A Six-Round Single Crochet Circle Coaster

What you need

• Smooth cotton yarn and a hook that makes a firm but workable fabric
• A removable stitch marker for the beginning of the round
• Scissors, a yarn needle, and a flat surface for checks

Step by step

1. Start: ch 2. Round 1: work 6 sc into the second ch from the hook. Do not join. Place the marker in the first sc, not in a chain. Round 1 has 6 sc. A small central opening is normal with this chain-ring start.
2. Round 2: work 2 sc into each of the 6 stitches. Move the marker into the first new sc as you begin. Count 12 sc. Keep the marker with that first stitch until you begin the next round.
3. Round 3: [sc in the next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch] 6 times. Each repeat uses two old stitches and makes three new stitches. Count 18 sc.
4. Round 4: [sc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch] 6 times. Each repeat uses three old stitches and makes four new stitches. Count 24 sc.
5. Round 5: [sc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch] 6 times. Count 30 sc.
6. Round 6: [sc in each of the next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch] 6 times. Count 36 sc. Stop before working into the first stitch of a seventh round.
7. Finish: remove the marker, cut a generous tail, and pull it through the final loop. Weave securely into the reverse without pulling the outer edge tight. This simple finish leaves a small step at the spiral end; no joining stitch or extra round is included in the counts.

Know exactly what an increase means

In this pattern, an increase means two complete sc worked into the same old stitch. It adds one stitch to the new round, not two extra stitches. Six such increases change a 24-stitch round into a 30-stitch round. All ordinary sc go under both top loops. Avoid placing one of the pair into the next stitch by accident; that would preserve the old count rather than making the intended increase.

Keep the beginning visible

A continuous spiral has no joining slip stitch and no starting chain between rounds. Without a marker it is easy to keep going and lose the boundary. Move the marker into the first newly made stitch at the beginning of every round, then count until you reach it again. The marker identifies a stitch that is already part of the stated total. Do not count it as a separate location or crochet an extra stitch merely to pass it.

Check the fabric after every round

Lay the circle on a table without stretching it. If it cups like a shallow bowl, first verify that no increases were missed. If it waves at the edges, verify that you did not add extras. When the counts are correct, your stitch proportions and tension may need a different hook or a fresh start. Blocking is not a reliable way to conceal a large count error. Record the materials and result for a more useful second attempt.

Understand the total and outline

The six completed rounds contain 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 sc, totaling 126 sc. Starting from round 2, exactly six increases are made per round. Because the increase locations align, six shallow corners can appear; this is expected for the stated sequence. A more rounded outline can use staggered increases, but that is a different written sequence and is not silently included here.

Size and care

There is no promised finished diameter because yarn and stitch proportions vary. Measure across the relaxed circle and check it against your intended glass or cup. Follow the yarn label for washing and drying. This is a drink coaster, not a hot pad or a heat-protection product. If you want a larger version, continue the six-increase structure with a carefully calculated next round rather than adding stitches at random; a seventh round would finish at 42 sc.

Common questions