Pattern Description:
The Tunisian Heart Coaster is a quick and beginner-friendly Tunisian crochet project, perfect for practicing both intarsia and stranded colourwork.
Worked flat from the bottom up with the right side always facing, this coaster can be completed in under an hour and makes a thoughtful last-minute handmade gift.
The simple heart motif adds a charming touch while allowing you to build confidence with colour changes.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
Finished Size
- 15.5 cm × 15.5 cm (approx. 6″ × 6″) after blocking
- To achieve correct sizing, blocked gauge should measure: 16 sts × 15 rows = 10 × 10 cm (4″ × 4″) in tss
Materials
- Yarn: Scheepjes Stone Washed (Sport weight, 78% Cotton / 22% Acrylic)
- Color A: Tourmaline (#836) – 1 skein
- Color B: Rose Quartz (#820) – 1 skein
- Hook: 4.5 mm Tunisian crochet hook (US 7) with a short cable (7.5 cm / 3″)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Abbreviations Used:
- ch – chain
- yrh – yarn round the hook
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- pul – pull up a loop
- lp(s) – loop(s)
- FP – forward pass
- tss – Tunisian simple stitch
- RP – return pass
- RS – right side
- approx. – approximately
- ES – End stitch
- rep – repeat
Stitch Guide & Techniques
Tunisian Crochet Basics
Tunisian crochet consists of two parts:
- Forward Pass (FP): Worked right to left, placing loops on the hook
- Return Pass (RP): Worked left to right, removing loops from the hook
Standard Return Pass (RP)
For every row: 1 ch, yrh, pull through 2 lps; rep until 1 lp remains.
Edge Stitches
Right Edge Stitch: The first loop already on the hook counts as the first stitch unless indicated otherwise.
Left Edge Stitch (End Stitch – ES): Rotate fabric slightly, insert hook under both vertical bars of the last stitch, yrh and pul.
Core Stitches
Foundation Row: Insert hook into the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook, yrh and pul across.
Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss): Insert hook from right to left under the front vertical bar, yrh and pul.
Colour Changes: When switching colours, place the new strand over the old one to lock it in and prevent gaps.
Tunisian Simple Stitch Bind-off: Insert hook under front vertical bar, yrh, pul through both the new loop and the loop on the hook.
Notes
- After every RP, the number of loops equals the number of stitches for that row.
- When using substitute yarns, choose a similar sport weight and verify gauge.
- Block the coaster to obtain final measurements.
Instructions for Making the Tunisian Heart Coaster Pattern:
Foundation
Begin by creating the base chain for the coaster. With A, ch 25, placing a marker in the last ch to help maintain tension and consistency for the first row.
- Row 1 (FP): Insert the hook into the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook, yrh, and pul to create a new lp. Continue inserting the hook into each remaining back bump, yrh and pul across the entire chain. You should now have 25 lps on the hook, each lp representing one st for the row.
- Row 1 (RP): Work a Standard RP: Ch 1, then yrh, pull through 2 lps; rep this sequence across the row until only 1 lp remains on the hook. This completes the row and prepares the hook for the next FP.
Main Body
The main section includes the setup rows, the colourwork heart motif, and the final rows before binding off.
Setup Rows (Rows 2-5)
Rows 2-5: Work tss across the row by inserting the hook under the front vertical bar of each st, yrh and pul to collect lps on the hook. At the final st, work the ES by inserting the hook under both vertical bars, yrh and pul. Work a Standard RP after every FP. Rep this sequence for Rows 3-5, maintaining an even edge.
Heart Motif Section (Rows 6-16)
Row 6: Begin following the Heart Chart, working tss and changing colours as indicated. When switching colours, place the new colour strand over the old strand to secure the carried yarn and avoid gaps.
Rows 7-16: Continue working the Heart Chart row by row. Maintain even tension as you switch between A and B (Rose Quartz). Keep floats neat on the WS and avoid pulling colour changes too tightly. Complete each row with a Standard RP.
Upper Rows (Rows 17-21)
Return to a solid colour section using A.
- Rows 17-21: Work as in
- Row 2: tss across to the last st, work ES, then complete the Standard RP. These rows frame the heart and create a clean border above the motif.
Bind-Off Row (Row 22)
Work a Tunisian Simple Stitch Bind-off across the row: Insert the hook under the front vertical bar, yrh, pul through both the new lp and the lp already on the hook. Continue across until all sts are bound off and one lp remains.
Finishing
Weave in all yarn ends neatly on the WS. Block the coaster to 15.5 cm × 15.5 cm (approx. 6″ × 6″) to ensure clean edges, crisp stitch definition, and an even square shape.
