Once your square is complete, work a crochet border around it. Here is the simplest method using single crochet stitches:

• Work across the top of the square, make 1 sc into each stitch.
• Chain 1 to turn the corner, then work 1 sc into each stitch down the side.
• When you reach the bottom of the square, chain 1 to turn the corner, then work 1 sc into each of your starting chain stitches.
• Ch1 to turn, then work 1 sc into each stitch up the other side.
• Finish with a slip stitch into the first sc of the border.
• Fasten off, and weave in your ends.

Style 2 - How to Crochet a Round Coaster for Beginners

We will use double crochet for this round crochet coaster. You need to know how to make a magic circle or magic ring to start off the coaster. This gives a tight ring in the middle.

Round 1:

• Start with a magic circle, then ch2 and 9 dc into the circle (OR start with 4 chains, and work 9 dc into 3^rd ch from hook.)
• Pull your inner ring tightly. Join the circle with a slip stitch into the top of the chain which formed your first dc. (You should have 10 sts.)

Round 2:

• Ch2 (Forms 1^st dc) then dc into same stitch.
• Work 2 dc into each stitch all the way around. (20 stitches)
• Join with a sl st into top of ch2.
• Place a stitch marker in place now, to help you count the rounds.

Round 3:

• Ch 2 (1^st dc),
• * 2 dc into next st along. 1 dc into following st.
• Repeat from * all the way around.
• Join with a sl st. (30 dc.)

Round 4:

• Ch 1 (1^st dc),
• *1 dc in next st, 2 dc in following st, 1 dc in next st. You will be increasing every 3^rd st.
• Repeat from * all the way around. (40 dc.)

This should be enough rounds to make a suitably sized round coaster.

Larger Circle:

If you need another round work it as follows:

• Ch 1, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st. So you will be increasing every 4^th st.

That should make you a fabulous round coaster!

Style 3 - Square Coaster “In The Round”

If you prefer to crochet in the round, rather than back and forth from side to side, you can make a solid granny square coaster. Usually, to make a solid granny square you would make 2 ch on each corner, but we will reduce this to 1 chain to give a more solid coaster.

Foundation Round:

• Start with a magic ring, or ch4, and join with a sl st to make a ring.

Round 1:

• Ch4. (This counts as 1 dc, plus ch 1)
• Work 3 dc into ring, ch1. (This makes the first dc group.)
• Work 3 dc into ring, ch1. (Second dc group.)
• Work 3 dc into ring, ch1. (Third dc group.)
• For last dc group, work 2 dc into ring, insert hook into 2nd ch of starting ch.
• Sl st to close the round. (You should now have 4 dc groups and 4 ch1 spaces.)

Round 2:

• Insert hook into corner space where you have just finished round 1.
• Make a sl st into this space.
• Ch4- counts as 1 dc plus 1 ch sp.
• Work 2 dc into corner space.
• Work 1 dc into 1^st dc of previous row. Pass your hook under both loops of the dc stitch every time.
• Work 1 dc into each of next 2 sts.
• Work corner- 2 dc, ch1, 2 dc.
• 1 dc into each of next 3 sts, then another corner into next corner sp. (Second side)
• Crochet 1 dc into next 3 sts, and a corner group into next corner. (Third side)
• Make 1 dc into each of next 3 sts. (Fourth side)
• To make your final corner, dc into first corner sp, insert hook into 2^nd ch of initial 4ch and make a sl st.

Round 3:

• Insert hook into same corner sp, work a sl st.
• Ch 4 work 2 dc into corner sp.
• Work 1 dc into each of next 7 sts.
• Work (2dc, ch1, 2 dc) into corner space, this is your corner group.
• Repeat 7 dc and corner group along each side.
• Sl st into 2nd ch of starting ch.

Keep working around the square like this until the coaster is the desired size.            

Style 4 - How to Crochet a Granny Square Coaster

Traditional crochet granny squares can also be used as coasters. The holes mean it is not quite as absorbent as some of the other styles but they are quick and easy to make. See my full tutorial on how to crochet a granny square. Here I used a worsted weight yarn and crocheted 5 rounds.

Style 5 - How to Crochet a Coaster Mug Rug

Another item along the same lines is a ‘mug rug’. This is a relatively recent invention, which is slightly larger and gives you enough space to place your mug as well as a small snack or cookie on the mat, instead of using another plate. This is useful for yourself at home, or it makes a nice little gift.               

A mug rug needs to be rectangular, rather than square, to give you that extra space for your snack.

To make one, simply use the pattern for the simple square coaster, but keep crocheting a little longer, until you have a rectangle. Only add your border once you have got it to the correct size and shape. If you are making the mug rug as a gift, you can add a fringe on either side, or tassels in the corners to give it some extra pizzazz!

How to Crochet a Coaster - In Conclusion

Crochet coasters make a perfect small gift for a housewarming or as a small gift for neighbors or teachers. They can be used anywhere in the home, coffee table, kitchen table, bedside table to absorb the condensation on your water glass next to the bed! They are versatile and useful and make a great décor item as well. If you are confident in your crochet abilities, you could make one in a fancier stitch, such as bobble stitch or waffle stitch. Try your hand at making a crochet coaster. You will be glad that you did!