Saturday, November 9, 2013

Cord Edged Coasters: Free Crochet Pattern!

It seems to me that half the people I know are really tired right now, and I am right there, yawning along with them.

On Thursday, in my half asleep haze, I watched a couple of old movies (Babe, Pollyanna) while my fingers hooked up an incredible EIGHT coasters.




I then used Snapchat to turn them into pictures to send to my friends: 



I thought I would share the incredibly simple pattern with you.

I used a ball of 8ply (DK) that I scored from a secondhand shop years ago for $2, and then dyed. Out of the 99.7m (109yards) I just managed to eke out eight coasters.

Here are five: 

Cord Edged Coasters

This pattern uses US terms!
UK/AUS terms are in italics, eg: (triple crochet!

Yarn: I used DK weight yarn

Hook: I used a 4mm (G) hook


Start: Make a loop to crochet into, you could do a magic loop if you want to. Because I wanted to get the most out of my yarn, I made a slip stitch (leaving a very short tail), chained 4, then slip stitched into the first stitch to close it.

Round 1: chain 2, make twelve double crochets (triple crochet) into the ring, slip stitch into top of first double crochet (triple crochetto join.

Round 2: chain 2, make two double crochets (triple crochet) in the same stitch, and in each stitch thereafter. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet (triple crochet) to join. (24 stitches in total)

Round 3: chain 2, make one double crochet (triple crochet) in the same stitch, and two double crochets (triple crochet) in the next stitch. Repeat this pattern of one double crochet (triple crochetand then two double crochets (triple crochet) (1, 2) all the way around. Slip stitch into the top of the first double crochet (triple crochet) to join.  (36 stitches in total)

In the next round, instead of doing double crochet (triple crochet), we make single crochet (double crochet). 

Round 4: Chain 2, make one single crochet (double crochet) in the same stitch, a single crochet (double crochet) into the next stitch, and two single crochets (double crochet) in the stitch after that. Repeat this pattern (1, 1, 2) all the way around. Slip stitch into the top of the first single crochet  (double crochet) to join.  (48 stitches in total)

Now, the bit that feels really weird! We are going to do reverse single crochet (also called crab stitch) to make the edging. This just backwards crochet. I am left handed, so usually I crochet in a clockwise direction. For reverse single crochet, however, I crochet in an anti-clockwise direction. 

There are lots of video tutorials already on the web. I have embedded one at the end of this post.

Edging: chain 1, skip the closest stitch, and reverse single crochet all the way around for that lovely cord-like edging. Finish it off by cutting a tail of about 10cm (4inches), threading it only a needle, and making a couple of stitches that mimic the previous crab stitch. Weave in ends.

Now make yourself a drink and use the coaster!

This pattern is for personal use only. The pattern may not be distributed or sold. Items made from this pattern, however, are yours to do what you wish with, including selling.


http://www.mooglyblog.com/reverse-single-crochet-crab-stitch/