How to make crochet placemats

Give your dining table an update with stylish crochet placemats

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Published: April 22, 2024 at 8:00 am

Crochet placemats are a quick and easy way to bring some handmade style to your dining table. 

We love how versatile crochet placemats are, you can use them all over the house for added texture and colour. Plus you can just chuck them in the wash when they get grubby!

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We’ve got two fabulous free crochet placemats patterns for you to try. Our first pattern is a marvellous monochrome rectangular placemat, made using simple stitches and completed with terrific tassels.

Our second pattern is a celebration of colour in stylish circular placemats. Perfect for summer days and al fresco dining, you can make them in a range of colours – maybe even a different one for every setting at the table!

Both of these patterns use tapestry crochet, which is a technique where you change between two colours and hide the unused colour underneath your following stitches. If you’re new to tapestry crochet, you can find more information in our how to do crochet colourwork tutorial.

free-crochet-coaster-patterns

Crochet a coaster

Keep all of your surfaces clean and stain-free by hooking up our free crochet coaster pattern!


Free crochet placemat pattern - Rectangle

Rectangle crochet placemat pattern

These fabulous rectangular crochet placemats designed by Paula Lister are a brilliant monochrome design with a simplistic style that will look fabulous on any dining table. 

You will need

  • Yarn and Colors Epic 100% Cotton, 75m (82yds)/50g (1.76oz), or alternative Aran yarn.
    • Yarn A - Cream (002) - four balls
    • Yarn B - Black (100) - two balls
  • 3mm (UK 10, US D/3) crochet hook
  • Yarn needle
  • Cardboard

Tension

Tension is not critical for this project; however this pattern uses a smaller hook than usual for an Aran yarn as the stitches to be neat and firm so the encased yarn doesn’t show through

Finished size

Approx. 30 x 43cm (117/8 x 17")

Abbreviations

You can find a full list of all abbreviations we use in our abbreviations and conversions guide. This free crochet placemat pattern is written in UK terminology but you can easily convert it to US terms using the guide.


Rectangle crochet placemat pattern

Step 1

Using Yarn B, ch53

Row 1 1tr in 3rd ch from hook, 1tr in each ch to end of the foundation ch changing to A at end, turn [51 tr]

Row 2 ch2 (does not count as st now and throughout pattern), 1tr in each st to end, turn


Step 2

Rows 3-33 using the chart, work in tr throughout, starting each row with a ch2 (remember this does not count as a st) and following the chart, encasing the unused yarn as you work.

For example, Row 8 of the chart reads as follows – using Yarn A, ch2, 1tr in each of next 10 sts, change to Yarn B, 1tr in next st, *change to Yarn A, 1tr in each of next 9 sts, change to Yarn B, 1tr in next st; repeat from * twice more, change to Yarn A, 1tr in each of next 10 sts, turn

crochet placemat chart

Download and print the crochet placemat chart pdf.

How to crochet placemats - Step 7


Step 3

Row 34 using Yarn A, ch2, 1tr in each st to end changing to Yarn B at end, turn

Row 35 ch2, 1tr in each st to end. Fasten off and weave in ends

How to crochet placemats - Step 8


Step 4

Tassels

Each placemat is finished with 10 tassels. To make them, you’ll need a credit card-sized piece of strong card, Yarn B and a pair of sharp scissors.

Wrap the yarn around the width of the card 10 times, then cut the yarn. Cut two more lengths of Yarn B, each approximately 10cm (4") long, and tie one of the yarn lengths around the top of the tassel making sure to tie it tightly.

How to crochet placemats - Step 9

Next, take the tassel off the card, place it on top of the second yarn length near to the top, as shown, and tie again tightly, tucking the ends into the tassel.

How to crochet placemats - Step 10

How to crochet placemats - Step 11

Now cut the tassel loops at the bottom and give the ends a good trim to neaten.

How to crochet placemats - Step 12

Sew five tassels to each end of each placemat, spacing them out evenly and referring to the main image as a guide for placement.


Free_crochet_table_runner_pattern

Transform your table

If you want to decorate your dining table for a special occasion, you can’t go wrong with our gorgeous free table runner crochet pattern.


Free crochet placemat pattern - Circle

Crochet placemats circle free pattern

This fabulous circle crochet placemat pattern designed by Sam Hermes just screams summer dining.

Hooked in bright bold colours, it’s a design that will challenge your crochet colourwork skills (in a fun way).

You will need

Yarn and Colors Epic 100% Cotton, 75m (82yds)/50g (1.76oz), or alternative Aran yarn

  ○ Yarn A - Mustard (015) - 3 balls (1 ball for each placemat)

  ○ Yarn B - Lollipop (036), Spearmint (120) or Lavender (056) - 1 ball of each

● 5mm (UK 6, US H/8) crochet hook

● Yarn needle

● Stitch marker

Tension

Tension isn’t important for this design, but make sure the stitches are neat and firm so the carried yarn isn’t visible

Abbreviations

You can find a full list of all abbreviations we use in our abbreviations and conversions guide. This free crochet placemat pattern is written in UK terminology but you can easily convert it to US terms using the guide.

Notes

Each placemat is made by working in the round in a continuous spiral starting from the base. Do not join at the end of each round, unless stated otherwise. Mark the beginning of each round with a stitch marker.

For the pink mat, use Mustard as Yarn A and Purple Bordeaux as Yarn B.

For the purple mat, use Mustard as Yarn A and Grape as Yarn B.

For the green mat, use Mustard as Yarn A and Emerald as Yarn B.


Circle crochet placemat pattern

Round 1 (RS) using Yarn A, make a magic ring, work 10htr into the ring and pull the tail end to tighten [10 sts]

Round 2 2htr into each st around [20 sts]

Round 3 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in next st, change to Yarn A) 10 times [30 sts]

how to crochet a placemat circle round 3

Round 4 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in each of next 2 sts, change to Yarn A) 10 times [40 sts]

Round 5 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in each of next 3 sts, change to Yarn A) 10 times [50 sts]

Round 6 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in each of next 4 sts, change to Yarn A) 10 times [60 sts]

how to crochet a placemat circle round 6

Round 7 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in each of next 5 sts, change to Yarn A) 10 times [70 sts]

Round 8 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in each of next 6 sts, change to Yarn A) 10 times [80 sts]

Round 9 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in each of next 7 sts, change to Yarn A) 9 times, 2htr in next st, change to Yarn B, 1htr in each of next 7 sts [90 sts]

Round 10 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn A, 1htr in each of next 8 sts, change to Yarn B) 10 times [100 sts]

Round 11 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn A, 1htr in each of next 9 sts, change to Yarn B) 10 times [110 sts]

how to crochet a placemat circle round 9

Round 12 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn A, 1htr in each of next 10 sts, change to Yarn B) 10 times [120 sts]

Round 13 (2htr in next st, change to Yarn A, 1htr in each of next 11 sts, change to Yarn B) 10 times [130 sts]

Round 14 (2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 12 sts) 10 times, join with a ss to first dc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

circular crochet placemats


You can never have too many crochet placemats

Many shop-bought placemats come in packs of four, but the beauty of making your own is that you can make as many as you need.

As they’re made out of 100% cotton, once they get dirty you can just put them in the wash – so make twice as many as you need and you’ll always have some stunning crochet on your table!

Go traditional with your crochet

If you love traditional designs just as much as modern ones, keep it classic with our free crochet doily patterns on Gathered.

Crochet doily patterns