Sweet Bay Leaf Coaster & Holder Crochet Pattern: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting a Stunning Set
There is something undeniably satisfying about placing a handmade item on your coffee table and watching guests lean in for a closer look. Coasters are one of those small but mighty home accessories that say a great deal about the care someone puts into their space, and when they come in the shape of delicate bay leaves, stacked neatly in a matching crocheted holder, they become a genuine conversation piece. This sweet bay leaf coaster and holder crochet pattern brings together the organic beauty of botanical shapes, the meditative rhythm of working with cotton yarn, and the practical purpose of protecting your furniture — all in one satisfying project.
Whether you are picking up a crochet hook for the first time or you have been crafting for years and are looking for a gift-worthy pattern with a fresh design, this guide walks you through every detail. From the materials you will need to the finished dimensions, from stitch-by-stitch instructions to tips for blocking and finishing, everything is here to help you succeed.
Why Bay Leaves Make the Perfect Coaster Shape
Before diving into the pattern itself, it is worth appreciating why the bay leaf silhouette works so beautifully as a coaster. The bay laurel leaf is elongated, slightly pointed at both ends, and has a gently curved midrib running through its center. When translated into crochet, this shape produces a flat, smooth oval with a satisfying texture and a graceful taper at each end. It is wide enough to accommodate a standard mug or glass, and the pointed tips give each coaster a handcrafted, artisanal quality that a plain round coaster simply cannot match.
Botanically inspired crochet has been enjoying a sustained wave of popularity, and for good reason. Leaf and flower shapes connect our interiors to the natural world in a soft, unpretentious way. A set of bay leaf coasters arranged in their holder brings a quiet woodland elegance to any table, whether your home aesthetic leans toward rustic farmhouse, Scandinavian minimal, or cozy cottage.
Materials and Tools
Getting your materials right before you begin makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable. Here is what you will need for a set of four coasters and one matching holder.
Yarn: The best choice for coasters is a worsted or DK weight cotton yarn. Cotton is absorbent, washable, and holds its shape after blocking, which is essential for achieving those clean leaf edges. You will need approximately 200 yards of your main color (a soft sage green works beautifully and nods to real bay leaves), and a small amount of a contrasting color for the midrib detail if you choose to include it. A natural cream or pale lime green creates a lovely subtle effect.
Hook: A 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook is ideal for DK weight cotton. If you are using worsted weight, move up to a 4.5mm hook. The exact hook size matters less than achieving a firm, even gauge — you want the fabric to be dense enough to be functional without feeling stiff.
Other supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, a bowl of water and blocking pins or a blocking mat for finishing, and stitch markers if you find them helpful when working in the round.
Understanding the Stitch Abbreviations
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. Here is a quick reference:
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
inc — increase (two stitches in the same stitch)
dec — decrease (single crochet two stitches together)
BLO — back loop only
FLO — front loop only
rep — repeat
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
Gauge
For the coasters, you are aiming for approximately 18 sc x 22 rows = 4 inches x 4 inches with DK weight cotton and a 3.5mm hook. Gauge is not critical for coasters in the same way it is for garments, but achieving a consistent, firm fabric will make your finished pieces look professional and ensure they lay flat after blocking.
The Bay Leaf Coaster Pattern
Each coaster begins at the base of the leaf and is worked outward in increasing rows, then decreased back down to the tip. A simple raised midrib is added at the end using surface slip stitches or a chain running through the center.
Finished dimensions: Approximately 5.5 inches long and 3 inches wide.
