How to make crochet placemats

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Give your dining table an update with stylish crochet placemats

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!

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.

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

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

Download and print the crochet placemat chart pdf.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.