My Elizabeth Crochet Stitch Coasters are perfectly square crochet coasters with a unique texture. The Elizabeth crochet stitch, also known as the mini bean crochet stitch, is an easy stitch to learn if you can manage multiple loops on your hook at once.
The Elizabeth crochet stitch is made as if you were doing a single crochet (without finishing the stitch by going under the loops on the hook) and then transitioning directly into a half double crochet by yarning over, going under the same stitch you previously worked into, yarning over again, and then pulling back through.
This process leaves you with four loops on the hook. You then finish the stitch by going through all four loops and immediately making a chain to secure the stitch. After that, skip the next stitch and repeat the process!
As mentioned, the Elizabeth stitch is also known as the mini bean stitch. I don’t know exactly why it’s called the Elizabeth stitch (maybe because it’s a very beautiful stitch), but it’s named the mini bean stitch because the tiny puff it creates resembles a bean. Personally, I think it looks more like a coffee bean than a pinto bean, but I digress.
Regardless of the name you prefer, the Elizabeth crochet stitch is perfect for both washcloths and dishcloths. You can even extend the number of chains to create a blanket! Here, I’ll be making my Elizabeth crochet stitch into a square crochet coaster pattern.
Square crochet coasters are easy to make and make great last-minute gifts. You can create a few of them and pair them with coffee cups, tea, and coffee beans for nice gifts for friends during the holidays.
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✏️ Things To Note:
- Yarn Type: I used small amounts of wool to make the square crochet coaster pattern. Wool and cotton yarns are the only types I recommend for coasters, as they both transfer heat well and can absorb liquid if condensation forms on the glass. I do not recommend acrylic yarn, as it is less absorbent and made from plastic, which can melt if it gets too hot.
- Coaster Size: The finished coaster size is roughly 4 inches by 4 inches.
- Yarn Amount: Depending on your tension and the size of your stitches, you may need more or less yarn than specified. Always have a little extra on hand, just in case!
🪡 Materials Needed
- Yarn colors: 1 ball of dark green wool and a small amount of a lighter green/blue for the edge.
- H hook (5mm)
- Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends
💭 Abbreviations to Remember (US Terms)
- Single crochet (sc)
- Chains (ch)
- Mini Bean Stitch
🧋 Variations
Color Combinations: Experiment with different colors to create a variety of coasters!
🍵 Instructions for Elizabeth Crochet Stitch Coasters
For the main part of the square crochet coaster, we will be working in rows
Row 1: Using dark green wool yarn, ch x15 +2 for the turning ch. (15 +2)
Row 2: Insert your hook into the 3rd chain from the hook, yarn over, pull up with a loop, yarn over, insert hook into the same chain, yarn over and pull up 2 loops. For 4 loops total.
Yarn over and go through all 4 loops on the hook.
Then chain 1 to close the stitch.
Skip the next chain, and in the following loop do the same process as above by making sure your hook gets 4 loops and then go through them all. Chain 1. Skip the next chain and repeat.
Repeat for the rest of the row.
At the end of the row, chain one and turn (it will look like 2 chains because of the chain to end the last elizabeth stitch in the row)
Row 3: When you turn your work you will find the next chain space and instead of chaining directly into it you will make your next mini bean stitch beside it. This can be explained better if you hold your project in both your hands and stretch the last elizabeth stitch made in the previous row slightly. You will see most of the loops going diagonally from bottom left to top right. Except 1 loop. That loop will be going top left to bottom right. So the stitch will form almost a V in its shape.
You will make your next elizabeth stitch in that void by going under the 1 loop and proceeding to do the stitch. Remember to chain 1 after going through the 4 loops! Continue to do this for the rest of the row, skipping every other stitch like you did before.
You should have 8 elizabeth stitches in each row completed.
Row 4-15: Repeat row 3 until the crochet square coaster is done. Fasten off.
Finished square crochet block.
Outer edge:
To create a cleaner finish I single crocheted around the entire edge. Insert the hook into one of the tops of the stitches, grab the lighter green yarn color and then pull back through the loop and make a single crochet.
Crochet 15 single crochets along each edge, you can adjust this number based on tension, but make 3 sc in each corner to help the coaster lay flat.
