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# Here Kitty Coaster

A charming beginner-friendly coaster knitted in cosy garter stitch, finished with two perky ears and a simple embroidered cat face. Worked flat in one piece, it is the perfect first project for practising tension, decreases, and a touch of embroidery. Make a whole litter to protect your favourite surfaces!

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran) yarn in your main colour (MC) — approx. 15 m (16 yds) per coaster. Small amounts of a contrast colour (CC) for the face embroidery.
  - Suggested fibre: cotton or a cotton-blend for good absorbency and a firm, flat fabric.
- **Needles:** 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight or double-pointed needles.
- **Notions:**
  - Tapestry/darning needle
  - Small amount of black or grey yarn (CC) for eyes, nose and whiskers
  - Scissors
  - Optional: small amount of pink yarn for the nose

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts and 36 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** measured over garter stitch (knit every row), after blocking.

> Tension is important here so the coaster lies flat and stays square. A slightly firm fabric works best — go down a needle size if your fabric feels loose or floppy.

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## Finished Size

Approx. **10 cm × 10 cm (4 in × 4 in)**, excluding ears. Ears add approx. 2 cm (¾ in) at the top corners.

To make a larger coaster, cast on in multiples and work rows to match (e.g. 22 sts × 44 rows for an ~12 cm square — keep stitches and rows proportional to tension).

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## Abbreviations (UK)

- **k** — knit
- **k2tog** — knit two stitches together (one stitch decreased)
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **MC** — main colour
- **CC** — contrast colour

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## Pattern Notes

- The coaster body is worked entirely in **garter stitch** (knit every row), which lies flat naturally and will not curl.
- The two ears are knitted separately as small triangles and seamed to the top corners.
- The cat face is added with simple embroidery at the end — no shaping required for the features.
- Weave in all ends securely; coasters are washed often.

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## Instructions

### Coaster Body (make 1)

With MC, cast on **18 sts**.

**Rows 1–36:** Knit every row (garter stitch).

> Check: 36 garter rows = 18 garter ridges. At 36 rows = 10 cm, this gives a 10 cm height. ✓
> Check: 18 sts at 18 sts = 10 cm gives a 10 cm width. ✓ → A 10 cm square.

Cast off **all 18 sts** knitwise. Do not cut yarn too short — leave a 20 cm tail for seaming if desired.

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### Ears (make 2)

With MC, cast on **7 sts**.

**Row 1 (WS):** Knit.
**Row 2 (RS):** k2tog, k3, k2tog. **(5 sts)**
**Row 3 (WS):** Knit.
**Row 4 (RS):** k2tog, k1, k2tog. **(3 sts)**
**Row 5 (WS):** Knit.
**Row 6 (RS):** k2tog, k1 — pass first stitch over... *or simply:* k3tog. **(1 st)**

> Decrease check: 7 → 5 → 3 → 1 sts. Each RS row decreases 2 sts. ✓

Cut yarn, leaving a 20 cm tail. Thread through the final stitch and pull tight to fasten. The 20 cm tail will be used to attach the ear.

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## Finishing

### 1. Block the coaster

Gently wet-block or steam-block the coaster body to a true **10 cm × 10 cm** square. Pin into shape on a flat surface and allow to dry fully. This sets the garter stitch flat and even.

### 2. Attach the ears

1. Position the two ears on the **top edge** of the square, with the cast-on edges aligned to the top of the coaster — place one ear about 2–3 cm in from the top-left corner and the other about 2–3 cm in from the top-right corner.
2. Using the long tails and your tapestry needle, stitch each cast-on edge neatly to the top edge of the coaster. Sew along the full base of each ear so they stand up firmly.
3. Weave in the ear tails on the back.

### 3. Embroider the face

Using CC and the tapestry needle:

- **Eyes:** Work two small vertical straight stitches (or French knots) for the eyes, spaced about 2.5 cm apart and centred on the upper third of the square.
- **Nose:** Just below and between the eyes, work a small triangle or a single horizontal stitch in pink or CC.
- **Whiskers:** From each side of the nose, work 2–3 long straight stitches outward to form whiskers.
- **Mouth (optional):** Add a small "Y" or two short stitches below the nose.

### 4. Final touches

Weave in any remaining ends on the wrong side and trim. Give the coaster a final light press if needed.

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## Care

Hand wash or machine wash gently in a laundry bag, and lay flat to dry to keep the square shape. Cotton coasters become more absorbent with washing.

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**You've finished your Here Kitty Coaster!** Pop a mug on top and enjoy. These work up quickly — a set of four makes a lovely handmade gift.