Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Knitted Coaster Pattern

This Christmas I had a quick, easy idea for Christmas presents. Something everybody needs. Something small and good for giving to the people in my life who I want to give something hand made to, but not something super time intensive. My solution was felted coasters with needle felted designs. And since coasters are entirely too easy to loose, I decided to make them in as bright colors as I could manage.

There were many test runs with this pattern, I think I knitted it 3 or 4 times before I came up with a pattern I am happy with. The end result fits most cups/mugs and has an attractive raised rim around the edge.

Since then, a few people have asked for the pattern. This is a fairly easy make, but I haven't found this patterns out there in exactly this permutation, so here it is.

Edit: I have gone back and added an option for a larger coaster, as some people felt (no pun there!) they were smallish.




Knitted Coaster Sets

By the Sinister Spinster

Materials:

  1. Lamb's Pride Worsted from Brown Sheep Co. (one skein will make about 6 individual coasters, this works great with left overs since it doesn't take very much yarn)
  2. US 10.5 double pointed needles (If you want you can do this on 2 circs or magic loop, but it does start from the center)
Finished Size Felted - 4 (5)" in diameter

With double pointed needles cast on 8 stitches and divide onto 4 needles. You will have two stitches on each needle. Join in the round and knit first rows as follows:

Row 1: KFB (Knit into the front and back of the stitch), mark as begining of the round and KFB to the end of the round.
Row 2 (and all even rounds): Knit around
Row 3: *KFB, k1* repeat around
Row 5: *KFB, k2* repeat around
Row 7: *KFB, k3*
Row 9: *KFB, k4*
Row 11: *KFB, k5*
Optional Row for a larger coaster:
Row 13: *KFB, k6*

Row 13 (15 for larger size): Join a second strand of yarn as the bind off is worked with two strands. P2tog, *take this stitch and place it back on the left hand needle and p2tog with next stitch* Repeat until all stitches have been bound off.

Weave in your ends, using the center end to close up the hole and then make a bunch more.

Felt in your washer on hot (felt a bunch at the same time to save energy and water please, also felting them in a zipper bag or drawstring bag will help keep fuzzies from harming your dryer). One cycle is usually enough to felt the coasters enough. Take them out and lay flat to dry. The coasters usually come out a little wonky from the washer, but when you lay them to dry, stretch them a little bit all the way around, and that will help them lay flat and be nice and circular.

Be warned, different yarns felt differently and at different rates if you use a different yarn. If you do use a different yarn, felt one first to make sure you are happy with the size (as the pattern is easy to make smaller or bigger if needed).

Final note on finishing: Needle felting is a great way to personalize these and you can use the left overs from other coasters to make designs on these.



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11 comments:

Sac Cat said...

Fabulous pattern! Thanks so much for taking the time to share it! Very fun bind-off, in particular :)

Tammy♥ said...

These are really cute..thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Is it okay to sell the items made from this pattern?

Thanks!

Ashley Bustamante said...

How do you join a second strand of yarn when youbind off?

Thank you,
Ashley

Unknown said...

Ashley, sorry, I don't check the comments very often. You join a second strand of yarn by holding it together with your regular yarn leaving a tail floating on the wrong side.

Unknown said...

Ashley, sorry, I don't check the comments very often. You join a second strand of yarn by holding it together with your regular yarn leaving a tail floating on the wrong side.

Anonymous said...

I'm a relatively new knitter, and was confused by the distinction between KFB and knit. I thought that you're always supposed to take up the front and back loops. Could you clarify this for me please? Kim

Unknown said...

Kim,

A KFB is an abbreviation for a type of increase (knit front and back). You can find many tutorials on how to make a kfb, but here is a good one to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILcTB5hc0XM
Miriam

resep kue said...

The article is very interesting and nice, I hope you can also visit my website to thank you!

Rebecca said...

This pattern is perfect! Thank you so much for teaching me a new way to bind off too! Great for small gifts and quick knits!

Jan said...

Just what I have been looking for! Thank you for creating this wonderful pattern and sharing it.