A small penguin sitting on your shelf brings a cheerful touch of winter to any room all year round. This palm-sized friend has a firm, rounded belly and tiny flippers that stand out against the snowy white chest. Making these figures is a rewarding way to practice increasing and decreasing stitches in a continuous spiral without worrying about complicated seams. You will pick up the essential technique of working in the round while shaping a compact, dense fabric that holds its form well. Whether you want a quick gift for a friend or a cute addition to your desk, this project provides a satisfying sense of progress in just a few sittings.

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Why You’ll Love This Pattern

This beginner-friendly crochet coaster pattern uses a simple combination of double crochet stitches worked in joined rounds to create a durable, absorbent surface for your coffee mugs. Because it uses less than 20 yards of worsted weight cotton, it serves as a stash-busting project for those small leftover balls of yarn taking up space in your craft bag. The project works up in under 20 minutes, making it an ideal choice for last-minute handmade gifts or stocking a housewarming set. Once you understand the basic circle expansion technique, you can easily scale these coasters up into larger hot pads or trivets by simply adding more rounds.

I managed to whip up a set of four in a single afternoon while watching a movie. The instructions were easy to follow and my finished coasters lay perfectly flat without any curling.

— Sarah, hobbyist crocheter

Pattern Overview & Skill Level

Skill Level: Beginner
Approximate Time: 15–20 minutes per coaster
Construction: Worked in joined rounds, starting from a center ring
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 4.5 inches in diameter

Materials & Supplies Needed

Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) 100% cotton yarn, approximately 15–20 yards per coaster. Cotton is necessary for heat resistance and absorbency.
Hook Size: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook.
Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and an optional stitch marker.
Yarn Substitutions: You may use an acrylic blend, though note that acrylic can melt if placed under very hot items and does not absorb moisture as effectively as cotton. Using a thinner yarn weight (DK or Sport) will result in a smaller coaster unless you adjust the hook size and add extra rounds.

Stitch Guide & Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch: Chain
st/sts: Stitch/Stitches
sl st: Slip stitch
dc: Double crochet
inc: 2 dc in the same stitch
MR: Magic ring (or ch 4 and join with sl st to form a ring)
Join: Slip stitch into the top of the first stitch of the round

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Coaster Body

Rnd 1: Start with a MR. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc into the ring. Join with sl st to the top of the ch 3. (12 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in the same st as join. Work 2 dc in each remaining st around. Join with sl st to the top of the ch 3. (24 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 3, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st; repeat from * around until 1 st remains. Dc in the last st. Join with sl st to the top of the ch 3. (36 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 3, *dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st; repeat from * around until 2 sts remain. Dc in each of the last 2 sts. Join with sl st to the top of the ch 3. (48 sts)

Finishing

Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch yarn tail. Use your tapestry needle to weave the end securely through the back of the stitches. Ensure the starting tail from the magic ring is pulled tight and woven in so the center remains closed and flat.

Care & Washing Instructions

Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cool water to prevent fiber distortion.
Lay the coaster flat on a towel to air dry, reshaping it with your hands while damp.
Avoid using high-heat tumble drying, as this can cause the cotton fibers to shrink or lose their shape over time.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Maintain consistent tension throughout the rounds to keep the coaster flat; if your stitches are too tight, the coaster will start to bowl inward. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round to easily identify where to join, which prevents the accidental addition of extra stitches. When weaving in your ends, run the needle through the back loops only to keep the front side of the coaster looking clean and professional. To adjust the size, simply continue the increase pattern of Rnd 3 and Rnd 4 by adding one extra dc between increases for every subsequent round; remember that each additional round will require more yarn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different yarn weight for this pattern?

Yes, you can use a lighter or heavier yarn weight. If you use thinner yarn, you will need to add more rounds to reach the desired 4.5-inch diameter. If you use thicker yarn, you may need to stop after Rnd 3 to keep it from becoming too large.

Why is my coaster curling at the edges?

Curling usually happens if your tension is too tight or if you are not adding enough stitches to account for the circumference growth. Check that you are working 2 dc into the increase stitches. If it still curls, try moving up one hook size to relax your stitches.

Is it okay to sell coasters made from this pattern?

Please check the original source terms for copyright information. Generally, most designers allow the sale of finished items made from their patterns as long as you credit the original designer in your product listings.

How do I make the magic ring if I am a beginner?

If a magic ring feels difficult, you can substitute it with a chain-4 loop. Chain 4, join with a slip stitch to the first chain to create a circle, and work your first round of double crochet into the center of that chain loop.

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Your finished penguin will look charming sitting next to a pile of books or grouped with other handmade creatures. You might experiment with using chunky velvet yarn to create a larger, softer version that feels like a stuffed toy, or add a colorful scarf using a scrap of fingering weight yarn to give your bird extra personality. Post a picture of your finished work online so other makers can see your color choices and unique style. Please come back to the blog to browse our library of other animal designs for your next afternoon project.