How to Make a French Knitting Coaster

Making a French knitting coaster is a fun and creative way to add a pop of colour to your home. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to use a knitting dolly to create a simple, round coaster. If you’re new to French knitting, don’t worry, this is a perfect beginner’s project!

Materials Needed

• Knitting dolly (also called a French knitter spool)
• Knitting needle or a small crochet hook
• Varied color yarn – Using a multicolored yarn adds visual interest and makes your coaster unique.
• Scissors
• Sewing needle and thread
• Self adhesive felt
• Pencil

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Getting Started with the Knitting Dolly

1. Set up the yarn by feeding the end through the center hole of the dolly.
2. Hold the dolly with one hand and wrap the yarn around each peg once.
3. Complete a loop around each peg, so each one has a yarn loop.

Step 2: Begin French Knitting

1. Wrap the yarn around the outside of the pegs again, just above your initial loops.
2. Using your knitting needle or hook, lift the bottom loop over the top loop on each peg, letting it fall into the center of the dolly.
3. Continue wrapping and lifting each loop over the pegs to build a length of knitted cord.

• Tip: Keep the tension even as you work. This helps create a neat, uniform cord.

Step 3: Building the Cord for Your Coaster

1. Keep knitting until you’ve made a cord around 24-30 inches long, depending on how large you want your coaster.
2. When your cord is long enough, cut the yarn, leaving about 4 inches at the end.
3. Carefully remove the cord from the dolly by pulling the loops off the pegs, threading the tail through the loops to secure them.

Step 4: Shaping Your Coaster

1. Lay the knitted cord on a flat surface and start coiling it in a tight spiral, beginning with one end.
2. As you coil, use the needle and thread (or a bit of matching yarn) to stitch the layers together. Place a stitch every half-inch to hold the shape firmly.
3. Continue coiling and stitching until you reach the end of the cord.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

1. Once the coaster is fully coiled and stitched, secure it with a knot.
2. Trim any excess thread.
3. Lay it onto the paper side of the self adhesive felt and draw round it.
4. Cut out the shape.
5. Peel off the paper and press firmly to the knitted coaster.

Tips for Success

• Choose a multicolored yarn: Varied colors make the coaster more visually interesting and add a playful touch to any space.
• Experiment with cord length to create coasters in different sizes.

Making a French knitting coaster is a simple way to learn the technique and make something useful. I hope you enjoy creating this colorful, practical piece!