Radioactive Coasters

Place a little extra jolt under your morning cup of coffee, or break out these coasters at your next party! Bright and eye-catching, these 'radioactive' coasters are simple to make for any beginning crocheter. If you know how to 'sc' (single crochet), you can make one of these in about 20 minutes.

H-8 5.0 mm crochet hook

yarn needle

scissors

yellow worsted-weight yarn

black worsted-weight yarn

After yellow is added, pattern is worked by carrying the unused color along.

Colors are changed in the last sc of a color. To change from black to yellow, insert hook in st, draw up a loop of black, draw yellow through two loops of black on hook.

When joining, slip st in first sc of that round, not in the ch1 sp.

For this instructable, I'm using turquoise yarn in place of black yarn to make the photos more clear.

With black, Ch 4. Join with a slip st in first chain to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch1. 6 sc in ring. Insert hook in ring and draw up a loop of black. Draw yellow through both black loops on hook. Join with slip st to top of first sc. (7sc)

Rnd 2: Ch1. Holding black along tops of sc, 2 sc in same stitch as join. 2 sc in each stitch around, changing to black in last sc. Join with slip st in top of first sc. (14 sc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1. With black 1 sc in same st as join. 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next st. With yellow, 2 sc in next stitch. 1 sc in next stitch. With black, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts. With yellow, 1 sc in same st, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts. With black, 1 sc in same st, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st. With yellow, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in last st, changing to black on last sc. Join with slip st in top of first sc. (21 sc).

At the end of this rnd, the diameter of the project is about 5 cm. Gauge is not critical in this project, but if yours is too big, you can try a smaller hook, or increase the hook size if yours is too small.

Rnd 4: Ch 1.*With black, sc in same stitch as join, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st. With yellow, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * 2 times more, changing to black in last sc. Join with slip st in top of first sc. (27 sc).

Rnd 5: Ch 1. *With black, sc in same st as join, sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st. With yellow, sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * 2 times more, changing to black in last sc. Join with slip st in top of first sc. (33 sc).

Rnd 6: Ch 1. *With black, 2 sc in same st as join, sc in each of next 5 sts. With yellow, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts.* Repeat from * to * 2 times more. Do not change to black in last sc. Join with slip st in top of first sc. Cut black yarn, leaving tail to weave in. (39 sc).

Rnd 7: Ch 1. With yellow, sc in same st as join, sc in next st. *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts* Repeat from * to * 5 times more. 2 sc in last st. Join with slip st in top of first sc. (46 sc).

If at this point you like the diameter of your project, then you can fasten off and end the project here. I prefer one more round of yellow (go to next step).

Rnd 8: Ch 1. Sc in same st as join. Sc in each of next 5 sts. 2 sc in next st. *sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * 4 times more. Sc in each of next 4 sts. Join with slip st in top of first sc. Cut yellow and draw tail through loop to secure. (52 sc).

Using the yarn needle, thread the yarn tail onto the needle and weave the tail into the project.

My completed coaster is about 11 cm in diameter. The size is not important, as long as you like it!