Maple Leaf Crochet Coaster: Easy Autumn Video Tutorial
There is something undeniably magical about the way autumn transforms the world around us. The air turns crisp, the light goes golden, and the trees put on their most spectacular performance of the year. If you have ever wanted to capture that seasonal beauty in your crafting, this maple leaf crochet coaster pattern is the perfect project. It is beginner-friendly, works up quickly, and creates a stunning piece that looks far more complicated than it actually is. Whether you are making a set for your own home, gifting them to a friend, or selling them at a craft fair, these coasters are guaranteed to impress.
In this post, you will find everything you need to bring this project to life, including a full written pattern, tips on materials, guidance on reading the stitches, and a companion video tutorial that walks you through every single step. Let us dive into the world of autumn crochet together.
Why Crochet Maple Leaf Coasters Are the Perfect Fall Project
Autumn crafting has a special rhythm to it. The days are shorter, the evenings invite you to sit under a blanket with a warm drink, and your hands naturally reach for something cozy to make. Crochet fits that mood perfectly, and small projects like coasters are ideal for crafters of every level.
Maple leaf coasters in particular carry so much symbolism and seasonal warmth. The maple leaf is one of nature’s most recognizable shapes, with its distinctive lobes and sharp points that feel inherently autumnal. When you crochet one in shades of burnt orange, deep red, golden yellow, or warm brown, you are essentially holding autumn in your hands.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these coasters are genuinely functional. They protect your tables from rings and heat marks, and because they are made from cotton yarn, they absorb moisture well. A set of six or eight maple leaf coasters arranged on a coffee table creates an instant autumn vignette that ties your whole seasonal décor together.
From a practical standpoint, this pattern is also a brilliant stash-buster. If you have been collecting small amounts of autumn-colored yarn over the years, this is your chance to use them all up. You can make each coaster in a different color to mimic the natural variation of fall foliage, and the effect is absolutely beautiful.
Materials You Will Need
Before you begin, gather your supplies. The list is short and affordable, which is part of what makes this such an accessible project.
Yarn: You will want a worsted weight cotton yarn for the best results. Cotton holds its shape well, is durable, and is naturally absorbent, which makes it ideal for coasters that will actually see daily use. Choose colors that speak to the season. Classic choices include burnt orange, russet red, mustard yellow, forest green, chocolate brown, and cream. If you want to stay true to natural maple leaves, a variegated yarn in autumn tones can give a stunning, realistic effect with no color changes needed.
Hook: A 5mm or 5.5mm crochet hook works beautifully with worsted weight cotton. If you tend to crochet tightly, size up to a 5.5mm or even a 6mm hook to keep your tension relaxed and your fabric soft. If your coasters are coming out too floppy, drop down to a 4.5mm hook.
Yarn needle: You will need this to weave in your ends when the coaster is complete. A blunt-tipped tapestry needle works well.
Scissors: Any pair will do. Sharp scissors make for cleaner cuts, which makes weaving in ends easier.
Stitch markers: Optional but helpful, especially if you are new to working in the round or need to keep track of your starting chain position.
That is truly all you need. No special equipment, no complicated gadgets. Just yarn, a hook, and a little patience.
Understanding the Stitches
If you are newer to crochet, you might see some abbreviations in the pattern and feel a moment of uncertainty. Do not worry. The stitches used in this maple leaf coaster are all foundational techniques that are easy to learn and satisfying to master.
Chain (ch): The most basic crochet stitch, used to start almost every project and to create the spaces between other stitches in certain techniques. You make a chain by yarning over and pulling the loop through the loop already on your hook.
Slip stitch (sl st): A very short stitch used primarily to join rounds or to move your working yarn to a different position without adding height. To make a slip stitch, insert your hook, yarn over, and pull through both loops on the hook in one motion.
Single crochet (sc): A short, tight stitch that creates a dense, firm fabric. Insert your hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over again and pull through both loops. This is the workhorse of most beginner patterns.
