Square Coaster — Playing Cat (Mosaic Crochet)
Bright, tidy mosaic crochet coaster featuring a little “playing cat” pixel motif. Worked flat in two colors using the single-color-per-row mosaic technique (no tapestry floats to manage). Great for cotton yarns; makes a durable, washable coaster.
Finished size
Approx 4” / 10 cm square after light blocking (with DK/light-worsted cotton and the recommended hook).
Materials
- Yarn: 100% cotton, DK / light-worsted. Typical skein: 50 g (1.75 oz) = approx 120 m / 131 yd. For one coaster you will need only small amounts: Color A (background) ~20 yds / 18 m; Color B (cat) ~10 yds / 9 m. Use cotton for heat/water resistance.
- Hook / Needle sizes: Crochet hook US G/6 — UK old 8 — Metric 4.0 mm. (If you prefer knitting gauge conversions or tools, use a 4.0 mm needle typical gauge.)
- Notions: tapestry needle for weaving ends, scissors, blocking mat and pins (or a gentle steam/block).
Abbreviations (US terms)
- ch(s) = chain(s)
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- dc = double crochet (US) / treble (UK)
- sl st = slip stitch
- RS = right side, WS = wrong side
Gauge
Approximately 9 dc x 9 rows = 10 cm / 4” (with 4.0 mm hook and recommended cotton). Adjust hook size if necessary to match finished size.
Notes on mosaic technique used here
This pattern uses the single-color-per-row mosaic crochet approach: you work an entire row in one color. Where the motif requires the other color, you slip the stitch with the working color instead of working a dc. Rows alternate between Color A and Color B: start with Color A on Row 1 (foundation row). The chart uses two letters: A = background color (Color A), B = cat color (Color B). Read the chart bottom (Row 1) to top (Row 9). Each chart row is worked left-to-right when you are facing the RS; because mosaic crochet uses a consistent working color per row, the chart squares simply indicate where you will work a dc (in the current row color) and where you will slip a stitch (when the chart shows the opposite color).
Chart (9 x 9 pixels)
Chart rows are shown with Row 9 at top and Row 1 at bottom. Each row is 9 stitches wide. Copy this chart onto graph paper if you prefer a visual grid.
Row 9: AABBBABBA
Row 8: ABBBBBBBA
Row 7: ABBBAABBA
Row 6: ABBAAABBA
Row 5: ABBAAABBA
Row 4: ABBBBBBBA
Row 3: AABBBBBAA
Row 2: AAABBBAAA
Row 1: AAAAAAAAA
Pattern
Notes before you start: decide which physical yarn you will call Color A (background) and Color B (cat). Always turn at the end of each row. Odd-numbered rows in this pattern (1,3,5,7,9) are worked in Color A; even-numbered rows (2,4,6,8) are worked in Color B. This alternation creates the mosaic pixel effect: on a Color A row you will work dc where the chart shows A and slip where the chart shows B; on a Color B row you will work dc where the chart shows B and slip where the chart shows A.
Foundation row (Row 1 — Color A)
- With Color A, ch 10 (this yields 9 foundation sts).
- Row 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in the top of the 4th ch from the hook and in each chain across - total 9 dc including the ch-3. Turn.
Mosaic rows (Rows 2–9)
General mosaic row method (work entire row with the row’s color):
- Join the working color for that row (if you cut the color previously) with a slip knot on the hook and insert into the top of the first stitch.
- Ch 3 (counts as the first dc of the row). This ch-3 should be counted as the first dc when you are following the chart; the first chart square corresponds to the first dc (the ch-3 counts as that dc).
- For each of the remaining stitches across: look at the chart for the current row for the next stitch position. If the chart square = working color for this row, work 1 dc into the next stitch. If the chart square = the other color, slip stitch in the next stitch (insert hook into next stitch, yarn over with working color, pull through both loops). Continue across so you always have 9 stitches counted (dc or sl st). At the end, fasten off the working color if it will not be used on the next row; otherwise leave attached.
Important: when you slip a stitch, the stitch remains unworked for that row but will show the color from the row below. That is how the mosaic motif is built — the worked dcs lie on top of slipped stripes from the previous rows.
Row-by-row quick reference
Work rows bottom-to-top, starting with Row 1 (Color A). Odd rows = Color A; even rows = Color B.
Row 1 (A): A A A A A A A A A (foundation: 9 dc)
Row 2 (B): A A A B B B A A A -> work row in Color B: dc where row shows B, sl where A
Row 3 (A): A A B B B B B A A
Row 4 (B): A B B B B B B B A
Row 5 (A): A B B A A A B B A
Row 6 (B): A B B A A A B B A
Row 7 (A): A B B B A A B B A
Row 8 (B): A B B B B B B B A
Row 9 (A - top): A A B B B A B B A
(Above quick-reference lines correspond to the chart; follow the mosaic method described to work dc or sl st per square.)
Finishing
- When Row 9 is complete, finish off and weave in all ends neatly on the WS using a tapestry needle. Trim ends close to the work but not so close that they slip out.
- Blocking: damp-block the coaster gently to shape it into a neat square: pin to a 10 cm / 4” square template and allow to dry. Cotton benefits from a light steam or mist-and-shape method.
- Edge (optional): join Color A at any corner and sc evenly around the square (1 sc per row/top of stitch), make 3 sc in corners to keep square, sl st to join, fasten off and weave ends. This gives a neat border and hides carried strands.
Tips & Troubleshooting
- If you see long runs of slipped stitches that make the work too tight, try leaving the unused color slightly looser when slipping (don’t pull it tight when slipping).
- Keep your tension even; mosaic relies on worked dcs sitting evenly on slipped stitches below. If your edges twist, block and adjust tension on the first few rows.
- To keep edges tidy when changing colors at row starts, weave the new color in behind the first few stitches or work joins with an invisible join method and then ch-3 for the row.
Yarn & Hook Conversion Summary
- Yarn (sample): 50 g / 1.75 oz skein = approx 120 m / 131 yd (DK cotton). Coaster needs approx 20 yd / 18 m (Color A) + 10 yd / 9 m (Color B).
- Hook: US G/6 — UK old 8 — Metric 4.0 mm.
Help & More
Questions or want troubleshooting photos? Visit https://purljam.verde.uk or email support at team@verde.uk. Share your makes and tag #purljam on socials — we love to see your mosaic cats!