My New Coasters – Mastering short rows in crochet

You’re probably wondering why it’s so quiet here… – well…

I am still struggling with health issues.

As I mentioned last year, I have some trouble with one of my eyes. About 4 months ago, my eyesight has got worse. My eye doc diagnosed an oedema – a kind of swelling – in my eye.  For treatment I’m now getting injections (yep, right into the eye— yikes!). After each one, I have to rest my eye for a few days, which means no reading, no sports, no bending over, etc. This of course limits my crochet projects.

But, at the moment I’m feeling hopeful! At least subjectively the treatment seems to do something good! Still, focusing on anything for too long is a struggle.

So I have to take things slowly and mostly stick to smaller projects for now.  And, yay, slowly but happy – I just finished some coasters.

And additionally , I learned something completely new: short rows. Until now, I only knew short rows from knitting. There I often used this technique for creating the heel of socks. But as far as I’ve heard, it is also sometimes used for knitting jumpers etc. But I’m not an expert on this.

Despite the different techniques, short rows in knitting and crochet are probably the same thing. In both, as the name suggests, only part of a row is worked. This makes it possible to create a particular shape.

Until now, however, I had never used it for crochet.

Gift Coasters

Last December I bought an eBook from Tatsiana (Lilla Bjorn crochet). She had a mystery make-a-long (MAL) and released 4 small patterns: Gift Coaster, Gift Bauble, Gift Mandala Garland and Pixel Coaster & Purse. All of them very lovely!

Whilst the MAL is over the patterns are still available on Ravelry – either separately or as an eBook .

Although I’ve had the eBook since December, I’ve only now found the time to start one of the projects.

I decided to start with the Gift Coaster. This pattern is using the short rows I mentioned above.

I am absolutely fascinated by the effects you can achieve with short rows and working in the back loops.

The coaster has 8 sections that are crocheted one after the other. This gradually creates a circle. The pattern is very detailed. Besides the written instructions the pdf has also a picture tutorial. It shows exactly where the stitches must be placed at the transition from a short to a long row. And there also is a link to a video tutorial if you prefer visual and spoken support. I don’t normally like watching videos. But I found this one very helpful, especially for join at the end.

My version of the Gift Coaster

My two samples are made with Schachenmayr Catania and a 3 mm hook.

Catania is a 100 % mercerized cotton yarn. It has 125 m / 137 yards per 50 g. It is classified as #2, Fine or Sport weight yarn.

My colours are 0244, Agave and 00507, Salbei.

I just love the combination of these two colours. What do you think?

Salbei (Sage) was from a limited Edition back in 2022 – I am not sure if it is still available anywhere. It was my last skein – I would love to have more!

My coasters are 15 cm in diameter. So they just turned out as they should.

I am totally happy with the result!