Cream Blossom Appliqué Coaster

A small square mug coaster in worsted-weight cotton, finished at 5" × 5" (12.5 × 12.5 cm). The base is a dense cream square in single crochet with a simple matching border. A five-petal coral flower with a golden-yellow center sits on the square, with one sage-green leaf tucked under the bloom. The fabric is firm enough to protect a table, absorbent enough for a cold glass, and fully beginner-friendly: rows of single crochet, one round of border, and two small sewn-on motifs.

Skill Level

Beginner

Skills used: chain, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, working in the round on a small ring, sewing pieces together with a yarn needle.

Finished Size

5" × 5" (12.5 × 12.5 cm) after border, unblocked, measured flat.

Square before border: 4½" wide × about 4½" tall (11.5 × 11.5 cm).

Yarn

Worsted weight (CYC 4), 100% cotton. Cotton is required: it absorbs condensation and will not melt or scorch under a warm mug. Acrylic and novelty yarns are not suitable.

Shown colors (any brand of worsted cotton):

• Color A (coaster): Cream — 30 yd / 27 m
• Color B (petals): Coral — 12 yd / 11 m
• Color C (flower center): Golden Yellow — 5 yd / 4.5 m
• Color D (leaf): Sage Green — 5 yd / 4.5 m

One 2.5 oz / 120 yd (70 g / 109 m) ball of Color A will make four coaster bases. Small amounts of B, C, and D are enough for a matching set of four appliqués.

Color-story options (same yardage):

• Lemon base, white petals, yellow center, green leaf (daisy)
• Navy base, red petals, gold center, forest leaf (poppy)
• White base, butter-yellow petals, mustard center, sage leaf (sunshine)

Hook & Notions

• US G/6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Optional: 1 stitch marker; rust-proof pins for placing the appliqué

If your square is smaller than 4½" across 18 stitches, go up to US H/8 (5.0 mm). If it is larger, go down to US F/5 (3.75 mm). Coasters should feel firm, not drapey.

Gauge

16 sc and 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) in single crochet, using US G/6 (4.0 mm) and worsted cotton.

Check: 18 sc should measure 4½" (11.5 cm).
(18 sts × 4" ÷ 16 sts = 4.5" ✓)

Gauge affects size more than fit. A looser gauge makes a larger, flimsier coaster.

Abbreviations (US)

• ch — chain
• sc — single crochet
• hdc — half double crochet
• dc — double crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• rnd — round
• rep — repeat
• WS — wrong side
• RS — right side

Pattern Notes

• US crochet terms throughout. Do not substitute UK names.
• The turning ch-1 at the start of each row does not count as a stitch.
• Work into both loops of every stitch unless told otherwise.
• Keep stitches snug so the coaster lies flat and does not show gaps under a glass.
• The flower is worked in the round from a small chain ring (no magic ring required).
• Leave 8–10" (20–25 cm) tails on the flower and leaf for sewing.
• Blocking is optional; a light steam or wet block helps cotton corners sit square.

Coaster Square (Color A)

With Color A, ch 19.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn.
(19 − 1 = 18 sc ✓)

Rows 2–20: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. (18 sc)

Do not ch 1 after Row 20; leave the working yarn attached for the border.

Height check: 20 rows × 4" ÷ 18 rows = 4.44" ≈ 4½" ✓

You now have a rectangle/square 18 sts wide and 20 rows tall.

Border (Color A)

Work in the round with RS facing. Do not turn.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each of next 17 sc, 3 sc in last sc (first corner), work 18 sc evenly down the left side (1 sc in each remaining row-end), 3 sc in the corner, sc in each of next 16 remaining foundation ch, 3 sc in the last foundation ch (third corner), work 18 sc evenly up the right side, 3 sc in the same st as the first sc of the round (fourth corner), sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Count check: 18 sts along top + 18 along bottom + 20 along each side = 76 edge sts; each of 4 corners gains 2 extra sc (3 sc in the corner st) → 76 + 8 = 84 sc ✓

Corners should look rounded-square, not ruffled. If a side pulls in, add 1 extra sc on that side only.

Finished square including border: 5" × 5" (12.5 × 12.5 cm) ✓

Weave in Color A ends on the WS, or wait until after the appliqué is sewn if you prefer to trap them under the flower.

Flower Appliqué

Center (Color C)

With Color C, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 10 sc into the ring, sl st to first sc. Fasten off Color C, leaving a 8" (20 cm) tail. (10 sc ✓)

Pull the beginning tail to close the hole in the ring. The center should measure about ¾" (2 cm) across.

Petals (Color B)

Join Color B with a sl st in any sc of the center.

Rnd 2: (Ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, sl st) in the same sc (petal made), sl st in next sc; rep from * 4 more times. Fasten off Color B, leaving a 10" (25 cm) tail.

(5 petals; each petal uses 1 sc and 1 joining sl st → 5 × 2 = 10 sc ✓)

You should have 5 even petals sitting around the yellow center. The flower measures about 2" (5 cm) across. Gently tug each petal so it lies open; do not flatten it completely—a little dimension is the point of an appliqué.

Leaf Appliqué (Color D)

With Color D, ch 8, leaving an 8" (20 cm) beginning tail.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, (sc, ch 1, sc) in last ch (tip); working along the opposite side of the foundation ch, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in the same ch as the first sc of the leaf. Fasten off, leaving a 10" (25 cm) tail.

The leaf is about 1½" (4 cm) long, pointed at one end and slightly rounded at the other.

Assembly

1. Lay the coaster RS up. Place the flower in the center, or shift it about ½" (1.5 cm) toward one corner if you prefer an offset look. Slip the leaf under one side of the flower so the tip peeks out about ½" (1.5 cm) beyond the petals. Pin if needed.
2. With the Color C tail, sew the yellow center to the coaster through all loops of the 10 sc. Small stitches on the WS only. Tie off.
3. With the Color B tail, tack each petal at the base (where it meets the center) and with one tiny stitch near the middle of the petal if it flops. Leave the petal edges free so they stay slightly raised.
4. With the Color D tail, sew the leaf down the center vein only, so the edges stay softly dimensional.
5. Weave in every remaining tail on the WS. Snip close.

The appliqué should sit flat enough that a mug is stable, with petals and leaf still readable as a flower.

Finishing

• Trim all WS tails.
• Optional light block: mist with water, pin the square to 5" × 5" (12.5 × 12.5 cm), and let dry. Do not stretch the flower flat.
• Steam is fine on cotton; hold the iron above the work—do not press the appliqué.

Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle. Tumble dry low or lay flat. Cotton will soften and may relax about ⅛" (3 mm); that is normal.

Make a Set

Repeat for 4 coasters. Keep Color A the same and rotate petal colors (coral, butter yellow, dusty blue, sage) for a mixed garden set, or make all four identical.

What You Should Have

A firm 5-inch cream cotton square with a single-crochet border, a coral five-petal flower with a golden-yellow eye, and one sage leaf. It is a finished mug coaster: washable, table-safe, and ready to use.