Crochet Sunflower Coaster Pattern with Easy Petals
Need a cheerful handmade coaster? This crochet sunflower design combines a firm brown center with easy yellow petals for a flat, practical table accent.
Table details can make everyday coffee or tea time feel more inviting, while a coaster also needs enough structure to sit flat beneath a mug. This crochet sunflower combines sturdy cord with simple circular shaping for a crisp, useful finish.
This crochet tutorial guides you through the brown center, yellow transition round, individual petals, and final shaping. You’ll also learn how to keep the crochet coaster flat and adjust its size for different uses. Let’s get started.
Credit Irina Tsokalo
Materials & Tools
- Yarn: 3 mm polyester cord or sturdy cotton yarn in brown for the center and yellow for the petals. Polyester cord helps the finished coaster retain a firm, flat shape.
- Crochet Hook: 3.0 mm.
- Tapestry or Yarn Needle: For weaving in loose ends and securing yarn tails.
Finished Size & Customization
The finished piece is sized for cups and mugs, making it suitable for everyday drink use.
For a smaller decorative doily, use thinner cotton yarn with a 2.5 mm hook. For a larger trivet, use chunky yarn with a 3.5 mm hook.
Seasonal colors can also change its appearance. Burnt orange or mustard gold petals can give the sunflower a warm autumn-inspired look.
Pattern Abbreviations & Terminology
- Ch: Chain stitch
- Sl St: Slip stitch
- SC: Single crochet
- HDC: Half double crochet
- DC: Double crochet
- Inc: Increase – work 2 stitches into the same stitch
- MR: Magic Ring
Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions
Step 1: Create the Brown Center
Begin with brown yarn and form a Magic Ring (MR).
Insert the hook under both strands of the ring, yarn over, and draw up a working loop.
The magic ring gives you a closed starting point for the circular center, so the middle of the coaster will not have a large opening.
Step 2: Work Round 1
Chain 2, which counts as the first HDC.
Work 9 more HDC directly into the magic ring, giving you 10 HDC total.
Join the round with a slip stitch into the second chain of the initial chain-2.
Check your work: The stitches should form a compact circular center rather than spreading into a long or uneven shape.
Step 3: Increase Around Round 2
Chain 2.
Work 2 HDC into every stitch around.
This creates 20 HDC in total.
Join with a slip stitch into the second chain.
The repeated increases widen the brown center evenly, preparing it for the larger sunflower shape.
Step 4: Build Round 3 With Alternating Increases
Chain 2.
Repeat: 1 HDC in next stitch, 2 HDC in following stitch.
Continue this sequence around the entire circle until you have 30 HDC.
Join with a slip stitch into the second chain.
Teaching tip: Keep the increase rhythm consistent. Even spacing here helps the center expand into a smooth circle instead of forming uneven bumps.
Step 5: Complete the Brown Center
For Round 4, chain 2.
Repeat: 1 HDC in each of next 2 stitches, 2 HDC in following stitch.
Continue around until you reach 40 HDC.
Join with a slip stitch, chain 1, then fasten off the brown yarn.
At this point, the brown section should form the complete inner disk of the sunflower.
Step 6: Add the Yellow Transition Round
Attach yellow yarn with a slip stitch.
Chain 1, then repeat:
1 SC in next stitch, 2 SC in following stitch.
Continue around while crocheting over the yarn tails to secure them neatly.
You should have 60 SC at the end of this round.
Join with a slip stitch to the first SC.
Why this round matters: The increased yellow edge creates the wider foundation needed for the sunflower petals.
Step 7: Form the First Petal
Begin Round 6 by chaining 6.
Work back down the chain:
- 1 HDC in the 3rd chain from hook.
- 1 DC in each of the remaining 3 chains.
Now move to the outer edge of the yellow transition round.
Skip 2 stitches, then anchor the petal with a slip stitch into the 3rd stitch.
This creates one elongated petal loop extending outward from the coaster edge.
Step 8: Repeat the Petal Sequence
Continue around the entire circle using the same sequence: Chain 6 → work stitches back down chain → skip 2 base stitches → slip stitch into 3rd stitch.
Keep each petal anchored at the same spacing.
Shape check: Petals should fan outward around the brown center. If one petal is pulled tightly while another is loose, adjust your tension as you continue so the outer edge remains even.
Step 9: Close the Petal Round
After completing the final petal, make the last slip stitch into the base of the first petal.
Chain 1 and cut the yellow yarn.
The sunflower shape should now be clearly visible, with a brown circular center surrounded by yellow petals.
Step 10: Secure the Loose Ends
Thread remaining yarn tails onto a tapestry needle.
Weave each tail neatly into the stitches on the back of the brown center and yellow transition area.
Work the needle through several stitches before trimming the excess so the ends remain securely hidden.
Step 11: Shape the Sunflower Coaster
Because polyester cord has structural memory, gently fan each yellow petal outward with your fingers.
Stretch and arrange the petals individually until the sunflower lies flat and the outer edge looks balanced.
Final check: Place the coaster on a flat surface. The center should sit evenly, while the petals should spread around it without large sections curling upward.
Your sunflower coaster is ready to use beneath cups and mugs, adding a cheerful botanical detail while helping protect the table surface from condensation and heat.
