Maple Leaf Crochet Coaster: Easy Autumn Video Tutorial

There is something deeply satisfying about sitting down with a skein of yarn in your favorite fall colors and creating something small, beautiful, and entirely useful. If you have been looking for a quick project that captures the magic of autumn without requiring weeks of work, this maple leaf crochet coaster is exactly what you need. Whether you are a beginner just getting comfortable with your hook or a seasoned crocheter looking for a relaxing afternoon project, this tutorial walks you through every step with clarity and confidence.

This pattern uses simple stitches you likely already know, comes together in under an hour, and results in a coaster that looks like it belongs in a high-end boutique. Better yet, it makes a wonderful gift, a seasonal decoration, and a practical item all at once. Let’s dive into everything you need to know, from materials to finished product, so you can start crocheting your own maple leaf coasters today.

Why Maple Leaf Coasters Are the Perfect Autumn Project

Every season has its signature crafts, and autumn belongs to the maple leaf. There is no other shape that so instantly communicates the warmth, color, and nostalgic feeling of fall. When you stitch a maple leaf in shades of burnt orange, deep crimson, golden yellow, or earthy brown, you are not just making a coaster — you are creating a little piece of seasonal art.

Coasters are one of the most practical crochet items you can make. They protect your furniture, they are the perfect size to practice new stitch patterns, and they work up quickly enough that you can make a full set in a single weekend. A set of six maple leaf coasters, each in a slightly different autumn shade, makes one of the most thoughtful handmade gifts imaginable for a housewarming, a holiday, or simply a gesture of appreciation.

From a skill-building perspective, this pattern is also genuinely educational. You will practice increases and decreases, work with pointed shapes, and get comfortable with the idea of shaping a flat piece of crochet into something recognizable and dimensional. All of those skills transfer directly into more advanced projects later on.

Materials You Will Need

Before you start the video tutorial, gather everything you need so you can follow along without interruption. Here is a complete list of supplies:

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in one or more autumn colors. Great options include burnt orange, rust red, golden yellow, chocolate brown, deep burgundy, or amber. You will only need a small amount — roughly 30 to 50 yards per coaster — so this is a perfect stash-busting project. Look for yarn with some texture or warmth to it; a cotton or cotton-blend yarn works especially well for coasters because it is durable, absorbent, and holds its shape beautifully after washing.

Crochet Hook: A size 5.0 mm (H/8) hook is recommended for worsted weight yarn, though you can go up to a 5.5 mm if you prefer a slightly more relaxed fabric. The goal is a firm, dense fabric that will sit flat and hold up under cups and mugs.

Scissors: A small, sharp pair works best for clipping yarn ends close to the work.

Yarn Needle or Tapestry Needle: You will use this to weave in your ends neatly at the end of the project.

Stitch Markers (optional): These are helpful for keeping track of where specific stitch sections begin and end, especially when you are first learning the pattern.

Blocking Mat and Pins (optional but recommended): Once your coaster is finished, a light blocking will help it lie perfectly flat and give the maple leaf shape its most defined, crisp appearance.

Understanding the Stitches

This pattern uses a handful of fundamental crochet stitches. If you are already familiar with them, you can skip ahead. If you are newer to crochet or want a quick refresher before watching the video, here is a brief overview of each stitch used in this pattern.

Chain (ch): The foundation of most crochet projects. You create a chain by pulling a loop through another loop repeatedly. Most patterns start with a foundation chain.

Slip Stitch (sl st): A joining stitch used to close rounds, join pieces, or move your yarn to a new position without adding height.

Single Crochet (sc): The most basic of the tall stitches. Insert your hook into a stitch, pull up a loop, then pull that loop through both loops on your hook. Creates a tight, firm fabric.

Half Double Crochet (hdc): Slightly taller than single crochet. Yarn over before inserting your hook, pull up a loop, then pull through all three loops on your hook at once.

Double Crochet (dc): Yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, pull through two loops, then pull through the remaining two loops. Taller and airier than hdc or sc.

Treble Crochet (tr): Even taller than double crochet. Yarn over twice, insert hook, pull up a loop, then work off loops in pairs until one remains.

Magic Ring (or Magic Circle): A technique used to start working in the round without leaving a hole in the center. If you are not comfortable with the magic ring, you can substitute a chain-4 ring by chaining 4 and joining with a slip stitch to form a small circle.

Increases: Working two or more stitches into the same stitch to add width to your piece.

Decreases (sc2tog, dc2tog): Working two stitches together to reduce the stitch count and narrow your piece. These are what give the maple leaf its pointed lobes.

About the Video Tutorial

The video tutorial that accompanies this blog post is designed for crocheters of all levels. Each step is demonstrated in real time, with the camera positioned to give you a clear view of the hook and yarn at all times. The video is broken into clearly labeled sections so you can pause, rewind, and jump to any part of the process you need to review.

Here is a quick overview of what the video covers:

The first section covers the materials list and yarn recommendations, so you can see exactly what products were used and get a feel for the colors that look best in this pattern. The second section walks through the magic ring and the very first round of the coaster, which forms the base of the maple leaf stem. From there, you will see each round built up carefully, with special attention paid to the moments where you transition from the stem into the leaf lobes.

The lobe sections are the heart of this pattern, and the video slows down considerably here to make sure you understand exactly which stitches go where. Each of the five lobes — a hallmark of the maple leaf shape — is worked separately and then connected, and the video shows you how to navigate these transitions without getting lost or confused.

The final section of the video covers the border round, which is what really makes the maple leaf shape pop. A clean, even border in either the same color or a contrasting color ties the whole piece together and gives your coaster a polished, professional look. You will also see how to weave in your ends securely and how to block your finished coaster for the best results.

