This little coaster is made to sit under a mug of cocoa all season. It has a solid cream center worked in a flat spiral of single crochet and a deep green band. Around that is a lacy green edge of open windows with ten rounded scallops on top. A small gold bow made from a crocheted cord sits at the bottom, like a ribbon on a wreath.
The colors are classic Christmas: warm cream, evergreen, and soft gold. The style is cozy and a little vintage. It looks close to a doily but is sturdy enough for daily use.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished coaster measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across from scallop tip to scallop tip. The cream center measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across.
The construction is simple. You work one continuous circle from the center out, then switch to green for the band and the lace edge. After that, you make a separate gold cord, tie it into a bow, and sew it on. There are no pieces to join.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across, tip to tip
- Skill level: Easy to intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted (#3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 coaster plus 1 bow appliqué
- Layout: Single round motif, worked in the round
- Cream center size: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) after Round 8
- Size before lace edge: 4.0 in (10.2 cm) after Round 10
- Lace edge depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) on each side, Rounds 11–13
Materials
Choose a smooth cotton or cotton blend in DK or light worsted weight. Cotton keeps the scallops crisp, soaks up drips, and handles hot mugs. Avoid fuzzy acrylic, which blurs the open windows.
- Cream (center): about 10 g / 25 m (27 yd)
- Evergreen (band and lace edge): about 12 g / 30 m (33 yd)
- Gold (bow): about 3 g / 8 m (9 yd)
These amounts include a small margin for testing your gauge and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Locking stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Rustproof pins and a foam blocking mat
- Spray bottle with water
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- inc – 2 sc in the same st
- rnd – round
Special stitch – slip stitch cord: Chain the length given. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work 1 sl st into the back bump of each ch. This makes a firm, rounded cord that ties neatly into a bow.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one coaster first and measure it at each checkpoint. Each round builds on the one before, so a small difference early on becomes a large one by the scallops.
Base gauge: Rounds 1–4 measure 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 4: 1.75 in (4.4 cm)
- After Round 8 (cream finished): 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
- After Round 10 (green band): 4.0 in (10.2 cm)
- After Round 11 (windows): 4.75 in (12.1 cm)
- After Round 12 (shells): 5.25 in (13.3 cm)
- After Round 13 (finished edge): 5.5 in (14.0 cm)
If your circle is too big by more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at Round 4, go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 3.75 mm hook. Check that it lies flat, too. If the center cups like a bowl, your tension is tight. If it ripples, your tension is loose.
Cream Center
Work in continuous spiral rounds. Do not join, and do not chain at the start of each round. Put the marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you go.
Round 1: With cream, make a magic ring. Ch 1 (does not count), then work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed. (6 sts)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc in next st, inc in next st 6 times. (18 sts)
Round 4: Sc in next st, inc in next st, sc in next st 6 times. (24 sts)
Checkpoint: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across.
Round 5: Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st 6 times. (30 sts)
Round 6: Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st, sc in next 2 sts 6 times. (36 sts)
Round 7: Sc in next 5 sts, inc in next st 6 times. (42 sts)
Round 8: Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st, sc in next 3 sts 6 times. (48 sts)
Moving the increases on the even rounds keeps the circle round instead of six-sided.
To smooth the step at the end of the spiral, sl st into the next st. Fasten off cream.
Checkpoint: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across, lying flat.
Green Band
From here on you work in joined rounds, so the lace edge lines up evenly.
Round 9: Join evergreen in any st. Ch 1 (does not count). Sc in next 7 sts, inc in next st 6 times. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (54 sts)
Round 10: Ch 1 (does not count). Sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st, sc in next 4 sts 6 times. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (60 sts)
These two rounds make the solid green band around the cream. Checkpoint: 4.0 in (10.2 cm) across.
Lace Edge
The edge has three rounds. Round 11 makes the open windows, Round 12 makes the shells, and Round 13 rounds off each scallop. Keep using evergreen.
Round 11 (windows): Ch 5 (counts as the first dc plus ch 2). Sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 2 29 times, then sk the last st. Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of the starting ch-5. (30 dc, 30 ch-2 sps)
Each dc is a spoke, and each ch-2 sp is a small open window. Checkpoint: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) across.
Round 12 (shells): Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 1 (does not count), then sc in the same sp. 6 dc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next ch-2 sp 9 times. Then 6 dc in next ch-2 sp, sc in last ch-2 sp. Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 10 shells of 6 dc (60 dc) plus 20 sc = 80 sts.
Each shell uses 3 windows. One sc anchors the window before it, 6 dc fill the middle window, and one sc anchors the window after it. Two sc sit side by side in each valley. Checkpoint: 5.25 in (13.3 cm) across.