Foundation
Begin by making a magic ring, or chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a small ring. This will become the bottom tip of the leaf.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring, join with a sl st to the first sc. (6 sts)
Body of the Leaf
The leaf is worked in a modified back-and-forth oval construction that gives it the characteristic elongated shape.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Inc in first st, sc in next 4 sts, inc in last st. (8 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Inc in first st, sc across to last st, inc in last st. (10 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (10 sts — no increase; this allows the leaf to widen gradually rather than flaring too quickly)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Inc in first st, sc across to last st, inc in last st. (12 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (12 sts)
Row 7: Ch 1, turn. Inc in first st, sc across to last st, inc in last st. (14 sts)
Row 8: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (14 sts)
Row 9: Ch 1, turn. Inc in first st, sc across to last st, inc in last st. (16 sts)
Rows 10–12: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (16 sts — working even rows at the widest point establishes the broadest part of the leaf)
Narrowing Back to the Tip
Row 13: Ch 1, turn. Dec over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. (14 sts)
Row 14: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (14 sts)
Row 15: Ch 1, turn. Dec over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. (12 sts)
Row 16: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (12 sts)
Row 17: Ch 1, turn. Dec over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. (10 sts)
Row 18: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (10 sts)
Row 19: Ch 1, turn. Dec over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. (8 sts)
Row 20: Ch 1, turn. Sc across all sts. (8 sts)
Row 21: Ch 1, turn. Dec over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. (6 sts)
Row 22: Ch 1, turn. Dec over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec. (4 sts)
Row 23: Ch 1, turn. Dec over first 2 sts, dec over last 2 sts. (2 sts)
Row 24: Ch 1, sc2tog to close the tip. Fasten off, leaving a short tail to weave in.
Edging
With the right side facing, rejoin yarn at the bottom tip and work one round of sc evenly around the entire perimeter of the leaf, placing 2–3 sc into each corner point at the tips to keep them neat and sharp. Join with a sl st and fasten off.
The Midrib
The midrib is what really makes these coasters look like bay leaves rather than generic leaf shapes. Thread a length of your contrasting yarn (or the same yarn if you prefer a subtle texture-only effect) onto your yarn needle. Beginning at the bottom tip, weave the yarn through the center of the coaster in a straight running stitch that follows the center of the leaf from tip to tip. Pull gently so the line lies flat against the surface. Alternatively, you can use a surface slip stitch with your hook, which gives a slightly raised, more visible line. Secure both ends and weave them in on the wrong side.
Make three more coasters following the same instructions so you have a set of four.
The Bay Leaf Coaster Holder Pattern
The holder is a small upright cylinder designed to stack the four coasters neatly on your table. It is worked in joined rounds of single crochet for a sturdy, dense fabric. A simple picot edge at the top mirrors the botanical theme and ties the whole set together visually.
Finished dimensions: Approximately 2.5 inches tall and 3.5 inches in diameter.
Base
Begin with a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Join with sl st. (6 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, inc in each st around. Join. (12 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, (sc in first st, inc in next) around. Join. (18 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sts, inc in next) around. Join. (24 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, (sc in next 3 sts, inc in next) around. Join. (30 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, inc in next) around. Join. (36 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join. (36 sts — working in the back loop only here creates a clean fold line between the base and the sides)
Sides
Rounds 8–16: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join at end of each round. (36 sts per round)
Continue working even rounds until the sides measure approximately 2 to 2.5 inches tall, or your desired height. The holder should be tall enough to contain the coasters without them tipping over, but short enough that they can be easily lifted out.
Picot Edge
Final Round: Ch 1, (sc in next st, ch 3, sl st back into the first ch of the ch-3 — this creates one picot) repeat around. Join with sl st. Fasten off.
The picot edge gives the top of the holder a sweet, decorative finish that elevates it from a plain cylinder to something that feels carefully designed and intentional.
Finishing and Blocking
Blocking is the step that separates a handmade item that looks handmade from one that looks professionally crafted. For cotton yarn especially, wet blocking is highly effective.
Weave in all ends on your coasters and holder. Fill a bowl with cool water and submerge your pieces, gently pressing them down until fully saturated. Do not wring or twist. Remove each piece and gently squeeze out excess water, then press between two clean towels to remove more moisture.
For the coasters, pin them out on your blocking mat to their final dimensions, making sure the tips are pulled to clean points and the sides are straight. Allow them to dry completely — this usually takes several hours or overnight.
