Six-Petal Flower Coaster — Free 6-Round Crochet Pattern
Free 6-round crochet flower coaster in US terms. A white double-crochet centre, a raised front-post collar, and three rounds that open into six petals. Every stitch count machine-verified.
About this pattern
This is a flat six-petal flower worked in the round from the centre out, in joined rounds. The white centre is nothing but a doubled disc: twelve double crochet in a magic ring, then two into every stitch to make twenty-four. That is the whole of the white.
What gives the flower its definition is round 3. Instead of working into the tops of the stitches, you work around their posts, and the entire round tips forward into a raised collar around the white centre. It costs nothing extra and it is the difference between a flat disc and a flower with a middle.
From there, three rounds of double crochet divide the twenty-four stitches into six groups and grow each one outward with an increase at either end. A ch-2 between the groups on the last round pulls the notch in, and six petals appear. Finished at about 12 cm, it makes a coaster; keep going and it becomes a placemat.
Variations
Idea 1
Keep the white centre and change only the petals for a set that still reads as a family — the yellow, turquoise and orchid shown here are the same pattern three times. For a bigger flower, repeat the round 5 shaping once more before the last round: increase at each end of every petal, straight double crochet across the middle. Add a round of slip stitch in a contrast colour around the outer edge if you want the petals outlined.
Idea 2
The petals do not appear gradually — they arrive all at once on the final round, when the ch-2 notches snap the edge into six lobes. Up to that point you are looking at a slightly wavy disc and wondering whether it is working. It is. Make one in every colour you own; they take about half an hour each once you have done the first.
Common mistakes
Counting the beginning ch-3 as an extra stitch
The ch-3 that opens rounds 2, 4, 5 and 6 stands in for the first double crochet. On the increase rounds it is the first half of the increase, which is why those rounds read 'ch 3, dc in the same st' — that pair is one increase, not three stitches.
Working round 3 into the tops of the stitches
Round 3 is a front post round. Take the hook around the whole post of the stitch below — front to back and out to the front again — and leave the top of that stitch untouched. If your round lies flat instead of standing forward, you worked into the tops.
Losing the six-way division
Every petal round is six identical repeats. Count at the end of rounds 4, 5 and 6: you should have 36, then 48, then 60. If a round is short, an increase was missed and the petals will come out uneven sizes.
Pulling the ch-2 notches tight
The chains between petals want to be relaxed. Pulled tight they cinch the flower into a hexagon; left easy they make a soft V between the lobes.
Materials & abbreviations
Materials
- Worsted-weight cotton yarn in white — a few metres for the centre
- Worsted-weight cotton in your petal colour — about 15 m per flower
- 4.0 mm crochet hook (US G/6)
- Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- sl st
- slip stitch
- dc
- double crochet
- FPdc
- front post double crochet
- st(s)
- stitch(es)
- rnd
- round
- MR
- magic ring
Main pattern
The Flower — Round 1
With white, in a magic ring: ch 3, 11 dc in the ring; sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. (12)
Tip Work in joined rounds — close each round with a slip stitch into its own beginning. US terms throughout. Every count below was re-counted by machine and agrees with the pattern.
The Flower — Round 2
ch 3, dc in the same st, [2 dc in the next st] repeat 11 times; sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. Fasten off white. (24)
- Two double crochet into every stitch doubles the centre to twenty-four and keeps the disc flat. This is the whole white centre — fasten off and change colour.
The Flower — Round 3
Join the petal colour in any st. [FPdc in the next st] repeat 24 times; sl st to the top of the first FPdc to join. (24)
The Flower — Round 4
ch 3, dc in the same st, dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st] repeat 5 times; sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. (36)
- The six petals start here. Each group of four stitches becomes six, with the two increases sitting at the outer corners of the petal.
The Flower — Round 5
ch 3, dc in the same st, dc in the next 4 sts, 2 dc in the next st, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 4 sts, 2 dc in the next st] repeat 5 times; sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. (48)
- Same shape again, one round wider: increase at each end of every petal, straight double crochet across the middle. Six groups of eight.
The Flower — Round 6
ch 3, dc in the same st, dc in the next 6 sts, 2 dc in the next st, ch 2, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 6 sts, 2 dc in the next st, ch 2] repeat 5 times; sl st to the top of the ch-3 to join. Fasten off and weave in the ends. (60)
The Flower — Additional guidance
The ch-3 counts as the first dc, so you are making twelve stitches in total. Pull the ring tight before you join.
The Flower — Additional guidance
Front post double crochet: work around the POST of the stitch below, front to back to front, instead of into its top. The whole round stands forward as a raised ridge — that is the collar you can see circling the white centre.
The Flower — Additional guidance
The last round widens each petal to ten stitches, and the ch-2 between them is what pulls the notch in and separates one petal from the next.
Important notes
Gauge: the white centre should measure about 6 cm across after round 2 in worsted cotton on a 4 mm hook.
US terms. A UK crocheter should read dc as tr, and FPdc as FPtr.
There is no single crochet anywhere in this pattern — the whole flower is double crochet, front post double crochet, chain and slip stitch.
For a coaster that sits flat under a glass, block it lightly and let it dry under a weight.
Frequently asked questions
A double crochet worked around the post of the stitch below rather than into its top. Yarn over, insert the hook from the front, around the post, and out to the front again, then finish as a normal dc.
About 12 cm across in worsted cotton with a 4 mm hook — coaster size.
Yes. Repeat the round 5 shaping once more before the final round: increase at each end of every petal and work straight across the middle.
A missed increase. Check your counts at the end of rounds 4, 5 and 6 — they should be 36, 48 and 60.
Advanced beginner. You need the magic ring and double crochet; the front post double crochet on round 3 may be new but it is only a change of where you put the hook.
