Crochet Valentine Heart Coasters

Instructions

ABBREVIATIONS:

(in American crochet terms)
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
slst: slip stitch
st: stitch

CROCHET GAUGE

20 sts x 20 rows, single crochet stitch to obtain 4" x 4" size

CROCHET CHART

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CROCHET COASTER PATTERN

Yarn Color Abbreviations: K - Khaki, R - Red

With yarn K, ch 20
Row 1 to Row 4: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 18 sts, ch, turn.
Row 5: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 8 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next st, change yarn to K, sc in next 9 sts, ch, turn.
Row 6: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 7 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next 3 sts, change yarn to K, sc in next 8 sts, ch, turn.
Row 7: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 6 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next 5 sts, change yarn to K, sc in next 7 sts, ch, turn.
Row 8: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 5 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next 7 sts, change yarn to K, sc in next 6 sts, ch, turn.
Row 9: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 4 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next 9 sts, change yarn to K, sc in next 5 sts, ch, turn.
Row 10 to Row 13: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 3 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next 11 sts, change yarn to K, sc in next 4 sts, ch, turn.
Row 14: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 8 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next st, change yarn to K, sc in next 9 sts, ch, turn.
Row 15: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 8 sts, change yarn to R, sc in next st, change yarn to K, sc in next 9 sts, ch, turn.
Row 16 to Row 18: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 18 sts, ch, turn.
Row 19: sc in 2nd st from the hook, sc in next 18 sts.
Fasten.
Hide yarn with a tapestry needle.
Block the coaster to a square shape.

HOW TO CROCHET HEART COASTERS

1. Choose your favorite yarn and yarn color to crochet. I used 2-ply jute twine, its thickness is roughly 1/16″. You may use sport-weight yarn or equivalent thickness.
   The corresponding hook size for this yarn is 2.5mm. With this yarn weight and hook size, my crochet coaster came out to be 3.75″ square. The coaster’s size will vary with the different weights of yarn and its corresponding crochet hook. Choose something similar so that the coaster size won’t come out too much different in size.
2. Often I receive a common question from readers asking me which way we should insert the hook into a chain stitch to make a crochet stitch. Be it single crochet stitch or double crochet stitch, I usually insert my hook into the “bar” of a chain stitch to yarn over. The “bar” of the chain stitch is the vertical line at the bottom of a chain stitch, you will find it when you turn the chain bottom side up.
3. The reason for crocheting through the “bar” of a chain stitch, it will make the edges on the first and last row look identical after the crochet piece is completed.
4. Follow the crochet coaster pattern to make the first 4 rows of single crochet with Khaki color yarn.
5. The colorwork happens in the 5th row, where the red yarn is added to create the heart-shaped pattern.
   Follow the pattern to work on stitches in khaki yarn until the last yarn-over, and pull through the loops with the Red yarn.
6. Since the khaki yarn is still required after working on the red stitch, we need to carry it along and hide it in the red stitch.
7. Just before the yarn-over of the new color at the last stitch of the old color during the color change, always bring the new color under the old color yarn and away from the working piece as shown in the picture, and vice versa, bring the old color over the new color and nearer to the working piece. In this case, the process is crossing the khaki yarn under the red yarn, with the khaki yarn further away and the red yarn nearer to the working piece, then yarn-over with the khaki yarn.
8. According to the crochet coaster pattern, the red yarn is no longer needed for this row, thus, bring the red yarn to the front of the working piece before making the first khaki stitch.
   Note: Bring the red yarn to the front so that the yarn is ready for the next row.
9. Continue to crochet with khaki yarn until the pattern calls for a color change.
   Again, bring the old color (khaki) nearer to the working piece and the new color (red) behind it, yarn-over with the new color (red). And again, since we need to switch back to the khaki yarn after that, so carry the khaki yarn along and hide it in the red stitches.
10. When making the first stitch with red yarn at row 2, as performing the usual crochet where you insert the hook into the top loops of the next stitch, insert it into the gap of the red yarn as pointed out in the picture as well. See the detail in the next picture.
11. The purpose of inserting the hook in the gap is to encase the unsightly slanted red yarn at the back of the work. With both sides neatened up in this way, this will make the coaster usable on both sides.
12. Continue to work on red yarn until you need to switch yarn color again.
    Again, twist the yarns with khaki yarn under and away from the red yarn, as shown in the picture and in the next picture.
13. Yarn over the khaki yarn to complete the single crochet stitch. Then bring the red yarn to the front of the work for the same reason, i.e., to prepare it for the new row.
14. That is how the valentine heart coaster looks after completing 6 rows (with 2 rows of colorwork).
15. Likewise, continue to work until you have completed row 13.
16. On row 14, carry the red yarn in the last stitch of khaki before the color change. In like manner, this is to eliminate the slanted red yarn from crossing at the surface of the khaki stitch.
    At this row, besides carrying the khaki yarn over, you will need to carry the red yarn over the single khaki stitch at the center of the row, then continue to work on the other half part of the row. Bring the red yarn to the front of the work when it is no longer needed in the row.
17. The same technique applies to row 15. This is the end of the colorwork, trim away the red yarn.
18. Continue to crochet the balance 4 rows with khaki yarn to complete the pattern.
19. Hide all yarn ends.
    Block the coaster to square and flat.

OPPOSITE ATTRACTION

Alter the colors in the crochet pattern to make an unidentical pair of Valentine Heart Coasters.
“The happiest couples never have the same character. They have the best understanding of their differences.”