Peppermint Twist Coasters Free Pattern – A Knitted Candy Cane Set

Bring a pop of festive charm to your table with these knitted candy cane coasters, featuring a bold spiral of red and white. Each coaster is a soft, squishy square with a twisted candy cane motif that’s perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy winter nights. This free knitting pattern creates a set of four unique coasters—two with spirals and two with diagonal stripes—all in bright cherry red and pure white worsted weight cotton. Whether you're decking your own home or crafting handmade gifts for loved ones, these coasters are quick, satisfying, and endlessly cheerful.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. All items are readily available at craft stores or online.

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn in Red (A) and White (B), approximately 50g of each color. Cotton is ideal for coasters because it's absorbent, durable, and lies flat.
• Knitting Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) straight needles.
• Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and finishing.
• Scissors: For cutting yarn.
• Ruler or Tape Measure: To check gauge and finished size.

Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Always check your gauge to ensure your coasters come out the correct size.
• Finished Size: Approximately 5 inches square per coaster.

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• RS: Right side
• WS: Wrong side

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern makes 4 coasters. Each coaster uses a simple stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) with colorwork for the festive motifs. Follow each coaster's instructions carefully, and don't forget to weave in ends as you go to keep your work tidy.

Coaster 1 – Red Background with White Spiral

This coaster features a vibrant red base with a bold white spiral twisting from bottom left to top right.

1. Cast On: With yarn A (Red), CO 24 sts.
2. Stockinette Base:
   • Row 1 (RS): Knit all sts.
   • Row 2 (WS): Purl all sts.
   Repeat rows 1-2 until piece measures 4 inches from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. This gives you a solid red base.
3. Begin the Candy Cane Spiral: Now you'll introduce yarn B (White) to create the spiral. Carry the unused yarn loosely up the side of your work.
   • Row 1 (RS): With yarn A, K12, join yarn B, K12.
   • Row 2 (WS): With yarn B, P12, with yarn A, P12.
   • Row 3 (RS): With yarn A, K10, with yarn B, K4, with yarn A, K10.
   • Row 4 (WS): With yarn A, P10, with yarn B, P4, with yarn A, P10.
   • Row 5 (RS): With yarn A, K8, with yarn B, K8, with yarn A, K8.
   • Row 6 (WS): With yarn A, P8, with yarn B, P8, with yarn A, P8.
   • Row 7 (RS): With yarn A, K6, with yarn B, K12, with yarn A, K6.
   • Row 8 (WS): With yarn A, P6, with yarn B, P12, with yarn A, P6.
   • Row 9 (RS): With yarn A, K4, with yarn B, K16, with yarn A, K4.
   • Row 10 (WS): With yarn A, P4, with yarn B, P16, with yarn A, P4.
   • Row 11 (RS): With yarn A, K2, with yarn B, K20, with yarn A, K2.
   • Row 12 (WS): With yarn A, P2, with yarn B, P20, with yarn A, P2.
   • Row 13 (RS): With yarn B, K24.
   • Row 14 (WS): With yarn B, P24.
4. Finish: Continue with yarn B only for 2 more rows in stockinette (K on RS, P on WS). Then bind off all sts on the RS. Cut yarn, leaving a tail for weaving.

Coaster 2 – White Background with Red Spiral

This is the inverse of Coaster 1—a white base with a bold red spiral. The technique is identical, just swap the colors.

1. Cast On: With yarn B (White), CO 24 sts.
2. Stockinette Base: Work stockinette stitch (K on RS, P on WS) until piece measures 4 inches, ending with a WS row.
3. Spiral Colorwork: Follow the exact same row-by-row instructions as Coaster 1, but swap the colors: use yarn B where Coaster 1 used yarn A, and use yarn A where Coaster 1 used yarn B. For example, Row 1 becomes: With yarn B, K12, join yarn A, K12.
4. Finish: After completing the spiral rows, continue with yarn A only for 2 more rows of stockinette, then bind off on the RS.

Coaster 3 – Red Background with White Diagonal Stripes

This coaster features a dynamic diagonal stripe pattern in red and white, creating a zigzag effect.

1. Cast On: With yarn A (Red), CO 24 sts.
2. Stockinette Base: Work stockinette stitch for 4 inches, ending with a WS row.
3. Diagonal Stripe Pattern: Now work the following 4-row repeat:
   • Row 1 (RS): With yarn A, K2, with yarn B, K2; repeat to end (ending with K2 of A).
   • Row 2 (WS): With yarn A, P2, with yarn B, P2; repeat to end.
   • Row 3 (RS): With yarn B, K2, with yarn A, K2; repeat to end.
   • Row 4 (WS): With yarn B, P2, with yarn A, P2; repeat to end.
   Repeat rows 1-4 until piece measures 5 inches total from cast-on edge. This will give you a lovely diagonal stripe effect.
4. Finish: Bind off all sts on the RS. Cut yarn, leaving a tail.

Coaster 4 – White Background with Red Diagonal Stripes

This is the color-swapped version of Coaster 3.

1. Cast On: With yarn B (White), CO 24 sts.
2. Stockinette Base: Work stockinette stitch for 4 inches, ending with a WS row.
3. Diagonal Stripe Pattern: Work the same 4-row repeat as Coaster 3, but swap the colors: start with yarn B where Coaster 3 used yarn A, and use yarn A where Coaster 3 used yarn B. For example, Row 1 becomes: With yarn B, K2, with yarn A, K2; repeat to end.
4. Finish: Continue the stripe pattern until piece measures 5 inches total, then bind off on the RS.

Finishing Touches

Once all four coasters are knitted, it's time to finish them beautifully.

1. Weave in Ends: Using a tapestry needle, carefully weave in all loose yarn ends on the wrong side of each coaster. Make sure to weave in the ends where you joined new colors to keep the front clean.
2. Blocking: Lightly block each coaster to even out the stitches and help the cotton relax. To block, wet the coasters with lukewarm water, gently squeeze out excess (don't wring), lay them flat on a towel, and shape them to 5 inches square. Let them dry completely. This step will also help minimize the natural curling of stockinette stitch.
3. Gift Presentation (Optional): Stack the four coasters neatly, tie them with a festive ribbon, and add a sprig of holly or a few peppermint candies for a charming handmade gift.

These Peppermint Twist Coasters are a delightful weekend project that adds instant holiday cheer to any table. The combination of classic red and white, along with the candy cane and stripe motifs, makes them a timeless addition to your festive decor. Happy knitting!