A summer project that finishes fast and makes an easy gift. Each starfish is small enough to complete in a sitting, so a full set of six is a weekend’s work rather than a commitment.
Yarn and hook
Worsted weight cotton yarn with a size I (5.5mm) hook.
Cotton is not optional here. These are coasters, which means their job is to absorb condensation from a cold glass – cotton takes up moisture and releases it as it dries, while acrylic simply moves the water around and lets it run onto the table. Cotton also survives repeated washing, which coasters need.
Getting them to lie flat
The five arms are worked outward from a central round, and the point where each arm meets the centre is where a coaster goes wrong. If your arms cup upward, you have too few stitches at the join; if the centre ruffles, you have too many. Work one complete starfish before cutting yarn for the rest.
Work slightly tighter than you normally would. A dense fabric supports a glass properly; a loose one lets the glass rock on the raised arms.
Finishing
Block them. Wet the finished coasters, pin each arm out flat and straight, and let them dry completely. Cotton holds a block well, and pinned starfish look sharp and deliberate where unblocked ones look like soft lumps.
Colours
Natural sand tones and warm oranges read most obviously as starfish. Bright colours work too and make the set look more like a design than a literal sea creature – both are good, just decide which you are aiming for before you buy six balls of yarn.
