UK crochet guide. Written in British English, with UK stitch names and metric measurements.
The easiest way to make matching coasters is to finish one before starting the rest. A row count copied from an unfinished sample may change after washing, and a square that looks large enough can still be smaller than the base of your favourite mug.
This practice project alternates rows of UK double crochet and half treble crochet. It makes a small flat piece whose final measurement comes from your yarn and tension.
Choose a yarn and a useful size
A smooth cotton yarn with suitable washing instructions is a practical starting point. Try DK and a 4 mm hook, then judge the sample. You also need scissors, a tapestry needle, a ruler and markers for the two edge stitches.
Measure the mug base and allow some visible fabric around it. This gives the coaster a purpose-specific target without assuming that every cup or glass needs the same diameter.
Know the two UK stitches
For dc, insert into the stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops. For htr, yarn over before inserting, pull up a loop, then yarn over and draw through all three loops together.
US tutorials call these single crochet and half double crochet. Keep the UK meanings in mind when following the row instructions below.
Work a sixteen-stitch sample
- Chain 17. Work dc into the second chain from the hook and every chain across: 16 dc.
- Chain two and turn. The turning chain does not count. Work one htr into each of the 16 stitches.
- Chain one and turn. Work one dc into each stitch: 16 dc.
- Alternate the htr and dc rows until the relaxed height is close to the width, finishing after a complete row.
Every row contains sixteen actual stitches. Do not add the turning chain to that count or work an extra stitch into it at the far edge.
Check the width before making it square
After a few rows, place the sample beside the mug base. If it is too narrow, restart with more stitches rather than adding height to an unsuitable width. Any whole stitch count can work with this alternating-row construction.
If you change the count, write it down and maintain it in both row types. A taller htr row does not need an extra stitch across merely because it adds more height.
Keep the edge from flaring
A loose turning chain can make the edge look uneven even when the count is correct. Let it provide enough height for the row without pulling a large loop. Mark the first and last actual stitch until their positions are easy to recognise.
Inspect the sample flat, away from the tension of your hands. A curled edge that disappears only while you pull it is worth correcting before making several more pieces.
Finish and use the first coaster as the template
Fasten off, weave in the ends and follow the yarn’s care instructions. Let the coaster dry fully, then measure it again and check that the mug sits stably on it. Use this as a drink coaster, not as a tested heatproof trivet for cookware.
Record the yarn, hook, stitch count, row count and final size. If you want a border, add it to the first coaster now so the recorded measurement includes it.
Plan the set by actual consumption
Weigh the finished sample or measure the yarn used, then estimate the remaining pieces in the same construction. Allow for their finishing tails and round the purchase up to whole balls. A second colour may need a separate ball even when it contributes only a narrow stripe.
Where to go next
Make a larger cloth · Choose a coordinated palette · Calculate the set’s yarn cost