Abstract Flower Coaster ~ Free Crochet Pattern!

This is a pattern that I designed years ago for a crochet class. It's a quick and easy project. I used it as a way to introduce my students to carrying other colors of yarn along as you crochet. It can also be used as a lesson in design and following a grid.

I've been using one of these coasters on my desk for over five years and it just occurred to me that it would be a nice pattern to share. The size is big enough for a mug or larger cup, and when it needs cleaning, you can just throw it in the wash.

Here's what you need:
Size H/8 (5.00mm) crochet hook
medium weight 100% cotton in three colors

Gauge: 1 single crochet per square
Color Key: N = natural, P = pink, Y = yellow



With N, ch 12
Row 1: sc in 2nd st from hook and in next 10 sts (11 sc), ch 1 turn
Row 2: (This will be the front side of your coaster. Be sure that all loose ends face the wrong side of coaster.) sc in next 4 sts, sc in next st changing to color P (To change colors, insert hook into st, draw up a loop, yarn over with new color, draw through both loops on hook. You will always draw up the new color in the st before the new color begins.) Carry color N along as you sc in the next 2 sts with P changing back to N in the last part of the second st, continue on following the grid in this manner, at the end of row, ch 1 turn
Rows 3 - 11: Follow grid to create the abstract flower pattern, at the end of each row ch 1 turn
Finishing
With N, sc in next 10 sts, 3 sc in last st, work 9 sc evenly across side of coaster, 3 sc in 1st st of bottom row, sc in next 9 sts, 3 sc in last st of bottom row, work 9 sc evenly across last side, 2 sc in same st as first sc. Finish off weaving in all loose ends on the back side of the coaster.



The photo in the upper left hand corner shows color N being carried as color P is being worked.

As you can see, with a sheet of graph paper and a set of colored pencils, you can create all sorts of designs. This cute little coaster is a great place to start, but the applications are endless.

*note - Use a J or K hook to make your coaster even larger for those oversized mugs.

**note - You can customize and print your own free graph paper. I keep this link handy in my Favorites List on the left hand column of this blog.

***note - Sometimes I see cool graphic design and wonder, "How'd they do that?" The pattern grids for this design were created using Skitch.