Flower Crochet Coaster Pattern: Six Simple Petals

Thirty-six is a convenient number for a flower. A double crochet circle reaches 36 stitches after three rounds, and 36 divides into six petals of six stitches each with nothing left over. That means the petal round needs no fudging: you repeat the same six-stitch petal six times and arrive back exactly where you started.

The petals are shaped by stitch height. Each one climbs from a single crochet up to treble crochets in the middle and back down again, so the outline curves on its own. The pattern uses US crochet terms.

What You Need

• Worsted weight (#4) cotton yarn in one color, or two colors for a contrasting center and petals
• US H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook
• Yarn needle and scissors

The finished flower measures about 5 in (13 cm) from petal tip to petal tip, with a flat center of about 3.25 in (8 cm). Both figures are approximate and depend on your gauge.

Abbreviations and Notes

• ch — chain
• sl st — slip stitch
• sc — single crochet
• hdc — half double crochet
• dc — double crochet
• tr — treble crochet (yarn over twice before inserting the hook)
• st(s) — stitch(es)

Work in joined rounds without turning. In rounds 1 to 3 the chain 3 counts as the first double crochet. In the petal round the chain 1 does not count as a stitch.

Crochet the Center

The center is three rounds of the same circle used in the classic round crochet coaster, stopped one round early.

1. Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 11 dc into the ring, pull the tail to close the ring, sl st to the top of the ch 3. (12 dc)
2. Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, 2 dc in each of the next 11 sts, sl st to the top of the ch 3. (24 dc)
3. Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, dc in the next st, *2 dc in the next st, dc in the next st; repeat from * 10 more times, sl st to the top of the ch 3. (36 dc)

Count the 36 stitches now. One stitch too many or too few will leave the last petal lopsided, and it is much quicker to correct the circle than to rework the petals.

How Six Petals Fit 36 Stitches

Each petal is worked across six stitches of round 3, but it contains ten stitches of its own, because four of the six base stitches hold two stitches each:

The petal is symmetrical: short, medium, tall, tall, medium, short. The single crochet at the end of one petal sits next to the single crochet at the start of the following one, and those two low stitches form the dip between petals.

Work the Petal Round

4. Rnd 4: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in the same st as the join, (hdc, dc) in the next st, 2 tr in each of the next 2 sts, (dc, hdc) in the next st, sc in the next st (first petal made). *Sc in the next st, (hdc, dc) in the next st, 2 tr in each of the next 2 sts, (dc, hdc) in the next st, sc in the next st; repeat from * 4 more times, sl st to the first sc. (6 petals, 60 sts)

Those 60 stitches break down as 12 single crochets, 12 half double crochets, 12 double crochets and 24 treble crochets. Six petals of six base stitches use all 36 stitches of round 3. Fasten off.

Making It in Two Colors

A honey center with cream petals is a simple way to make the flower read clearly. Work rounds 1 to 3 in the center color and fasten off after the slip stitch join. Then:

1. Join the petal color with a sl st in any stitch of round 3.
2. Ch 1, sc in that same stitch.
3. Continue round 4 from “(hdc, dc) in the next st” to the end.

The other way to switch is to work the final slip stitch of round 3 in the new color, which avoids fastening off; that method is explained in how to change colors in crochet coasters. For a third color, work round 3 in a shade between the center and the petals.

Where the Cup Sits

The solid part of this coaster is the round center, and the petals extend beyond it. Measure the base of the mug or glass you have in mind: if it is narrower than the center, it will sit entirely on solid fabric. A wider base will rest partly on the petals, which are separate at the tips and lie a little less evenly.

If you need a larger solid area, add a fourth round to the center, (2 dc in the next st, dc in each of the next 2 sts) twelve times for 48 stitches, and then work eight petals over the 48 stitches using the same six-stitch petal. The count still works, since eight times six is 48. Expect that version to be noticeably bigger.

Blocking and Finishing

Petals tend to curl toward the front when they first come off the hook. Blocking settles them: dampen the coaster, pin the tip of each petal between the two middle treble crochets, and let it dry completely. The full method is in the guide to blocking crochet coasters.

Weave in the ends through the back of the center stitches, keeping each color within its own area. Follow the yarn label for washing, and reshape the petals flat with your fingers while the coaster is still damp. Once you are comfortable with this petal, the sunflower crochet coaster uses the same center with narrower, pointed petals.