Simple Single Crochet Coaster: A 16-Stitch Practice Pattern

What you need

• Smooth cotton yarn suitable for a small drink coaster
• A hook that produces a firm but workable single-crochet fabric
• Two removable stitch markers, scissors, yarn needle, and ruler

Step by step

1. Preparation: make a short sc swatch with the chosen hook. Check that you can see the top loops and insert the hook without force. Decide whether the 16-stitch width is large enough for the cup or glass you intend to use.
2. Foundation: ch 17. Keep the chains even and avoid tightening the final few. The loop on your hook and the slip knot are not part of the 17-chain count.
3. Row 1: sc in the second ch from the hook and in each remaining ch across. Use one consistent chain-loop insertion method. Count 16 sc. Put a marker in the first and last actual sc.
4. Rows 2 through 16: ch 1, turn, then sc under both top loops of each sc across. Begin in the first marked stitch and finish in the last marked stitch. Move the markers into the new row. Count 16 sc after every row. The ch 1 never counts as a stitch.
5. Size check: after row 16, lay the piece flat without stretching and compare width with height. Stop here for the base version. If a square is important, continue identical rows until height is close to width, recording the actual total.
6. Finish: cut a generous tail, pull it through the remaining loop, and weave it through several stitches on the reverse, changing direction. Secure the foundation tail the same way. Follow the yarn label for washing and shape the coaster gently while drying.

Read the count before beginning

The base pattern contains 16 rows of 16 sc, or 256 sc in total. There are 15 turning chains between rows, all excluded from the sc counts. Starting with ch 17 gives 16 usable foundation positions because the chain nearest the hook is skipped. If you accidentally begin in the first chain, the fabric can gain a stitch or become awkward to turn. Count row 1 before proceeding; correcting the foundation later requires undoing more work.

Estimate the finished size

With a measured gauge of 4 sc per inch, the width would be about 4 inches. At 4 rows per inch, 16 rows would also measure about 4 inches. These are calculation examples, not a guaranteed gauge. Your height can differ from your width even when the stitch work is correct. Measure under the same relaxed conditions each time, and decide on the dimensions before fastening off if you want to adjust the row count.

Keep the edges tidy

The first sc goes into the first real stitch because the turning chain does not count. Do not work an extra stitch into that chain at the far end. If the sides taper, use the markers and compare the current count with the last correct row. If the count stays at 16 but the edge looks uneven, relax the opening loop and avoid pulling the final stitch tighter than the others. A plain coaster does not require a border to be finished.

Make a coordinated set

Keep the same yarn, hook, actual row count, and finishing method for every coaster in a set. A small note card is more reliable than remembering how the first piece felt. Changing colors between complete coasters is simpler than introducing color changes inside a beginner piece. If you want a wider version, add chains and remember that the number of sc in row 1 is one less than the foundation chain count.

Use and care

This is a drink coaster, not a potholder, oven mitt, or guarantee of heat protection. Check that it sits flat on your table and supports the intended vessel without wobbling. Follow the yarn label for cleaning, and let it dry completely before storing. If it shrinks or distorts after washing, use that experience to adjust the next piece rather than trying to force an unsuitable fabric to match an exact dimension.

Common questions