Half double crochet (hdc): Slightly taller than a single crochet, this stitch adds a little height and a slight lean. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops.
Double crochet (dc): The standard medium-height stitch in crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops.
Treble crochet (tr): A tall stitch that creates significant height in your work. Yarn over twice, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, then work off loops two at a time until one remains.
Magic ring (also called a magic circle): A technique for starting projects in the round that allows you to close the center tightly, leaving no hole. If you are not familiar with this technique, the video tutorial below demonstrates it clearly.
Picot: A small decorative loop made by chaining a few stitches and then slip stitching back into the base stitch. Picots add delicate detail and are used to create the pointed tips of the maple leaf.
Once you are comfortable with these stitches, the pattern will feel completely manageable. Take it slowly, watch the video if you need visual guidance, and remember that every crocheter had to learn these basics at some point.
The Pattern: Maple Leaf Crochet Coaster
This pattern creates a coaster approximately 4.5 to 5 inches across, which is a perfect size for a standard mug or glass. The finished piece has five lobes, each with a gently pointed tip, and a short stem at the base for added realism.
Abbreviations used:
ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, tr = treble crochet, sp = space, rep = repeat, yo = yarn over
Foundation
Start with a magic ring.
Round 1: Chain 4 (this counts as your first treble crochet), work 2 tr into the ring, ch 2, work 3 tr into the ring, ch 2. This creates the base of your first two lobes. Do not close the ring yet.
Continue working into the ring: 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc (this forms the center lobe), ch 2, 3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr (two more outer lobes). Pull the tail of the magic ring to close the center hole, then slip stitch to join into the round.
Building the Lobes
Round 2: Now you will begin working around the outside of what you created in Round 1, shaping each lobe individually.
For each ch-2 space that sits at the top of a lobe, work the following: sc into the ch-2 space, ch 3, sc back into the same ch-2 space. This creates a simple picot point. For the spaces between lobes, work 2 sc to bridge the transition. Continue around until all five lobe tips have been formed.
Round 3: Working around the entire outer edge, place sc stitches evenly along each side of the lobes, adding hdc stitches at the inner angles between lobes to help the leaf lie flat. Use increases (2 sc in one stitch) at the tips and decreases (sc2tog) at the inner angles to shape the natural maple leaf silhouette.
This is the round where your leaf really begins to take shape. You should see five distinct points emerging. The inner angles between the lobes pull inward slightly, just like a real maple leaf.
Adding the Stem
After completing your final round of edging, do not cut your yarn. Instead, chain 8 to 10 stitches to form the stem of the leaf.
Work a single crochet back into each chain stitch, moving back toward the base of the leaf. This creates a narrow, firm stem. When you reach the base of the leaf, slip stitch to secure the stem in place.
Cut your yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and weave in all ends with your tapestry needle. Weave through several stitches in different directions to make sure the ends are secure and will not pull free with use.
Finishing Touches
Your coaster is nearly done, but there are a few small finishing steps that will elevate it from lovely to exceptional.
Block your coaster for the best results. Wet blocking is ideal for cotton. Simply dampen the coaster with cool water, gently press out the excess moisture with a clean towel, and then pin the coaster to a foam blocking mat, stretching each lobe point gently into shape. Allow it to dry completely before unpinning. Blocking evens out your stitches, helps the leaf lie perfectly flat, and makes the finished dimensions consistent from coaster to coaster. If you are making a matching set, blocking is especially worthwhile because it ensures they all look uniform.
If you want to add a little extra texture or definition, a final round of reverse single crochet (also called crab stitch) along the outer edge creates a beautiful, corded border that emphasizes the leaf shape even further.
Watch the Video Tutorial
If you are a visual learner, the companion video tutorial for this pattern is absolutely invaluable. Reading a pattern and watching it come to life on screen are two very different experiences, and for a shaped project like this one, seeing the stitch placement in real time makes an enormous difference.
