Listen & Craft: Summery Sunrise Coasters

Looking for a great way to unwind while on summer vacation?

Whether I’m at the Jersey Shore, going to a picnic in the park, or just at home in my apartment, I always find the best way to relax is to put on a good audiobook and get to work on a new crochet project. Recently, I’ve been in a particularly beach-y mood so I put on Emily Henry’s Beach Read—a delightful romance read by Julia Whelan about two very different writers who set out to help one another overcome writer’s block and find love along the way—and got to work on these sunrise coasters!

Following Coastal Crochet’s original pattern (see here: Coastal Coasters CAL… Day 2 – Coastal Crochet), I’ll show you how to create your very own sunrise coasters!

For this pattern, you’ll need:

• A 3.75 mm crochet hook
• Dark blue yarn (for your ocean)
• Yellow yarn (for the sun)
• Light blue yarn (for the sky)
• White yarn (for the clouds)
• A darning needle
• Your audiobook of choice

1. Start with your Dark Blue and chain four. Then, join into a ring by slip stitching into the first chain.

2. Chain three—this will count as your first Double Crochet. Then, into the center of the ring, place five more Double Crochet. At the end of the fifth Double Crochet, change to Yellow. With your Yellow yarn, place six Double Crochet into the ring and carry the Dark Blue yarn behind each stitch. At the end of your sixth Double Crochet, change back to Dark Blue and slip stitch into the third chain of your “chain three” from the start of this step. You should end this round with 12 stitches.

3. Chain three and then place a Double Crochet into the stitch at the base of your “chain three.” In each of the next five stitches, place two Double Crochet and continue to carry the Yellow yarn behind your stitches. At the end of your final Dark Blue Double Crochet, change to Yellow. With your Yellow yarn, place two Double Crochet into the next six stitches and continue to carry the Dark Blue behind your stitches. At the end of your final Double Crochet, change back to Dark Blue and slip stitch into the third chain of your “chain three” from the start of this step. Cut your Yellow yarn. You should end this round with 24 stitches.

4. Chain three and then place a Double Crochet into the stitch at the base of your “chain three.” Place one Double Crochet into the next stitch. Then, repeat the following combination of stitches five times around: two Double Crochet in the next stitch, one Double Crochet into the stitch after that. At the end of your final Double Crochet, change to your Light Blue yarn. Continue carrying your Dark Blue yarn behind each stitch. Then, repeat the following combination of stitches six times around: two Double Crochet in the next stitch, one Double Crochet into the stitch after that. At the end of your final Double Crochet, change back to Dark Blue and slip stitch into the third chain of your “chain three” from the start of this step. You should end this round with 36 stitches.

5. Chain five—this will count as your first Double Crochet and two extra chains. Skipping the next stitch, repeat the following combination of stitches five times: place one Double Crochet into the each of the next two stitches, chain two, and skip one stitch. Then, place one Double Crochet into the last Dark Blue stitch and change to Light Blue. Place one Double Crochet into the next stitch and chain two. Skipping the next stitch, repeat the following combination of stitches five times: place one Double Crochet into the each of the next two stitches, chain two, and skip one stitch. Near the end of the round, place one Double Crochet into the final stitch and change to Dark Blue. Slip stitch into the third chain of your “chain five” from the start of this step. Cut your Light Blue yarn.

6. Chain one—this counts as your first Single Crochet. Place five Double Crochet into the next Chain Space. See below:

Repeat the following combination of stitches five times: place one Single Crochet into each of the next two stitches and five Double Crochet into the following Chain Space. After finishing your last Dark Blue Chain Space, place one more Single Crochet into the next stitch and change to White yarn. Cut your Dark Blue yarn. With your White yarn, place one Single Crochet into the next stitch and continue to carry the Dark Blue behind your stitches. Then, repeat the following combination of stitches six times: place five Double Crochet into the Chain Space and then place one Single Crochet into each of the next two stitches. When you finish your final Single Crochet, slip stitch into your Dark Blue chain from the beginning, cut your yarn, and pull through.

Now, your coaster is almost done! All you need to do is weave in your loose ends. If you’re looking for an exciting audiobook keep you entertained while you finish up your coaster, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword. This Arthurian fantasy follows a gifted young knight named Collum as he arrives at Camelot in order to join the Round Table and discovers he is too late—the legendary King Arthur is dead. Alongside the surviving knights of the Round Table, he sets out to find Britain’s next king. Filled with Grossman’s signature wit and penchant for trope subversion, fantasy fans will be sure to enjoy The Bright Sword just as much as they enjoy their new coasters.