Coasting along

I quickly tired of knitting dishcloths after only two.  So what else to knit?  I really could use some coasters, because for some reason I cannot find any of ours.  So off to Ravelry to see what inspiration lay there.  Not much,  I started a baby star,  but it was bigger than I wanted,  so it was frogged.  The next promising pattern I stumbled across was the Pinwheel Coaster.  Interesting pattern, easy to knit and I like the finished item,  except for the way I joined it together (cleverly hidden by the strategic placement of the glass).  Husband observed it looked like a knitted cow pie...

Still not satisfied with the patterns I found I decided to come up with something on my own. 
First attempt: Frilly Coaster (the yellow/blue tones in photo below)

Started with 8 sts, 2 per needle and joined in the round (knit on four size 5 dpn and one size 4, could not for the life of me find the matching needle and decided what the heck could it really do any harm?).  Alternated between KFB on the first and last stitch of each needle followed by just a knit round until squared measured about 4 inches.  Thought a simple bind off would be too boring,  so came up with a knit/crochet ruffled edge by crocheting a chain of 3 sts after each bind off.  I am sure someone has done this before me,  but love it when the brain comes up with something on its own. 

Second Try:  Less Frilly coaster (rust color in above photo)
With the second coaster I wanted to use a yarn over to create a bit of a pattern in the coaster. I again
cast on 8 sts, 2 per needle.
Row1: K1, YO, K1
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: K1, YO, knit across needle to last stitch, YO, K1
Row 4, Knit
Repeat row 3 & 4 until you have desired square size.  

This time with the BO, I only did one chain stitch with each BO stitch that resulted in a less frilly finished edge. 

Third idea:  still on the needles and I will keep you posted. 

So what are your favorite project to stash bust that are made with 100% cotton yarn? 

In conclusion, no the world will not come to an abrupt end if you use mis-matched DPNs.