Whether you're decorating a Fourth of July table or just love the look of patriotic crafts, you're sure to enjoy these quick and easy America Star Coasters.
Knit up in small amounts of red, white and blue yarn, it takes less than an hour to whip one up, so you'll have enough for your whole table in no time.
Worked in different colors, these would be fun for a child's birthday or other special event that needs a bit of sparkle.
- about 17 yards total per coaster of red and white or blue and white medium-weight acrylic yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver)
- one pair size 7 US knitting needles
- copy of America Star chart
- scissors and yarn needle
Gauge:
15.5 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches (almost 4 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch) in Stockinette Stitch. Gauge is not critical.
Size:
Finished coaster is about 5 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall.
- Cast on 20 stitches in red or blue.
- Work 5 rows in Stockinette Stitch.
- Work the star chart, centering it on the piece (there will be three stitches on each side not represented on the chart) and working the star in white.
- Work 5 rows in Stockinette Stitch.
- Bind off and weave in ends.
- Make as many as you need in the same way, making some with red backgrounds and some with white, if desired.
Because this is Stockinette Stitch it is likely to curl slightly. If this bothers you (it doesn't really interfere with use of the coaster) knit the first 3 and last 3 rows and the first 3 and last 3 stitches of each row in Garter Stitch, as on the Canadian coaster project.
The project requires a sort of hybrid stranded knitting and intarsia knitting technique. In some places you will be able to thread the nonworking yarn easily across the back, but toward the center of the star you'll want to use intarsia.
This makes for a few more ends to weave in but also a coaster that sits a little flatter.
