- LevelIntermediate
- Time1-2 hours
- YarnWorsted
About This Pattern
This one has the feel of a sunny kitchen windowsill, the kind of make you start while the coffee is brewing. It builds outward in rings, each one a little looser and lacier than the last. There's something cheerful about watching a flat circle turn into a scalloped flower right in your lap.
Set on a side table or stacked by the coffee maker, this coaster reads as a small, deliberate detail in a room. The shell edge catches light differently than a plain border would, giving even a one-mug moment a bit of polish. Make a few in different colors and your table setting suddenly looks curated instead of accidental.
- Begin with a magic circle and work your first set of double crochets into it to form the solid center.
- Close that center round with a slip stitch so you have a tidy, adjustable base to build on.
- Open up the next round with double crochets separated by chain spaces, which starts the lacy middle section.
- Continue building rounds outward, letting each one rest on the chain spaces from the round before.
- Finish with a round of shell stitches that turns the plain outer edge into a scalloped border.
- Weave in your ends and give the coaster a light press so it sits flat under a mug.
On the desk
- Worsted weight yarn in three colors (for the color changes at Round 3 and Round 6)
- Crochet hook (size to suit your yarn)
- Tapestry needle (for weaving in ends)
- Scissors
Stitch shorthand
- ch — chain
- st — stitch
- sl st — slip stitch
- sc — single crochet
- hdc — half double crochet
- dc — double crochet
- inc — increase
- dec — decrease
- mr — magic ring
- fo — finish off
Round crochet coaster with a shell stitch edge
Main Pattern
- Round 1
Create a magic circle. Chain three, which counts as your first double crochet. Work 17 more double crochets into the magic circle.Slip stitch into the third chain to close the round. You should have 18 double crochet stitches.
- Round 2
Chain three. Work one double crochet in the next stitch. Chain five. Skip two stitches and work one double crochet in the next stitch, and one more double crochet in the next stitch.Repeat this pattern all around, then chain five before closing the round.
- Round 3
Switch to a new color by inserting your hook into the third chain and grabbing the new color. Chain one and work one single crochet into the same stitch, and one single crochet in the next stitch. Work from behind the chain five space, going around the back of chain five and inserting your hook into the stitch below to work two double crochet stitches.Repeat this pattern all around, then slip stitch into the first single crochet stitch to close.
- Round 4
Chain three. Work one double crochet in the next stitch. Go under the chain five and into the stitch behind to work one double crochet stitch.Repeat in the next three stitches.
Repeat the pattern all around, then slip stitch into the third chain to close. - Round 5
Chain one and work one single crochet in the same stitch. Chain five. Skip one stitch and work one single crochet into the next stitch.Repeat this pattern all around, then chain five before closing off the round.
- Round 6
Switch to your third color. Insert your hook into the first single crochet stitch, yarn over, and pull a loop through. Chain one and fasten off, leaving a tail and cutting the yarn. Grab the new color yarn and make a knot. Insert your hook into any of the chain five spaces and insert it into your knot, yarn over, and pull a loop through. Chain one and work five single crochets into the chain five space.Work five single crochets into each of the chain five spaces around.
Work a slip stitch into the first single crochet to close. - Round 7
Chain three, which counts as your first double crochet, and work one more double crochet into that same stitch.Work two double crochets into each of the next four single crochet stitches.
Skip the next two single crochet stitches and work one single crochet into the next stitch.Skip the next two stitches and work two double crochets into each of the next five single crochet stitches.Repeat this pattern all around.Work one single crochet into the third single crochet stitch before closing the round.Work a slip stitch into the third chain to close the round, then chain one.Leave a tail and cut off the excess yarn, pull the yarn through the loop, and secure.Weave in your ends with a tapestry needle or crochet hook.
More shots
Where it goes
- Set under mugs and glasses on a coffee table to protect wood or glass surfaces.
- Pair a stack of them in matching colors as a simple centerpiece accent on a dining table.
- Use as a soft landing spot for a candle dish or small potted succulent on a windowsill.
- Give one as a small handmade gift tucked alongside a favorite mug or tea.
Care
Hand wash the finished coaster in cool water if it picks up coffee rings or dust, then lay it flat to dry.
Smooth and pat the shell edge back into shape while it's still damp so the scallops dry evenly.
Store flat in a drawer rather than folded, so the double crochet rounds don't crease or distort over time.
Easy to get wrong
Magic circle pulls loose later
Tug the tail firmly after your first round of double crochets and check the center stays snug before moving on. A loose center will show as a gap once the coaster is finished.
Color change looks bulky
Join the new color right at the join point called out in the pattern (into the third chain, or into a chain-five space) so the color shift happens cleanly. Weave the old tail in along the wrong side rather than knotting it where it will show.
Chain spaces come out uneven
Count your skipped stitches carefully in the lacy rounds so the chain-five loops stay the same size all the way around. Uneven loops throw off how the shell edge sits on top.
Listener questions
Why does my coaster look wavy instead of flat?
This usually happens when the stitch count tightens or loosens unevenly between rounds, so check your repeats match as you go. A quick steam press at the end also helps it settle flat.
Is this a good project for practicing shell stitches?
It's a great small-scale way to practice, since the shell edge only appears once, in the final round. You get the payoff of the technique without committing to a whole large project first.
How many coasters should I make at once?
A set of four gives you a full match for a small table without overcommitting your yarn. Since each one works up quickly, it's easy to add more later in a different color.
Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/how-to-make-a-beautiful-crochet-round-coaster-with-shell-edges-pattern/
About the Author
Marisol QuinteroWho runs Crochet Obsessed, why a stitch count sits at the end of every round, how a pattern gets written here, and the things this site will never do.
More Patterns
- IntermediateNo. 01
Crochet cat coaster pattern with cute ears and face
Crochet cat coaster pattern: a magic ring build with playful ears, perfect for a quick, colorful weekend project.
- IntermediateNo. 02
Rose Granny Square Tote Crochet Pattern
Rose granny square tote crochet pattern made from 18 dimensional rose squares for a sturdy, romantic everyday bag.
- IntermediateNo. 03
Tropical octopus baby blanket crochet pattern with appliqués
Tropical octopus baby blanket crochet pattern: a cream filet base with coral and turquoise octopus appliqués, leaves, and…