For the holder, shape it around a small jar or container of appropriate diameter while it dries to help it hold its cylindrical form.
Once dry, your coasters will be noticeably flatter, more uniform, and more polished. The difference is remarkable and well worth the extra time.
Tips for Customizing Your Set
One of the great joys of working from a pattern is knowing that it is really a starting point rather than a fixed prescription. There are many ways to make this sweet bay leaf coaster and holder set your own.
Color palette: The natural sage green is beautiful, but these coasters are equally charming in a deep forest green, a muted terracotta for an autumnal version, or a soft creamy white for a clean, modern look. Consider dyeing your own yarn with natural botanical dyes — bay leaf extract itself produces a warm golden-tan color that is wonderfully fitting.
Size adjustments: If you want larger coasters to accommodate tall glasses or wine bottles, simply continue the increasing section for a few more rows before beginning the decreases. Check your dimensions as you go and adjust accordingly.
Adding texture: For a coaster with more visual interest, try working the body rows in a simple linen stitch or moss stitch instead of plain single crochet. This adds a subtle woven texture that makes the pieces even more tactile and beautiful.
Gifting: A set of four bay leaf coasters in their matching holder makes a wonderful housewarming gift, hostess gift, or holiday present. Package them in a simple kraft paper box with a sprig of real dried bay leaves tucked alongside, and you have a gift that feels both artisanal and thoughtful.
Care Instructions
Because this set is made from cotton, care is refreshingly simple. Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cool water, or hand wash. Lay flat to dry rather than placing in the dryer, as heat can cause cotton to shrink and distort the shape. The coasters will benefit from an occasional re-blocking if they lose their crisp edges over time, but in everyday use, a gentle flattening with your hands while still damp is usually enough to keep them looking their best.
Pairing This Project with Other Botanical Crochet Pieces
If the bay leaf design has sparked your creativity, consider expanding the theme into a larger collection of botanical crochet pieces for your home. A set of fern frond trivets using a similar construction technique would sit beautifully beside the coasters. Small crocheted moss stitch placemats in a coordinating green could anchor a nature-inspired tablescape. A simple sprig of crocheted berries — worked in small rounds of slip stitches around a stuffing of yarn scraps — adds a playful dimensional accent when displayed alongside the flat coasters.
Botanical crochet lends itself naturally to making a home feel lived-in and warm without relying on expensive decor. There is a quiet pleasure in looking at your coffee table and knowing that the objects on it were made by your own hands, stitch by careful stitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use acrylic yarn instead of cotton? Yes, though the finished coasters will be less absorbent and may not block as crisply. A cotton-acrylic blend is a good middle ground if you want a wider color range without sacrificing too much function.
How long does this project take? A single coaster takes most intermediate crocheters between 30 and 45 minutes. The holder takes approximately an hour. The full set of four coasters and one holder can comfortably be completed in an afternoon.
I am a beginner — is this pattern appropriate for me? Yes, with a small caveat. The coasters use only single crochet and basic increases and decreases, which are excellent beginner skills. The holder is simply worked in rounds of single crochet. The midrib and the picot edge are the most unfamiliar steps for a true beginner, but both are simple once demonstrated. If you have completed your first few small projects and understand how to turn your work and count stitches, this pattern is a wonderful next step.
Can I sell items made from this pattern? Patterns shared for personal and small-scale craft fair use are generally fine for selling finished items, but always check the original licensing terms of any pattern you follow commercially.
Final Thoughts
The sweet bay leaf coaster and holder crochet pattern is the kind of project that rewards you at every stage. The stitch work is soothing and repetitive in the best possible way, the shape reveals itself gradually as you work, and the finished set has a cohesion and intentionality that makes it feel like something you might find in a boutique home goods store. Whether you keep it for yourself or give it away, it is a small labor of love that will be used and appreciated every single day.
Pick up your hook, choose your favorite shade of green cotton yarn, and let the bay leaves take shape in your hands. The coffee table is waiting.
