Crochet Spider Coasters Tutorial

Before you begin

I love these spiders because they are not scary at all. They sit on your mug and look up at you with those big eyes. The coaster part protects the table, and the spider part makes people smile.

We will make a flat black circle for the coaster, about 4.6" across. Then we make a small black ball for the spider body, add eight chain legs, stuff lightly, and sew it to the center of the coaster. The eyes are big white circles with black safety eyes in the middle — that is what makes them cute instead of spooky.

We work in continuous rounds with a marker. Keep your tension relaxed with black yarn — it can be hard to see, so work near a window.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn (medium 4) in Black — about 14 yards per spider coaster (about 10 yds for flat base + 4 yds for body + legs) — about 56 yards for set of 4
• Worsted in White — about 2 yards per coaster for eye patches
• 4mm (G-6) crochet hook
• 8mm black safety eyes — 2 per spider — safety note: safety eyes are a choking hazard for children under 3; embroider eyes with black yarn instead for babies and party favors for small children
• Polyester fiberfill — small pinch per spider, about 2 oz for 4
• Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker

Yarn estimate from stitch count: flat coaster base R1-R12 = 390 sts total, spider body R1-R17 = about 318 sts total, 8 legs × (10 ch + 9 sc) = about 152 sts, white eyes 2 × 18 sts = 36 sts — about 896 sts total per coaster — at 20 sc = 4" (about 0.2" per st) about 8-10 yards black + 1-2 yards white + small amounts for sewing — I suggest about 14 yards black per coaster to be safe (about 56 yards for set of 4) — measure your own finished coaster for your most accurate number.

Sizing & gauge

Gauge: 20 sc x 24 rows = 4" x 4" in single crochet with 4mm hook and worsted yarn. Each stitch about 0.2" wide.

Abbreviations

Roadmap — 6 steps

1. Flat black circle for coaster base
2. Small black ball for spider body
3. Eight chain legs
4. Big googly eyes
5. Stuff body
6. Sew spider to center of coaster

Step 1: Flat coaster base

This is just a flat circle. We increase by 6 each round to stay flat. If it starts to bowl, add a little more slack. If it waves, you have too many increases — count to 72 at the end.

Flat black circle, 72 stitches, about 4.6" across at R12, coaster base.

What it should look like now: Flat black disc about 4.6" across, 72 sts around, lies flat on table.

Step 2: Spider body — little ball

Now the spider itself. Two small balls — one slightly bigger for abdomen, one smaller for head — or one ball with two sections. I make it as one piece: bottom big, top smaller.

Small black dome, first part of spider body, about 1.5" across before stuffing.

What it should look like now: Small figure-8 shape with bigger bottom and smaller top, about 2" long total, open at top before final close.

Step 3: Eight legs with chains

The legs are just chains that curl a little on their own. Make them all the same length — I use a piece of cardboard to measure.

Small black spider with eight chain legs attached, four per side, each about 2" long.

What it should look like now: Spider body with 8 legs sewn evenly around middle, 4 on each side, legs about 2" long, slight curl.

Step 4: Big googly eyes

The eyes are what make them cute. I crochet small white circles first, then add safety eyes in the middle.

Placing large white eye patches with black safety eyes on black spider head, about 0.8" apart.

What it should look like now: Spider with two big white eyes with black centers, about 4 sts apart on head.

Step 5: Stuffing and closing

Stuff just the body lightly — not the coaster base. The coaster stays flat.

Hands crocheting and attaching legs to small black spider, chain legs about 2" long.

What it should look like now: Plump little spider about 2" long × 1.8" wide, lightly stuffed, 8 legs attached, big eyes on.

Step 6: Attach spider to coaster

Now we put it together. Sew the spider to the center of the flat coaster base with black yarn. Go through the bottom of spider and through coaster base several times.

Finished small black crochet spider with big white eyes and eight legs, sitting on coaster base, about 4.6" coaster with 2" spider.

What it should look like now: Finished spider coaster — flat black coaster about 4.6" across with small 3D spider sewn in center, 8 legs splayed, cute googly eyes.

Assembly and finishing

1. Make flat coaster base R1-R12 = 72 sts = about 4.6" across — no stuffing.
2. Make spider body R1-R17 as figure-8 shape, stuff lightly between R10 and R15.
3. Make 8 legs ch 10, sc 9 — sew 4 per side around middle of body at R9-R11.
4. Make 2 white eye patches R1-R2 = 12 sts = about 0.76" across, insert safety eyes, sew to head 4 sts apart (0.8" apart).
5. Sew spider to center of coaster base.
6. Weave all tails under coaster base, trim.

Troubleshooting

Ways to make it your own