Puff stitch coasters/scrubbies

It's been a while since I posted any new patterns here.  I have been busy recently volunteering with a local wildlife group and starting to think seriously about my career now the kids are growing up a little.  I've also found myself short of funds so I've had to come up with some thriftier ideas, using up left over scraps and clearing some space in the stash!

I have lots of small amounts of cotton and bamboo yarn left over from other projects so I came up with these versatile little puff stitch confections.  They could be used as coasters for drinks, in the bath or shower, for dishwashing...  By extending the pattern out a little further they would also make handy pot holders/trivets for the kitchen too maybe.  Or you could go crazy and make a bath/shower mat version, or even a throw or blanket!

Coasters measure 3 1/2" across.

For the coasters, you will need

• 8-10g (25 metres or so) of dk weight cotton, bamboo, linen, or even wool (although be careful of washing instructions!)
• 4mm hook
• darning needle

Special stitches: 
Beg puff stitch group:  ch2, *yarn over, insert in stitch and draw up a loop* 3 times, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook, ch2, puff st
Puff stitch: *yarn over, insert in stitch and draw up a loop* 4 times, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook
Beg puff stitch group:  ch2, *yarn over, insert in stitch and draw up a loop* 3 times, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook, ch2, puff st
Puff st group:  Puff st, ch2, puff st in same space
Puff st inc:  Puff st, ch2, puff st, ch2, puff st in same space
Beg puff st inc: beg puff st group, ch2, puff st (3 puff st, 2 ch sps)

By alternating where you put the increase in each round you can avoid your coaster becoming too boxy, in this pattern I have alternated putting the inc at the beginning and end of each 'phrase'.

Pattern begins:

1. Ch5, sl st to form loop.  Beg puff stitch inc, puff st inc twice, sl st in top of first puff st (9 puffs, 6 ch sp).
2. Sl st across to ch sp.  Beg puff st group, puff st inc in next ch sp, *puff st group, puff st inc* twice, sl st to top of first (15 puffs, 9 ch sps)
3. Sl st across to ch sp.  Beg puff st inc, puff st group in each of the next 2 ch sp, [puff st, inc, *puff st group* in each of the next 2 ch sp] twice, sl st in top of first (21 puffs, 12 ch sp)
4. Sl st across to ch sp.  Beg puff st group, puff st group in each of the next 2 ch sp, puff st inc in next ch sp, [puff st group in each of the next 3 ch sp, puff st inc] twice, sl st in top of first to join.

Fasten off and weave in ends.