Dewdrop Picot Coaster Set Free Pattern: Textured Cottagecore Crochet Coasters

Dewdrop Picot Coaster Set: A Cozy First Crochet Project

If you have never held a crochet hook before, this is the perfect place to begin. The Dewdrop Picot Coaster Set is a collection of four flat, circular coasters worked in a simple textured stitch that creates soft, nubby "dewdrop" bumps across the surface. Two are worked in warm oatmeal and two in deep charcoal, and each one is finished with a tiny picot edge that looks like delicate lace. The finished coasters are about 4.5 inches across, thick enough to protect your table, and soft enough to feel lovely under a mug. Because each coaster is small and quick, you will finish your very first one in under an hour and feel proud of something you made with your own hands.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (CYC 4) cotton yarn. You need approximately 40 yds (37 m) per coaster, which is 80 yds (73 m) of oatmeal (Color A) and 80 yds (73 m) of charcoal (Color B) for the full set of four. Cotton is recommended because it is absorbent and washable.
• Hook: US H-8 / 5.0 mm crochet hook, or the size you need to match gauge.
• Stitch marker: One removable marker to keep track of your rounds.
• Tapestry needle: A blunt-tipped needle with a large eye for weaving in ends.
• Scissors: Any small, sharp pair.
• Finished size: Each coaster measures approximately 4.5 in (11.5 cm) in diameter.

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

• ch – chain. Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull it through the loop already on your hook. This makes a small link.
• sc – single crochet. Insert your hook into the stitch, wrap yarn over, pull up a loop (you now have 2 loops on the hook), wrap yarn over again, and pull through both loops. One loop remains.
• dc – double crochet. Wrap yarn over your hook first, insert into the stitch, wrap yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), wrap yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain), wrap yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.
• sl st – slip stitch. Insert your hook into the stitch, wrap yarn over, and pull that loop straight through the loop on your hook. It joins without adding height.
• sp – space. The small gap between stitches.
• st(s) – stitch(es). One completed loop or unit of crochet.
• beg – beginning. The start of a round.
• rep – repeat. Do the instruction again.
• magic ring – an adjustable loop you make with the yarn tail so you can pull the center closed tightly. If you prefer, you can chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring instead.
• picot – a tiny decorative bump. Chain 3, then slip stitch into the third chain from your hook (or into the base of the chain-3) to close it into a little loop.
• * ... * – the asterisks show a group of stitches you repeat around the round.

Gauge

Gauge: 14 single crochet stitches x 16 rounds = 4 in (10 cm) in the textured stitch pattern, worked flat in the round.

Gauge matters because it tells you whether your coaster will come out the right size. If your stitches are too loose, the coaster will be bigger than 4.5 inches; if too tight, it will be smaller. To make a gauge swatch, crochet a small flat circle following the coaster rounds until your piece measures about 4 inches across. Lay a ruler across the middle and count how many stitches fit in 4 inches. If you have more than 14, try a larger hook; if fewer, try a smaller hook. This small check saves you from a coaster that curls or flops.

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Use a stitch marker. Place it in the first stitch of each round so you always know where the round begins and ends.
• Do not pull your yarn too tight. Keep an even, relaxed tension. Tight stitches make the coaster stiff and hard to work into.
• Count every round. The stitch count should grow by 12 each increase round. Counting as you go catches mistakes early.
• Work the first round loosely. The magic ring can be fiddly; loosen your grip and pull the tail gently to close the center.
• Keep your picots small. A picot is just chain 3 and a slip stitch. Do not pull it tight or it will disappear.
• Make one coaster first. Finish a single coaster completely before starting the set so you learn the rhythm.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Make 2 coasters in oatmeal (Color A) and 2 in charcoal (Color B). Each coaster is worked in joined rounds. The chain 1 at the start of each round does not count as a stitch.

Coaster Body

Round 1: With your chosen color, make a magic ring. Ch 1. Work 12 sc into the ring. Join with sl st to the first sc. (12 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (24 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1. *Sc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 dc = 24 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1. *Dc in next sc, sc in next dc; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 dc, 12 sc = 24 sts)

Round 5: Ch 1. *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (36 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1. *Sc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (18 sc, 18 dc = 36 sts)

Round 7: Ch 1. *Dc in next sc, sc in next dc; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (18 dc, 18 sc = 36 sts)

Round 8: Ch 1. *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (48 sc)

Round 9: Ch 1. *Sc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (24 sc, 24 dc = 48 sts)

Round 10: Ch 1. *Dc in next sc, sc in next dc; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (24 dc, 24 sc = 48 sts)

Round 11 (final textured round): Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (48 sc)

Picot Edge

Round 12: Ch 1. *Sc in next st, picot (ch 3, sl st in third ch from hook); rep from * around, ending with sc in last st. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (24 picots)

Assembly and Finishing

There is no seaming in this project, but finishing makes your coasters look polished. First, weave in every yarn end. Thread the tail onto your tapestry needle and run it through the back of several stitches, then trim close to the work. Do this for both the starting tail and the ending tail.

Next, block each coaster. Lightly mist the coaster with water and pin it to a flat circle about 4.5 in (11.5 cm) across on a blocking mat or towel. Smooth the picot edge so each little loop sits evenly. Let it dry completely, which usually takes a few hours. If you like, hold a steam iron just above the surface (never press it down) to relax the cotton and open the picot edge. Repeat for all four coasters.

To stack the set, alternate oatmeal and charcoal and tie the stack with a length of cotton twine or a narrow ribbon if you are giving it as a gift.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change colors: Work the body in one color and the picot edge in a contrasting color for a crisp two-tone look. Simply change yarn after Round 11.
• Adjust the size: For a larger coaster, add one more increase round (Round 12 in the body would be *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts* to reach 60 sts), then work one textured round and one plain sc round before the picot edge.
• Substitute yarn: A cotton-blend or a smooth acrylic works too, but cotton gives the best absorbency and stitch definition. Always check your gauge if you change yarn.
• Make a matching set: Use three or four colors from the same yarn line to create a coordinated stack for your table or a handmade gift.