Project introduction
This is a pattern overview, not a full tutorial. Leaf Coasters is a free Ravelry download designed by Katherine Laight, published under WinterBlue and featured in Inside Crochet, Issue 50, 2014, and The Complete Guide to Crochet, Volume 3. The design is a coaster worked in the round from a written pattern, and Ravelry notes that these useful and hardwearing coasters were inspired by 1950s wallpapers and fabrics. The original pattern and instructions live on Ravelry, so treat this page as a starting point rather than a substitute for the designer’s own rows.
Because the source material available here is a listing page rather than the pattern itself, this overview sticks to what can be verified: who made it, where it was published, what yarn it calls for, and how to reach the real instructions. If you want the actual stitch sequence, the Original designer’s pattern and instructions is the place to go. Everything below is context to help you decide whether this project suits your hooks and your yarn basket.
Leaf Coasters
Katherine Laight’s coaster pattern has built a steady following since it first appeared in February 2014. Ravelry currently lists 995 projects and 1432 queues, with an overall rating of 4.8 from 305 votes and a clarity rating of 4.6 from 231 votes. An average difficulty figure is drawn from 289 ratings, which suggests most crocheters find it approachable. The pattern is available as a free Ravelry download, and the listing notes it comes in both UK and US crochet terms, with separate PDFs for each.
A German translation was kindly provided by Judith Schumacher (Lajuna) on 5 May 2020.
The yarn shown in the source listing is Rowan Cotton Glace, a sport weight, 100 percent cotton yarn with 125 yards per 50 grams. That yarn has its own strong Ravelry record: 6693 projects, stashed 10149 times, and a rating of 4.3 from 1477 votes. Cotton is a sensible match for a coaster because it takes wear well and keeps its shape, though the source does not state a required quantity for the project, so check the pattern PDF for the amount you need.
Construction is described only at a high level in the source: the coaster is worked in the round from a written pattern. That means you will be following written rows rather than a chart, and you will join or spiral your rounds as the pattern directs. The leaf shape and the 1950s wallpaper and fabric inspiration come from the designer’s own notes, not from anything reproduced here. For the actual round-by-round sequence, including any special stitches, work directly from the designer’s PDF.
Before you begin, gather the basics the source supports:
- Rowan Cotton Glace or a comparable sport weight cotton
- A crochet hook sized to suit your yarn and tension
- Stitch markers for tracking rounds
- A yarn needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors or snips
- The correct PDF for your terminology, UK or US
The source does not list a specific hook size, so choose one that gives you a fabric you like and follow any gauge note in the pattern itself. If you enjoy leaf motifs in other forms, two related reads on this site are the Burgundy Autumn Leaf Barrel Purse: Pattern Overview and the Fall Leaf Mug Rugs Easy: Pattern Overview. Both keep the botanical theme going without duplicating this coaster.
One practical note from the listing: the designer offers the leaf coaster pattern free of charge and invites crocheters who enjoyed it to consider a donation to the UK Woodland Trust or another woodland or forest conservation charity of their choice. That is the designer’s own suggestion, and it is worth knowing before you download. The free Ravelry download is the access route described in the source; no other format or price is stated there.
If you are new to reading written rounds, this is a friendly place to practice. The repeat is small, the finished object is useful, and the pattern’s clarity score reflects how readable other crocheters found it. Start with one coaster, see how the leaf takes shape, and let the second one go faster.
