Garden Twine Coasters.

I was inspired recently to try to make something useful for our house- coasters! I am very aware that none of this furniture is ours, and so I am vigilant about making sure my husband has something underneath his glass at all times. He hates it. But I think he’ll make sure to use it if he knows I made it!

I don’t have much yarn, so I was excited to try using “garden twine” from Target’s One Spot (everything is about a dollar). I had bought it a year ago, thinking that I might use it for our wedding, however not much of it was! So I thought, why not? 

I started off using this pattern, however I ran into some difficulties because I didn’t have the right needle size. I started off using some plastic circular needles (they can from a beginner’s kit; they were a size small than suggested), but they did not like the twine. 

I unraveled it all and started again with metal needles, a size larger than suggested…

I realized very quickly that this fiber is not stretchable, is coarse, and thicker than what was used in that project... this meant that the coaster was now almost the size of a place mat! What to do? Keep going, even though I had not set out to make a place mat, or unravel once again.

I unraveled and amended the pattern to this:

Materials

    Size 7 knitting needles

    gauge: 4 sts/inch, 5 rows/1 inch over stockinette

    yarn needle to weave in loose ends

    garden twine

    Finished Size: 3.75 stitches Square (approx.)

The Pattern

    Cast on 15 stiches

    Work 2 rows in seed stitch: K1, *P1, K1* repeat from * across

    RS Row: K1, P1, K11, P1, K1

    WS Row: K1, P13, K1

    Repeat the RS and WS rows until you have completed a total of approximately 16 rows completed 

       (you decide when it looks square!)

    Work 2 rows in seed stitch: K1, *P1, K1* repeat from * across

    Bind off, keeping with seed stitch pattern (K1, *P1, K1* repeat from * across)

    Weave in loose ends

    Block if needed (which it did)

After blocking.

The first one I made came out very lopsidedly trapezoidal. I research how to fix this, and my second one only came out minimally trapezoidal. I researched blocking here, and then did it, trying to make them as square-like as possible. I put some heavy knitting and crochet books on top to keep it flat.

The first one I made came out larger and lopsided, the second, more square.

Once they were dry, I added a small border with seed beads to add a little pizzazz and color! I only had black thread, so you can see through the green glass beads- its growing on me. The silver foil lined glass beads are left over from my wedding as well (from when I stupidly thought that I could make my own veil two days before my wedding).

Partway done with the beading.

A few notes:

See the different sizes? I don't mind it at all!

• The skin on the fingers of my left hand are slightly irritated because of how scratchy the twine is.
• You might have a little trouble if you’re a tight knitter like I am. I’d definitely use metal needles if you’re using the twine.
• Hiding the seed bead string can be tricky. You could always knit with them on your twine, or add a border of twine and add the beads on that strand. (I’ve never done this, so I was too intimidated to try- I’m always afraid that I will underestimate how much fiber I will need and run out. I’m not very good with changing colors. Also, the twine is so thick, I’m not sure how changing strands would work. )
• You could always try doing a double strand of fiber to add color, instead of beading.



Completed coasters.

• You could use embroidery floss to add a decorative edging as well. 

I think they are coming out pretty cute ( still have to finish the beading)! They are definitely one of a kind…

I think they could look great in a shabby sheik décor living room or on an outside patio table.What do you think? (Is shabby sheik another way to say "poorly made"? lol)

I'll be linking up over at Skip to My Lou's Made by You Monday, Boogieboard Cottage’s Masterpiece Monday, Ladybug Blessing’s Handmade Tuesday, Debbie Doo’s Linky, Saavy Southern Style’s Wow us Wednesday,  Fabric Bows and More's Will See it Wednesday, Diddle Daddle’s Amaze me Monday, Sew Much Ado's We Did it Wednesday!,  Sassy Sites!’s Summer Fun, Tea Rose Home's Link Party, The 36th Avenue, Somewhat Simple's Strut Your Stuff,  Thirty Handmade Days' Pity Party, Just Married with Coupon's Saturday Stalk Remix, Be different, Act Normals’ Show and Tell Saturdays, Someday Craft's Whatever Goes Wednesday, the Sundae Hop with Baby Talk without the Babble, I Heart Naptime's Sundae Scoop, and Under the Table and Dreaming's Sunday Showcase.

P.S.- Check out my hubby's blog here.

Song of the day: All Time Lover by Will Young. I've never heard of him until recently, but this song is so bittersweet- I can't get over it!