Crochet Flower Bouquet Coaster That Folds into a Posy

This coaster has a party trick. Laid flat, it's a cream circle with a wreath of leaves and roses round the edge. Pinch it up from the middle and the edge gathers into a little bouquet, which you can stand in a small pot.

The centre is the standard five-round flat circle of double crochet; the border is three short rounds of green and pink. Elise designed it for her lilthings YouTube channel.

Video tutorial by Elise on her YouTube channel, lilthings: watch "crochet flower coaster bouquet for BEGINNER | how to crochet for beginner" on YouTube.

Written from the video. The leaf and rose rounds are easier to follow on screen; the counts for the circle are below.

Materials

• 5-ply milk cotton in cream or white, green, and pink or red
• 3.5 mm hook
• A stitch marker, scissors and a darning needle
• A small plant pot (optional)

The circle (rounds 1 to 5)

Chain 2 at the start of each round (not counted) and join with a tight slip stitch.

Round 4 starts with the increase so it doesn't sit over round 3's, which keeps the circle round. See why 12 stitches make a flat circle.

The border

Round 6 (green mesh): change to green. [1 sc, chain 4, skip 2 stitches] × 20. That makes 20 chain arches around the 60 stitches.

Round 7 (leaves): work pointed leaves along the arches. For each leaf, chain 4 and work 3 sc back down the chain for a sharp point, then 3 sc into the arch space. Work round so the leaves form a green wreath.

Round 8 (rosebuds): change to pink. Into the spaces between the leaves, work plump puff or shell clusters so a 3D rosebud sits beside each leaf. Elise shows the cluster she uses; any puffy cluster of 4 or 5 stitches gives a similar look.

Coaster or bouquet

• Coaster: weave in the ends and press it flat with your hand. Cotton is best for a coaster, because it copes with hot mugs.
• Bouquet: pinch the centre of the circle from underneath and push it up. The border gathers into a cone of leaves and roses. Stand it in a small pot.

Tips

• The circle needs to lie flat before you start the border, or the bouquet won't fold evenly. Check after round 5.
• Mesh arches all the same size. If one is tighter, the leaves bunch up on that side.
• Stiffen the bouquet. If you want it to stay folded, spray it lightly with fabric stiffener while it's in shape.

Frequently asked questions