A Simple Flower Coaster

For my first post on the new blog, you get a present! I'm going to give you the pattern for this simple coaster. It's based on an almost universal doily/thread crochet pattern. By using yarn instead of doily thread, we can make it much more quickly, and it's more absorbent.

This measures about four inches across.

First, some....

Basic Definitions 

• st - stitch
• yo - yarn over
• sl st- slip stitch
• ch - chain
• sc - single crochet
• hdc - half double crochet
• dc - double crochet
• tr - triple crochet
• sk - skip. This means skip the indicated number of stitches from the last stitch that connected to the previous row. So, if the number is 2, count 2 stitches and put your next stitch in the third one.
• join - To connect the current stitch to the first stitch of the current row, almost always a slip stitch.

Personal Notation You Won't See Elsewhere

• tr into sc+sc from behind - To do this, yo twice around your hook as normal. Insert into the first sc from behind and immediately into the next sc from the front. yo and pull through to complete the tr as normal. This centers the stitch between the two sc. The hook - minus all the yarn - should sit like this in the stitches before you pull it back through: 

Tools and Supplies

• Scissors
• Yarn needle 
• Crochet Hook - size G
• light weight yarn in your preferred color (Can also be called sport or baby weight) 

Work

Start: Ch 8, join with a sl st to form a ring.

Row 1: 18 sc in ring. Join with sl st.

Row 2: sc in the same st as your sl st, *ch 5, sk 2, sc,* repeat between asterisks around. join with sl st at first sc. You should have six loops.

Row 3: In each loop - sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc. Join to sc with sl st. You should have six petals.

Row 4: Ch 7, *sc in 3rd dc of the next petal, ch 5, tr into sc+sc from behind, ch 5,* repeat between asterisks around until you reach the end. Join with sl st into 3rd ch from the original ch7. You should have 12 segments.

Row 5: Do 5 sc per segment, skipping the previous row's sc and tr. Join to first sc with sl st. Tie off and weave in ends.