Mosaic Pebble Path Coasters Free Pattern – A Knitted Stone Garden Set

Bring Zen to Your Table: The Mosaic Pebble Path Coasters

Imagine the serene, raked gravel of a Japanese zen garden, translated into a soft, functional piece for your home. That's the magic of the Mosaic Pebble Path Coasters. This free knitting pattern transforms simple worsted-weight cotton into a miniature landscape, complete with a textured mosaic of slate and moss tiles surrounding a raised, three-dimensional pebble center. It's more than just a coaster; it's a conversation starter and a moment of calm for your coffee table.

This pattern is perfect for adventurous beginners and intermediate knitters alike. It introduces you to two fantastic techniques—slipped stitches for the mosaic effect and short rows for the raised pebble—in a small, manageable project. The result is a set of four beautiful, earthy coasters that protect your surfaces in style. Let's dive into the pattern and create your own stone garden.

Materials Needed: Your Knitting Toolkit

Before you begin, gather these simple supplies. The beauty of this project is its minimalism—just a few colors of yarn and a pair of needles.

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn in 3 colors. You'll need approximately 30 yards of each color per coaster.
  • Color A (Sand): A warm, beige tone for the border and background.
  • Color B (Slate): A cool, muted blue-grey for the mosaic tiles.
  • Color C (Moss): A soft, natural green for the central pebble.
• Needles: US Size 6 (4.0 mm) knitting needles. Straight or circular, whichever you prefer.
• Notions: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a steam iron or blocking mat for the final finish.

Gauge & Finished Size

To ensure your coasters come out the perfect size, it's always a good idea to check your gauge.

• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.
• Finished Size: Each coaster measures approximately 4.5 x 4.5 inches.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Knitting Your Stone Garden

This pattern is worked flat, back and forth. Don't be intimidated by the instructions—we'll break it down into clear, manageable sections. Make four coasters to complete your set.

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• Sl: Slip stitch purlwise (as if to purl)
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together (decrease)
• Kfb: Knit front and back (increase)
• St(s): Stitch(es)

Getting Started: The Foundation & Border

We'll begin with a simple garter stitch border, which creates a sturdy, flat edge for your coaster.

1. Foundation: With Color A (Sand), CO 24 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Knit all sts. This creates a 4-row garter stitch border.
3. Row 5 (Right side): K4 (border), P16, K4 (border).
4. Row 6: K4, K16, K4. (This is a stockinette row with garter borders).

Creating the Mosaic Pattern

Now we introduce Color B (Slate) to create the mosaic tile effect. The key here is the slipped stitch—you'll be carrying the yarn across the back of the slipped stitches to create the pattern.

5. Row 7: K4, with Color B (Slate), K1, *Sl 1, K3* repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, Sl 1, K4.
6. Row 8: K4, with Color B, P1, *Sl 1, P3* repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, Sl 1, K4.
7. Row 9: K4, with Color A, K2, *Sl 1, K3* repeat from * to * until 6 sts remain, Sl 1, K5.
8. Row 10: K4, with Color A, P2, *Sl 1, P3* repeat from * to * until 6 sts remain, Sl 1, P5.
9. Rows 11-12: Repeat Rows 7-8.
10. Rows 13-14: Repeat Rows 9-10.
11. Rows 15-18: Repeat Rows 7-10. This completes the mosaic border.

Shaping the Pebble Motif

This is where the magic happens. We'll use Color C (Moss) and a technique called short rows to create the raised, oval pebble in the center. Don't worry—it's simpler than it sounds. We're just increasing stitches to widen the shape, then decreasing to close it.

12. Row 19: K4, with Color C (Moss), K16, K4.
13. Row 20: K4, P16, K4.
14. Row 21: K4, Kfb, K14, Kfb, K4 (now 26 sts). (We've added 2 stitches to start widening the pebble.)
15. Row 22: K4, P18, K4.
16. Row 23: K4, Kfb, K16, Kfb, K4 (now 28 sts).
17. Row 24: K4, P20, K4.
18. Row 25: K4, Kfb, K18, Kfb, K4 (now 30 sts).
19. Row 26: K4, P22, K4.
20. Row 27: K4, Kfb, K20, Kfb, K4 (now 32 sts). (This is the widest point of the pebble.)
21. Row 28: K4, P24, K4.

Now, we'll mirror the increases with decreases to round off the top of the pebble.

22. Row 29: K4, K2tog, K20, K2tog, K4 (back to 30 sts).
23. Row 30: K4, P22, K4.
24. Row 31: K4, K2tog, K18, K2tog, K4 (28 sts).
25. Row 32: K4, P20, K4.
26. Row 33: K4, K2tog, K16, K2tog, K4 (26 sts).
27. Row 34: K4, P18, K4.
28. Row 35: K4, K2tog, K14, K2tog, K4 (24 sts). (We're back to our original stitch count.)
29. Row 36: K4, P16, K4.

Finishing Touches

Almost done! We'll finish with a garter stitch border to match the beginning, then bind off.

30. Rows 37-40: Knit all sts with Color A (Sand).
31. Bind off: Bind off all sts knitwise. Cut yarn, leaving a tail, and pull through the last loop.
32. Weave in ends: Use your tapestry needle to carefully weave in all loose yarn ends on the wrong side of the coaster.

Blocking for a Professional Finish

Blocking is the secret to a polished, professional look. It will flatten the coaster and even out the pebble shape.

• Steam Blocking: Pin your coaster to a blocking mat or towel, shaping it into a perfect square. Gently steam the coaster with an iron (without touching the yarn directly) until it's damp. Allow it to dry completely before unpinning.

Repeat the pattern to create your set of four. Once complete, you'll have a beautiful, textured set of coasters that bring a piece of zen to your everyday life. They also make wonderful, thoughtful gifts for any occasion. Enjoy your handcrafted stone garden!