Round 13 (scallop rim): Ch 1 (does not count). Sc in next 2 dc, inc in each of next 2 dc, sc in next 2 dc, sl st in each of next 2 sc 10 times. The last sl st lands in the joining sc of Round 12. Fasten off and weave in the end.
Count: 6 dc worked 1 sc per stitch (60 sts) + 2 extra sc per shell (20 sts) = 80 sc, plus 20 sl sts in the valleys = 100 sts total.
The extra sc at the top of each shell round out the scallop. The sl sts keep the valleys tight and deep. Checkpoint: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tip to tip.
Edge Math (Why the Counts Work)
This is a single round piece, so the “border” is the green section. It is counted per scallop instead of per side.
Border gauge: Rounds 9–13 add 1.125 in (2.9 cm) to the radius. The band adds 0.375 in (1.0 cm) and the lace edge adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
- Round 9: 48 + 6 = 54 sts. One increase every 8 sts keeps the band flat.
- Round 10: 54 + 6 = 60 sts. 60 divides evenly into 10 scallops of 6 sts, and it is even, so it splits cleanly into windows.
- Round 11: 60 sts ÷ 2 = 30 dc and 30 windows, which is 3 windows per scallop.
- Round 12: 10 repeats × (6 dc + 2 sc) = 80 sts.
- Round 13: 10 repeats × (8 sc + 2 sl st) = 100 sts.
For each scallop, the counts go: 6 band sts → 3 dc spokes and 3 windows → an 8-st shell → a 10-st rim. Every round multiplies cleanly by 10, so no repeat ends up short or crowded.
Gold Bow
Cord: With gold, ch 45. Work the slip stitch cord: sl st into the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and each ch across. (44 sl sts) Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail at one end.
The cord measures about 9 in (22.9 cm).
Tie the bow: Tie the cord into a simple shoelace bow. Make each loop about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long and leave tails about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long. The finished bow is about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide. Pull the knot tight and even out the loops.
Attach: Place the bow at the bottom center of the coaster. The knot sits on the green band (Rounds 9–10). The loops rest partly over the cream edge and the windows. The tails hang down over the lace edge and end just at the scallop rim. Thread the long tail onto a tapestry needle and sew through the knot into the band several times. Add one small stitch under each loop to hold it flat. Weave in the end on the back.
Final Blocking
- Weave in every end before blocking.
- Mist the coaster with water until it is damp, not soaking. Keep the bow fairly dry so it holds its shape.
- Lay the coaster right side up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the center circle flat and check that the cream measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across.
- Pin the tip of each of the 10 scallops so the coaster measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tip to tip in every direction.
- Gently push the valleys toward the center so each scallop is round.
- Open each window with a fingertip so the spokes stand straight.
- Let it dry completely before you remove the pins.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The cream center lies flat and measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
- The green band is even and measures 4.0 in (10.2 cm).
- There are exactly 30 windows and 10 scallops.
- All the scallops are the same height and shape.
- The valleys are tight and evenly spaced.
- The coaster measures 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tip to tip.
- The bow is centered at the bottom, with even loops and tails.
- All ends are woven in and hidden on the back.
- The coaster lies flat under a mug without rocking.
Troubleshooting
The center cups like a bowl. Your tension is tight, or you missed some increases. Recount: each round should add exactly 6 sts. Try a larger hook.
The center ripples. You have too many stitches, or your tension is loose. Recount and go down a hook size.
The center looks six-sided. Make sure you moved the increases on Rounds 4, 6, and 8.
The lace edge ruffles. Round 10 probably has more than 60 sts. Recount before you start Round 11.
The lace edge pulls the coaster into a cup. Your ch-2 sps are too tight. Loosen the chains a little, or use a larger hook for Rounds 11–13 only.
One scallop is too wide or too narrow. Check that each shell uses exactly 3 windows.
The bow droops or twists. Tighten the knot before sewing, then stitch each loop down.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press the water out in a towel, and dry flat. Reshape the scallops and the bow while damp.
Final Notes
The whole coaster follows one simple chain of measurements: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) at Round 4, 3.25 in (8.3 cm) for the cream center, and 4.0 in (10.2 cm) for the green band. It then measures 4.75 in (12.1 cm) after the windows, 5.25 in (13.3 cm) after the shells, and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) with the finished scallop rim. Check each one, and the edge will come out right.
The stitch counts follow the same steady logic: 48 cream sts, 60 band sts, 30 windows, 80 shell sts, and 100 rim sts. That gives 10 even scallops every time, with the gold bow as the finishing touch.
Happy crocheting!