1129 Rill - Coasters Knitting Pattern for Home in Valley Yarns Southwick

1129 Rill Coasters Knitting Pattern — Six Mosaic Colorwork Designs for the Home

Designed by Susan Baron and published by Valley Yarns, pattern #1129 Rill is a beginner-friendly knitting pattern for a set of six matching coasters, each measuring a finished 4 inches square. Every coaster features a different mosaic colorwork chart, making this a delightful project for knitters who want to explore colorwork without the complexity of stranded knitting. The complete pattern is available as a downloadable PDF.

What You Will Make

The finished project is a coordinated set of six knitted coasters, each worked in a unique mosaic garter stitch design. The coasters are practical, washable, and sized to protect surfaces from morning coffee mugs or cold drinks. Because all six designs use the same two colors throughout, the finished set has a cohesive, decorative look that can complement a wide range of home décor styles. Each coaster is a compact, self-contained project, making the pattern ideal for knitters who enjoy quick, satisfying makes.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Valley Yarns Southwick, a DK/worsted weight yarn with a fiber composition of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo, sold in 50g/105-yard balls. This cotton-bamboo blend is notable for being washable and durable — both important qualities for household items like coasters — and it is available in a wide variety of colors.

The pattern calls for exactly two colors:

• Color A: Valley Yarns Southwick in 21-Blue Mist — one ball
• Color B: Valley Yarns Southwick in 28-Smoky Quartz — one ball

Because only one color is worked at a time in mosaic knitting, a single ball of each color is sufficient for all six coasters. Additional materials include a tapestry needle for finishing.

Needles Required

• US size 7 (4.50 mm) needles — used for the main body of each coaster
• US size 5 (3.75 mm) needles — used specifically for the side borders to maintain neat, even edges

Knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed to achieve the stated gauge of 20 stitches and 34 rows to 4 inches in mosaic garter stitch, blocked.

Techniques Used

The Rill pattern introduces knitters to several accessible techniques, making it an excellent project for those at the beginner skill level who are ready to try simple colorwork:

• Mosaic knitting (mosaic garter stitch): A method of colorwork in which only one color is worked per row. Stitches of the second color are simply slipped purlwise rather than knitted, creating the illusion of a two-color pattern without ever carrying two yarns simultaneously. This makes it far more approachable than traditional stranded colorwork.
• Worked flat (back and forth in rows): Each coaster is knitted flat, meaning the knitter works right-side and wrong-side rows rather than in the round.
• Stripes: Color changes occur after every even-numbered row, creating a structured stripe sequence that drives the mosaic pattern.
• Bottom-up construction: Each coaster begins at the bottom border and is worked upward through the mosaic chart section to the top border.
• Long-Tail Cast-On: The pattern specifies this method for a neat, elastic cast-on edge.
• Slipping stitches purlwise: When slipping stitches in mosaic knitting, they are always slipped with the working yarn held to the wrong side of the work. Care must be taken not to pull the carried yarn too tightly behind slipped stitches, which would distort the fabric.
• Color twisting at joins: When changing colors, the old and new yarns are twisted on the wrong side to keep transitions smooth and prevent gaps.