Textured Diamond Coaster

A quick, satisfying coaster worked flat in sturdy worsted cotton. The center panel features a simple diamond texture made entirely from knits and purls — no fancy stitches, no color changes — framed by a tidy garter border that keeps the edges flat. Perfect for a first textured project, and it works up in under an hour.

Finished size: approximately 4.4" wide × 4.3" tall (11 × 11 cm)

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) cotton or cotton blend, approximately 20 yds (18 m) per coaster
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors

Tip: Cotton is the ideal fiber here — it's absorbent, machine-washable, and heat-tolerant. One 50 g ball makes roughly 4–5 coasters.

Gauge

• 18 sts × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch

Gauge is not critical for a coaster, but staying close keeps the finished size accurate. A slightly firm fabric wears better under a mug, so if in doubt go down a needle size.

Size

One size: approximately 4.4" × 4.3" (11 × 11 cm). To make a larger coaster, add stitches in multiples of 4 and add rows in multiples of 8 to keep the diamond motif centered.

Abbreviations (US)

• k — knit
• p — purl
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• RS — right side
• WS — wrong side
• rep — repeat

Pattern Notes

• The coaster is worked flat in one piece, bottom to top.
• The first and last 3 stitches of every row are worked in garter stitch (knit every row) to form the side borders.
• The first and last 4 rows are worked entirely in garter stitch to form the top and bottom borders.
• The 14 center stitches form the diamond texture panel and follow an 8-row repeat.
• Keep an even tension; cotton has little stretch, so avoid pulling stitches tight.

Stitch count stays 20 sts on every row throughout (there are no increases or decreases). ✓

Instructions

Cast on 20 sts. (3 border + 14 center + 3 border = 20 ✓)

Bottom Border

• Rows 1–4: Knit all sts. (garter border)

Center Diamond Panel (worked over the middle 14 sts)

On the following rows, work the border sts as noted and the center 14 sts per the chart text below.

• Row 5 (RS): k3, [k1, p1, k1, p1] 3 times, k1, p1 (center = 14 sts: (4×3)+2 = 14 ✓), k3 → 20 sts
• Row 6 (WS): k3, [p1, k1, p1, k1] 3 times, p1, k1, k3 → 20 sts

(Rows 5–6 establish a seed-texture background.)

• Row 7 (RS): k3, p1, k1, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1] 2 times, k1, p1, k3 → 20 sts
• Row 8 (WS): k3, k1, p1, k1, [p1, k1, p1, k1] 2 times, p1, k1, k3 → 20 sts

(Rows 7–8 shift the texture to form the diamond's mid-point.)

• Row 9 (RS): k3, [k1, p1, k1, p1] 3 times, k1, p1, k3 → 20 sts

• Row 10 (WS): k3, [p1, k1, p1, k1] 3 times, p1, k1, k3 → 20 sts

• Row 11 (RS): rep Row 7 → 20 sts

• Row 12 (WS): rep Row 8 → 20 sts

(Rows 5–12 = one 8-row diamond repeat. Center panel remains 14 sts on every row ✓.)

Continue the Panel

• Rows 13–20: Rep Rows 5–12 once more. → 20 sts each row

(Two full 8-row repeats = 16 panel rows: rows 5–20 ✓.)

• Rows 21–22: Rep Rows 5–6 to round out the top of the motif. → 20 sts each row

Top Border

• Rows 23–26: Knit all sts. (garter border)

Bind off all 20 sts knitwise on the RS.

Total rows: 4 (bottom border) + 18 (panel) + 4 (top border) = 26 rows ✓

Finishing

1. Cut yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in both ends on the wrong side with the tapestry needle, tracing along the garter bumps to hide them.
2. Block for a crisp square: Soak the coaster in cool water, gently squeeze out excess (do not wring), and pin it flat to a 4.4" × 4.3" rectangle. Let dry completely. Blocking sharpens the diamond texture and flattens the borders.
3. Optional: make a matching set of 4 or 6 — one 50 g ball of worsted cotton yields about 4–5 coasters.

Care: Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry. Cotton softens beautifully with use.

Enjoy your handmade coaster! ☕