Whispering Pine Forest Coasters: A Beginner-Friendly Knitting Pattern

Bring the calm of a misty forest to your coffee table with these handcrafted knitted coasters. Featuring a rich pine green palette and a subtle moss stitch texture, each coaster is a tiny, cozy landscape that protects your surfaces with handcrafted charm. This free knitting pattern is perfect for beginners looking to practice increases, seed stitch, and working in the round—all while creating a beautiful, functional piece for your home.

Whether you're an experienced knitter seeking a quick weekend project or a novice ready to expand your skills, these Whispering Pine Forest Coasters offer the perfect blend of simplicity and satisfaction. The finished coasters measure approximately 4.5 inches in diameter, making them ideal for mugs, glasses, or as decorative accents on a side table.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies to ensure a smooth knitting experience:

Yarn

• Worsted weight cotton yarn (e.g., Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton) in three shades:
  • Deep Forest Green (MC) – approximately 30 yards per coaster
  • Moss Green (CC1) – approximately 10 yards per coaster
  • Birch White (CC2) – approximately 10 yards per coaster

Note: Cotton yarn is recommended for coasters because it absorbs moisture, is durable, and holds its shape well after blocking. You can substitute any worsted weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn.

Needles and Notions

• US Size 6 (4.0 mm) knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• US Size 8 (5.0 mm) knitting needles (for bind off only)
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Stitch markers (at least 4)

Gauge

20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, but a tighter gauge will produce a sturdier coaster. If your coasters come out slightly larger or smaller, that's perfectly fine—they'll still be functional and beautiful!

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern creates a circular coaster using a simple garter stitch tab cast-on and increases, then a decorative moss stitch border. The finished coaster is about 4.5 inches in diameter.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• K: knit
• P: purl
• KFB: knit into the front and back of the same stitch (increase)
• PM: place marker
• SM: slip marker
• St(s): stitch(es)
• Rep: repeat

Color Combination Options

Make three coasters, one in each color combination for a cohesive set:

• Option 1: MC (Deep Forest Green) for the center, CC1 (Moss Green) for the moss border, CC2 (Birch White) for the outer edge.
• Option 2: CC1 (Moss Green) for the center, MC (Deep Forest Green) for the moss border, CC2 (Birch White) for the outer edge.
• Option 3: CC2 (Birch White) for the center, MC (Deep Forest Green) for the moss border, CC1 (Moss Green) for the outer edge.

Center (Worked in Stockinette)

The center of each coaster is worked flat in stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) with increases at each edge to create a circular shape. Follow the rows carefully, counting your stitches after each increase row to ensure accuracy.

