Crochet Placemats: A Set of Four in Crunch Stitch
Flat, absorbent placemats in crunch stitch — alternating slip stitch and half double crochet — with a crab stitch border. Each mat is 18 × 12 inches and takes about 3 hours. Machine-washable cotton.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) cotton, about 200 yd per mat
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- About 3 hours per mat
- Finished size
- About 18 × 12 in (46 × 30 cm)
You'll need
- Worsted (#4) cotton — about 200 yd per mat (800 yd for four)
- 5 mm (H-8) hook
- Tapestry needle
In this post
A crochet placemat should be flat, dense enough to protect the table, and washable. Crunch stitch — alternating slip stitch and half double crochet, then swapping them on the next row — gives a dense, bumpy fabric that lies flat and grips plates. In worsted cotton, a standard 18 × 12 inch placemat takes about 200 yards and 3 hours.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
One placemat
- Row 1: Ch 73. Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in the next; *sl st in the next, hdc in the next* across. Ch 1, turn. (72)
- Row 2: Sl st in the first hdc, hdc in the next sl st; *sl st in the hdc, hdc in the sl st* across. Ch 1, turn. (72)
- Rows 3–46: Repeat Row 2. The mat should be about 11 in tall.
- Border, Rnd 1: Sc evenly around all four sides, with 3 sc in each corner. Join.
- Border, Rnd 2: Crab stitch (reverse sc) around for a rope-like edge. Fasten off.
Slip stitches are easy to miss when you turn — count every few rows. Keep the slip stitches loose so the hook goes into them on the next row.
Shapes and sizes
| Mat | Chain | Rows | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids | 57 | 36 | 14 × 9 in |
| Standard | 73 | 46 | 18 × 12 in |
| Large | 81 | 54 | 20 × 14 in |
Keep the chain an odd number: the stitch count (one less) must be even for the sl st/hdc pairs.
Table set ideas
- Stripes: two rows of a contrast every 10 rows.
- Mix and match: four colours from the same palette.
- Complete the table with a table runner, coasters and napkin rings.
Common questions
What size should a placemat be?
About 18 × 12 inches is standard. Round placemats are usually 15 inches across.
What is the best stitch for crochet placemats?
A dense, flat stitch: crunch stitch, moss stitch or single crochet. Open lace stitches let spills through to the table.
Can crochet placemats go in the washing machine?
Yes, if they're cotton. Wash warm, reshape while damp and dry flat or on low.
Four matching or four different colours? 🍽️
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