Summer Getaways (4/5)

Part Four, in which I walked through fields and forests, admired the skies and took a break in the tall summer grass.

Summer Getaways (3/5)

Part Three of my holiday, where I ventured into the dark, damp forest and got stung by about a thousand mosquitos… But it sure was pretty :)

Summer Getaways (2/5)

This is Part Two of my little holiday, in which I visited my sister in Groningen, went to the little town of Appingedam (of all places ;) and rode my bike through the Dutch countryside. Also: sunshine!! :)

Summer Getaways (1/5)

This past summer was like a gentle breeze compared to the hurricane that was 2014, and it was good. In august I took two weeks off to chill as much as possible, and I am happy to report: mission accomplished. I had already decided to save money by skipping an expensive holiday this year, but I did spend a week in the lovely province of Drenthe. The Netherlands is such a tiny country, and yet there is a vast difference between the different areas. As soon as I loaded up my car and started driving north, life slowed down to a gentle pace, filled with forests, fields, quiet moments and starry nights. It was exactly what I needed. 

So before summer is over (*insert whimpering here*) I'll share my holiday snapshots in a few posts.   

This is Part One, in which it rained and rained and rained, but I went for a walk anyway. 

Sunburst Coaster Pattern

Hey Blogland! Question: can you ever have too many coasters? I'll help you with the answer: NOPE ;)

Coasters are great for using under cups, teapots, plants and so on, and it's always practical to have a few different sizes lying around. So I thought I'd share a pattern I made up the other day, featuring the first few rounds of the Sunburst Granny Pattern. Hope you enjoy!!

Sizes & yarn

I used a 4mm crochet hook and Schachenmayr SMC Bravo. This yarn is 100% acrylic, machine washable and it comes in many, many great colors. The finished coaster is about 16 cm/6 inches across.

Stitches
Single crochet (sc): insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook.

Half double crochet (hdc): yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull loop through stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.

Double crochet (dc): yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull loop through stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (2 loops remaining on hook). Yarn over and pull through two remaining loops on hook.

Double crochet two together in same space (dc2tog): yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull loop through stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook hook in same space, yarn over and pull loop through stitch (4 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 3 loops.

Puff stitch: *yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch and draw yarn through stitch* three times (7 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. Chain 1 to lock.

Cluster stitch: *yarn over, insert hook in next stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops* 4 times (5 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

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Note: scroll down to the bottom of this post for a more compact version of the pattern!
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Round 1
Start with a magic circle.

Chain 3 (counts as first dc) and crochet 11 dc's into the magic circle. Join with slip stitch to the beginning chain 3 and fasten off. (12 dc's total)

Round 2
Attach next color, chain 1, puff stitch in same space between dc's of previous round. Continue with crocheting a puff stitch in each space from previous round and join with a slip stitch to the first puff stitch. Fasten off. (12 puff stitches in total) 

Round 3
Attach next color, chain 2, (cluster stitch, chain 2) in the same space and repeat *cluster stitch, chain 2* in each space between puff stitches of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning cluster stitch. Fasten off. (12 cluster stitches in total) 

Round 4
Attach next color, chain 3 (counts as first dc) and in same space between cluster stitches of previous round crochet 2 dc's, ch 1. Repeat *3 dc, ch1* in every space. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch3 and fasten off. (36 dc's in total)

Round 5
Attach next color, chain 3 and in same space between dc's of previous round crochet 1 dc (counts as first dc2tog). Now repeat dc2tog in every space between every dc of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch 3 and fasten off.  (36 stitches in total) 

Round 6
Attach next color in space between dc2tog's of previous round, chain 2 (counts as first hdc) and in same space crochet 1 hdc. Repeat *2 hdc's* in every space between dc2tog's of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch 2 and fasten off. (72 hdc's in total)

Round 7
Attach next color in space between hdc's of previous round and chain 1. In the same space crochet 1 sc and repeat *1sc* in every space between hdc's of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch 2 and fasten off. (72 sc's in total)

And that's it! Quick and easy, and you can combine colors endlessy to create different sets of coasters. Enjoy!!!

Sunburst Coaster Pattern (compact version)

Round 1: Start with a magic circle.Chain 3 (counts as first dc) and crochet 11 dc's into the magic circle. Join with slip stitch to the beginning chain 3 and fasten off. (12 dc's total)

Round 2: Attach next color, chain 1, puff stitch in same space between dc's of previous round. Continue with crocheting a puff stitch in each space from previous round and join with a slip stitch to the first puff stitch. Fasten off. (12 puff stitches in total) 

Round 3: Attach next color, chain 2, (cluster stitch, chain 2) in the same space and repeat *cluster stitch, chain 2* in each space between puff stitches of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning cluster stitch. Fasten off. (12 cluster stitches in total) 

Round 4: Attach next color, chain 3 (counts as first dc) and in same space between cluster stitches of previous round crochet 2 dc's, ch 1. Repeat *3 dc, ch1* in every space. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch3 and fasten off. (36 dc's in total)

Round 5: Attach next color, chain 3 and in same space between dc's of previous round crochet 1 dc (counts as first dc2tog). Now repeat dc2tog in every space between every dc of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch 3 and fasten off.  (36 stitches in total) 

Round 6: Attach next color in space between dc2tog's of previous round, chain 2 (counts as first hdc) and in same space crochet 1 hdc. Repeat *2 hdc's* in every space between dc2tog's of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch 2 and fasten off. (72 hdc's in total)

Round 7: Attach next color in space between hdc's of previous round and chain 1. In the same space crochet 1 sc and repeat *1sc* in every space between hdc's of previous round. Join with a slip stitch to the beginning ch 2 and fasten off. (72 sc's in total)