The video walks through every step from the magic ring all the way to weaving in the final ends. It shows the camera angle from above the work so you can see exactly where to insert your hook, how to form each lobe, and how the shape develops round by round. The stem section is demonstrated slowly and clearly, with tips on how to make it look neat and natural.
Whether this is your first time crocheting a shaped motif or you are an experienced maker who just wants to see the pattern interpreted before diving in, the video tutorial is a great companion to this written guide. Watch it through once before you start, then pause and rewind as needed while you work.
Tips for Making a Beautiful Set
Once you have made your first maple leaf coaster and caught the autumn crochet bug, you will almost certainly want to make more. Here are some tips for creating a cohesive, stunning set.
Vary the colors intentionally. In nature, maple leaves transition through a whole spectrum of colors before they fall. A set that includes deep red, orange, golden yellow, and even a few leaves in varying stages of green-to-orange transition will look far more realistic and interesting than a set all in the same color. You can even use a variegated yarn that shifts between several autumn tones within a single coaster.
Keep your tension consistent. If your coasters are all going to be used together on a tray or coffee table, try to keep your tension as consistent as possible across the set. If you notice your tension changing from one session to the next, try to always start a new coaster with fresh focus rather than picking it up mid-session when you might be more tired and crocheting more loosely.
Block every single one. It is tempting to skip blocking once you have made several coasters and are eager to see them in use, but consistently blocked coasters look so much more professional and polished. Make it part of your finishing routine.
Store your coasters flat. If you are making a set as a gift, store them flat rather than rolled or folded to preserve their shape between completion and gifting. You can tie them with a length of twine or ribbon for a beautiful presentation.
Creative Variations to Try
Once you are comfortable with the basic pattern, the maple leaf coaster opens up a whole world of creative possibilities.
Size variations: Using a finer yarn and smaller hook creates a delicate, smaller leaf that would be perfect as an ornament or appliqué. Going up in yarn weight and hook size makes an oversized version that works beautifully as a trivet for protecting your table from warm dishes.
Appliqué use: The basic leaf motif can be stitched onto pillow covers, dishcloths, tote bags, or table runners for an autumnal accent. Make a few in different colors and scatter them across a plain cream-colored table runner for a simple but stunning fall centerpiece.
Gift sets: A set of six maple leaf coasters tied with a ribbon, paired with a bag of gourmet coffee or a small candle, makes a thoughtful and handmade autumn gift. People genuinely appreciate the time and care that goes into handmade items, and a practical gift like a beautiful set of coasters is something that will be used and loved year after year.
Beginner-friendly gifting: This pattern is accessible enough that it makes a great first gift project for newer crocheters. If you are learning to crochet and want to make something for someone you care about, this coaster is achievable and impressive at the same time.
Caring for Your Coasters
Cotton crochet coasters are wonderfully durable and easy to care for, which makes them genuinely practical rather than just decorative.
Machine wash them in cold water on a gentle cycle. Lay flat to dry rather than putting them in the dryer, which can cause cotton to shrink slightly and may distort the leaf shape over time. If they become misshapen after washing, simply re-block them while damp and they will return to their original shape. With proper care, well-made cotton coasters can last for many years.
A Final Word
Crochet is one of those crafts that has the beautiful ability to slow time down. When you are working on a project like this maple leaf coaster, your hands are busy, your mind settles, and the season you are celebrating feels a little more present and vivid. There is genuine joy in making something functional and beautiful from a simple ball of yarn.
Whether you make one coaster or twenty, whether you are gifting them or keeping them, and whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned maker looking for a satisfying seasonal project, this pattern has something to offer you. The autumn leaves will fall outside your window whether you crochet them or not, but there is something deeply satisfying about capturing that fleeting beauty in a form you can hold onto all year long.
Happy crocheting, and may your autumn be as warm, colorful, and cozy as the most beautiful maple leaf you have ever seen.
