First crochet project · free small project

Single crochet coaster

Crochet a square coaster, then embroider a short name or initials on it. The background has no increases or decreases. Its row-by-row count makes it a useful first exercise in recognising the last stitch and keeping the turning chain outside the stitch count.

Original Purlgrid recipe · engine-checked counts · diagrams are previews, not photographs of a physically made sample.

Illustration of a cream single crochet coaster with TEA lettering in red
Illustration based on the chart, not a photo of a stitched sample.

Supplies and skills

Washable cotton yarn, a contrasting embroidery yarn, a suitable hook, two stitch markers, a ruler, scissors and a blunt yarn needle.

  • Foundation chain
  • US single crochet
  • Turning chain
  • Cross-stitch embroidery after crocheting

How to make it

  1. Make a single-crochet sample, wash and dry it, and measure stitches and rows per 10 cm. Use that gauge below.
  2. Chain the calculated foundation count. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work one single crochet in every remaining chain. Check that the first row has the stated stitch count.
  3. Chain one and turn. Work one single crochet in each actual stitch, including the last one. Put markers in the first and last stitches if the edges are hard to see. Repeat to the final listed row.
  4. Fasten off and weave in the ends. Wash and gently lay the square flat; measure it dry before making more for a set.
  5. Enter a short name or initials and follow the separate cross-stitch embroidery chart below. Work on the front after crocheting, using a colour that contrasts with the background. Leave the name field empty for a plain coaster.

US single crochet is the stitch used here. The turning chain does not count as a stitch.

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Optional: estimate yarn from a weighed swatch

Use a washed, dry sample in the same yarn and stitch pattern. Fill all five measurements; the estimate includes the reserve you choose.

Stitches across
18
Fabric rows
20
Calculated rectangle
10 × 10 cm
Foundation chains
19

The target size is 10 × 10 cm. Whole stitches and rows give the calculated size shown above, before finishing.

Gauge used: 18 sts and 20 rows per 10 cm in this fabric.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Stitch schematic, not a finished-product photograph. V = knit, – = purl, × = single crochet. Preview: first 18 stitches and 20 rows.

Working instructions

Chain 19. In the second chain from the hook, work the first sc; continue for 18 sc. On later rows, chain 1, turn, then work 18 sc. The turning chain does not count as a stitch.

  • Rows 1–20: sc 18 (18 sts in every row).

After the final listed row, fasten off and weave in the ends.

Cross-stitch lettering on single crochet

Lettering: TEA. Finish the background first, then add the marked cells in a separate contrasting yarn. Each cell is one fabric stitch across and one fabric row high. The chart is a placement diagram viewed from the front.

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Embroidery placement chart. Marked cells are embroidery; blank cells are left alone. The clear edge is included in the chart.

27 embroidered crosses; keep the outer 1 stitches and rows clear. Yarn for lettering is additional to the background estimate.

How to add the letters

  1. Thread a blunt yarn needle with the contrasting yarn. Bring it from the back to the front at the lower-left corner of a marked cell.
  2. Make a diagonal stitch to the upper-right corner, then bring the needle up at the lower-right corner and down at the upper-left corner. Both diagonals make one cross over one single crochet stitch and one fabric row.
  3. Repeat for each marked cell, keeping the top diagonal in the same direction. Use the spaces between stitches without splitting the background yarn. Keep the fabric relaxed and weave the ends into the back.

Every marked position

Rows count from the bottom. Columns count from the right as you look at the front, on every row. These are embroidery positions after finishing, not colour changes while making the fabric.

  • Fabric row 9: columns 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14.
  • Fabric row 10: columns 5, 7, 11, 14.
  • Fabric row 11: columns 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14.
  • Fabric row 12: columns 5, 7, 11, 14.
  • Fabric row 13: columns 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15.

No yarn quantity is assumed. Add a weighed, measured swatch below for an area-based estimate.

  • ✓ Every row keeps the same stitch count.
  • ✓ The instructions cover every row exactly once.
  • ✓ The optional lettering fits inside the edges.
  • ✓ The written embroidery positions match every marked chart cell.

More first projects with a name

Knitted initial patch · Knitted name bookmark · Striped crochet bookmark

Choose a first project

Questions about this project

Why does my coaster become triangular?

The most common cause is missing the last stitch. Count the stitches in each row and mark both ends; the engine keeps the same count throughout.

Does sc mean a UK double crochet?

Yes: this recipe uses US terminology. Its sc is the stitch commonly called double crochet in UK terminology. Follow the stated technique rather than mixing abbreviation systems.

How do I embroider letters on crochet?

Finish and block the single-crochet fabric first, then work one cross over each marked cell in the separate chart. Each cross spans one stitch and one row. The page lists every marked position and explains the needle path.

Terms and next steps

k = knit; p = purl; sc = US single crochet; MC = main colour; CC = contrast colour. A number after a stitch abbreviation is the number of stitches to work. Read repeat instructions as written.

Abbreviation references: Craft Yarn Council knitting terms · Craft Yarn Council crochet terms and US/UK comparison.

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