Step-by-Step Written Pattern

While the video tutorial is the most thorough way to learn this pattern, a written version is always helpful to have on hand. Here is the complete written pattern for the maple leaf crochet coaster.

Abbreviations Used:
ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, tr = treble crochet, sc2tog = single crochet two together, dc2tog = double crochet two together, sp = space, rep = repeat, st = stitch, RS = right side

Finished Size: Approximately 4 to 5 inches across, depending on yarn and hook size.

Gauge: Not critical for this project, but aim for a firm, flat fabric.

Foundation: Begin with a magic ring or ch-4 ring.

Round 1 (Stem Base): Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring, sl st to first sc to join. (6 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st to join. (12 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from around, sl st to join. (18 sts)

First Lobe: Ch 4, dc in 4th ch from hook (this creates the point of the lobe), ch 2, sl st into the 4th st of round 3 to anchor the lobe. Work the lobe shape by building up dc and tr stitches on either side of the center ch-4 spine, then decrease back down with dc2tog and sc2tog stitches. Each lobe has a pointed tip at the top and tapers back to the leaf body at the base. Repeat this lobe construction process for all five lobes, spacing them evenly around the leaf body.

Lobe Connections: Between each lobe, work 2 to 3 sl sts along the body of the leaf to travel to the next lobe position. This keeps the tension even and prevents gaps between the lobes.

Border Round: After all five lobes are complete, work one final round of sc evenly around the entire outer edge of the leaf, working 3 sc into each pointed tip of each lobe to help them fan out, and sc2tog at each inner corner where two lobes meet. Sl st to join and fasten off.

Stem: Using the tail end of yarn at the starting ring, or a separate length of yarn in the same or contrasting color, work a short chain of 8 to 10 stitches downward from the base of the leaf. Sl st back along the chain to create a firm, double-strand stem. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

A few practical tips will make a significant difference in how your finished coaster looks and how easily you work through the pattern.

Watch the video before you start. Even if you plan to follow the written pattern, watching the video first gives you a mental map of the entire project. You will understand where you are heading at each stage, which makes it much easier to troubleshoot if something looks off.

Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round. When you are working in the round and things start to get a little complex — especially around the lobe sections — it is very easy to lose track of where your round begins and ends. A simple locking stitch marker placed in that first stitch saves a lot of confusion.

Do not skip the border round. It might be tempting to call the project done as soon as the lobes are finished, but the border round is what defines the maple leaf shape and gives it that clean, graphic look. It also helps even out any tension inconsistencies from the lobe sections.

Block your coaster. Even a light wet blocking — simply soaking the finished coaster in cool water, gently squeezing out the excess water, and pinning it flat on a foam blocking mat to dry — makes a remarkable difference. The leaf shape will be crisper, the coaster will lie flatter, and the stitch definition will be much more visible.

Experiment with color. While a single-color coaster in a classic autumn shade looks stunning, do not be afraid to mix colors. You could work the leaf body in a warm amber, the border in a deeper brown, and the stem in a contrasting rust red. Variegated yarn in autumn colorways also creates a naturally gradient effect that is absolutely gorgeous and requires no color-changing at all.

Making a Full Set of Coasters

Once you have made your first maple leaf coaster, you will almost certainly want to make more. A set of six coasters is the traditional goal, and with a project this quick, six is very achievable over a long weekend.

Consider making each coaster in a slightly different shade to create an ombre or rainbow-of-autumn effect when they are displayed together. Start with a pale golden yellow, move through orange and amber, then deepen into burnt sienna, rust red, and finally a rich chocolate brown. Fanned out on a coffee table, a set like this looks absolutely stunning and unmistakably seasonal.

If you plan to give a set as a gift, a simple presentation makes all the difference. Stack the six coasters, tie them together with a length of rustic twine or a coordinating ribbon, and tuck in a small card with care instructions. Hand-wash gently in cool water and lay flat to dry for best results.

Storing and Caring for Your Coasters

Crochet coasters are hardworking little items, and with a bit of care, they will last for many seasons. If you used cotton or cotton-blend yarn, your coasters are likely machine washable on a gentle cycle, but hand washing is always the gentler option and will keep them looking their best longer. After washing, reshape them gently by hand and let them air dry flat rather than tumble drying, which can cause shrinkage and distortion.

Store your autumn coasters when the season is over by folding them gently and keeping them in a breathable cotton bag or a small box. Avoid storing them compressed under heavy items, which can flatten the stitch definition over time.

Sharing Your Finished Coasters

One of the greatest joys of the crafting community is sharing your finished work and seeing what others have created with the same pattern. If you make these maple leaf coasters, please share a photo in the comments below or tag your finished project on social media. Seeing your color choices, your blocking techniques, and the little creative decisions you made along the way is genuinely inspiring to other crafters who are just getting started.

This is also the kind of pattern that improves rapidly with repetition. Your second coaster will be noticeably smoother than your first, your third will feel almost effortless, and by the time you reach your sixth, you will have the whole pattern memorized and be flying through each one. That muscle memory, that growing confidence, is one of the most rewarding things about learning a new crochet pattern.

Final Thoughts

A maple leaf crochet coaster might seem like a small thing, but it carries a lot of meaning. It is a celebration of the season, a demonstration of a useful skill, and a little handmade gift to yourself or someone you care about. It asks very little of you in terms of time, materials, or experience, and it gives back something beautiful and lasting in return.

Whether you are watching the video tutorial for the first time on a quiet autumn afternoon with a cup of tea beside you, or you are deep into your fourth coaster of the weekend with your favorite playlist in the background, this project is one of those rare combinations of productive and peaceful that makes crafting feel like exactly the right way to spend your time.

Grab your hook, choose your favorite autumn shade, and let’s get started. The leaves are turning, the season is here, and your next favorite crochet project is waiting.