Blocking:
If you want your piece to have sharper edges you can try blocking it!
I have a blocking peg board where I stretch the coaster just a little bit. I leave it on for about a day and then take it off. You don’t over stretch it, but you do just enough to have it lay flat almost naturally.
The result from blocking it will have the coaster be flat and stay flat. Yarn holds memory so stretching it will help it stay flat for future use.
Once it's done stretching, you can now use the square crochet coaster as much as you want! Try making more in different colors!
If you are interested in making more crochet coasters, check out my crochet strawberry coaster pattern and my crochet cherry blossom coaster pattern.
🐌Expert Tips
- Choosing the Right Yarn: Wool provides warmth and durability, while cotton is highly absorbent and great for kitchen use. Choose based on your project’s needs.
- Practice the Stitch: If you're new to the Elizabeth stitch, practice with a larger swatch to become comfortable managing the loops before starting your coasters.
- Experiment with Designs: Don’t hesitate to mix the Elizabeth stitch with other crochet techniques to create unique patterns and textures for your projects.
🧵 Pattern FAQs
Wash either by hand and air dry or wash on the wool setting in the clothes dryer and air dry. If you put them in the dryer when wet, they can shrink.
While you can use different yarns for practice, I recommend sticking to wool or cotton for coasters to ensure absorbency and durability.
To maintain consistency, pay attention to your tension while crocheting and use a measuring tape to check the dimensions as you go.
🧶More Beginner Crochet Patterns
If you tried this Elizabeth Crochet Stitch Coasters (or any other pattern on my website), please let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
Elizabeth Crochet Stitch Coasters
Materials
- 1 ball of dark green wool
- a small amount of a lighter green/blue yarn for the edge
- 5mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
Abbreviations (US terms)
- sc = Single crochet
- ch = Chain
- Mini Bean Stitch (no abbreviation)
Instructions
- For the main part of the square crochet coaster we will be working in rows
- Row 1: Using dark green wool yarn, ch x15 +2 for the turning ch. (15 +2)
- Row 2: Insert your hook into the 3rd chain from the hook, yarn over, pull up with a loop, yarn over, insert hook into the same chain, yarn over and pull up 2 loops. For 4 loops total. Yarn over and go through all 4 loops. Then chain 1 to close the stitch.
- Skip the next chain, and in the following loop do the same process as above by making sure your hook gets 4 loops and then go through them all. Chain 1. Skip the next chain and repeat.
- Repeat for the rest of the row.
- At the end of the row, chain one and turn (it will look like 2 chains because of the chain to end the last elizabeth stitch in the row)
- Row 3: When you turn your work you will find the next chain space and instead of chaining directly into it you will make your next mini stitch beside it. This can be explained better if you hold your project in both your hands and stretch the last elizabeth stitch made in the previous row slightly. You will see most of the loops going diagonally from bottom left to top right. Except 1 loop. That loop will be going top left to bottom right. So the stitch will form almost a V in its shape.
- You will make your next elizabeth stitch in that void by going under the 1 loop and proceeding to do the stitch. Remember to chain 1 after going through the 4 loops! Continue to do this for the rest of the row, skipping every other stitch like you did before.
- You should have 8 elizabeth stitches in each row completed.
- Row 4-15: Repeat row 3 until it is done. Fasten off.
Outer edge:
- To create a cleaner finish I single crocheted around the entire edge. Insert the hook into one of the tops of the stitches, grab the lighter green yarn color and then pull back through the loop and make a single crochet. Crochet 15 single crochets along each edge, you can adjust this number based on tension, but make 3 sc in each corner to help the coaster lay flat.
Blocking:
- If you want your piece to have sharper edges you can try blocking it!
- I have a blocking peg board where I stretch the coaster just a little bit. I leave it on for about a day and then take it off. You don’t over stretch it, but you do just enough to have it lay flat almost naturally.
- The result from blocking it will have the coaster be flat and stay flat. Yarn holds memory so stretching it will help it stay flat for future use.
- Once it's done stretching, you can now use the square crochet coaster as much as you want! Try making more in different colors!
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