Row 1 (RS): CO 5 sts. K5. (5 sts)
Row 2 (WS): P5.
Row 3: KFB, K3, KFB. (7 sts)
Row 4: P7.
Row 5: KFB, K5, KFB. (9 sts)
Row 6: P9.
Row 7: KFB, K7, KFB. (11 sts)
Row 8: P11.
Row 9: KFB, K9, KFB. (13 sts)
Row 10: P13.
Row 11: KFB, K11, KFB. (15 sts)
Row 12: P15.
Row 13: KFB, K13, KFB. (17 sts)
Row 14: P17.
Row 15: KFB, K15, KFB. (19 sts)
Row 16: P19.
Row 17: KFB, K17, KFB. (21 sts)
Row 18: P21.
Row 19: KFB, K19, KFB. (23 sts)
Row 20: P23.
Row 21: KFB, K21, KFB. (25 sts)
Row 22: P25.
Row 23: KFB, K23, KFB. (27 sts)
Row 24: P27.
Row 25: KFB, K25, KFB. (29 sts)
Row 26: P29.
Row 27: KFB, K27, KFB. (31 sts)
Row 28: P31.
Row 29: KFB, K29, KFB. (33 sts)
Row 30: P33.
Row 31: KFB, K31, KFB. (35 sts)
Row 32: P35.
Row 33: KFB, K33, KFB. (37 sts)
Row 34: P37.
Row 35: KFB, K35, KFB. (39 sts)
Row 36: P39.
Row 37: KFB, K37, KFB. (41 sts)
Row 38: P41.
Row 39: KFB, K39, KFB. (43 sts)
Row 40: P43.
Row 41: KFB, K41, KFB. (45 sts)
Row 42: P45.
Row 43: KFB, K43, KFB. (47 sts)
Row 44: P47.
Row 45: KFB, K45, KFB. (49 sts)
Row 46: P49.
Row 47: KFB, K47, KFB. (51 sts)
Row 48: P51.
Row 49: KFB, K49, KFB. (53 sts)
Row 50: P53.
Row 51: KFB, K51, KFB. (55 sts)
Row 52: P55.
Row 53: KFB, K53, KFB. (57 sts)
Row 54: P57.
Row 55: KFB, K55, KFB. (59 sts)
Row 56: P59.
Row 57: KFB, K57, KFB. (61 sts)
Row 58: P61.
Row 59: KFB, K59, KFB. (63 sts)
Row 60: P63.
Row 61: KFB, K61, KFB. (65 sts)
Row 62: P65.
Row 63: KFB, K63, KFB. (67 sts)
Row 64: P67.
Row 65: KFB, K65, KFB. (69 sts)
Row 66: P69.
Row 67: KFB, K67, KFB. (71 sts)
Row 68: P71.
Row 69: KFB, K69, KFB. (73 sts)
Row 70: P73.
Row 71: KFB, K71, KFB. (75 sts)
Row 72: P75.
Row 73: KFB, K73, KFB. (77 sts)
Row 74: P77.
Row 75: KFB, K75, KFB. (79 sts)
Row 76: P79.
Row 77: KFB, K77, KFB. (81 sts)
Row 78: P81.
Row 79: KFB, K79, KFB. (83 sts)
Row 80: P83.
Row 81: KFB, K81, KFB. (85 sts)
Row 82: P85.
Row 83: KFB, K83, KFB. (87 sts)
Row 84: P87.
Row 85: KFB, K85, KFB. (89 sts)
Row 86: P89.
Row 87: KFB, K87, KFB. (91 sts)
Row 88: P91.
Row 89: KFB, K89, KFB. (93 sts)
Row 90: P93.
Row 91: KFB, K91, KFB. (95 sts)
Row 92: P95.
Row 93: KFB, K93, KFB. (97 sts)
Row 94: P97.
Row 95: KFB, K95, KFB. (99 sts)
Row 96: P99.
Row 97: KFB, K97, KFB. (101 sts)
Row 98: P101.
Row 99: KFB, K99, KFB. (103 sts)
Row 100: P103.

Tip: After completing Row 100, your work should form a large square with a slight curve at the edges. Don't worry if it doesn't look perfectly circular yet—the border will help shape it.

Moss Stitch Border (Worked in the Round)

Now you will pick up stitches around the edge of the square to work the border in the round. The border is worked in a simple moss stitch pattern (also called seed stitch) to give a textured, organic edge that mimics the look of forest moss.

Round 1: With RS facing, using CC1, pick up and knit 1 st in each row along the side, 1 st in each CO st along the bottom, and 1 st in each row along the other side. You will have approximately 100 sts on each side, plus 4 corner sts. Place a marker after each corner st to mark the corners. (Total sts will be about 404, but don't worry about exact count – just ensure you have the same number on each side for symmetry.)

Round 2: *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st (i.e., at each corner, work K1, P1, K1, P1 into the corner st to increase and keep the corner sharp).

Round 3: *P1, K1; rep from * around, working P1, K1, P1, K1 in each corner st.

Round 4: *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st.

Round 5: *P1, K1; rep from * around, working P1, K1, P1, K1 in each corner st.

Round 6: *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st.

Round 7: *P1, K1; rep from * around, working P1, K1, P1, K1 in each corner st.

Round 8: *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st.

Round 9: *P1, K1; rep from * around, working P1, K1, P1, K1 in each corner st.

Round 10: *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st.

Note: The moss stitch pattern alternates between knit and purl stitches. In Round 2, you knit the purls and purl the knits from the previous round. This creates the bumpy, seed-like texture characteristic of moss stitch.

Outer Edge (Worked in CC2)

Switch to your outer edge color (CC2) and continue in the moss stitch pattern for a contrasting border that frames the coaster beautifully.

Round 11: With CC2, *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st.

Round 12: *P1, K1; rep from * around, working P1, K1, P1, K1 in each corner st.

Round 13: *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st.

Round 14: *P1, K1; rep from * around, working P1, K1, P1, K1 in each corner st.

Round 15: *K1, P1; rep from * around, working K1, P1, K1, P1 in each corner st.

Round 16: *P1, K1; rep from * around, working P1, K1, P1, K1 in each corner st.

Round 17: *K1, P