33 Free Knitted Placemat Patterns (Easy Projects)
There is something deeply satisfying about sitting down to a meal where the table is set with handmade touches. Knitted placemats are one of those quiet, underappreciated projects that can completely transform the way a dining table looks and feels. They are practical, they are beautiful, and — best of all — they are surprisingly easy to make. Whether you are brand new to knitting or you have been working needles for decades, placemats offer the perfect canvas for experimenting with stitch patterns, colors, and textures without committing to a large, time-consuming project.
This collection of 33 free knitted placemat patterns covers everything from the most basic garter stitch rectangles to more ambitious designs featuring lace, cables, and colorwork. Each one is achievable for a home knitter working with everyday yarn and standard needles, and every pattern on this list can be found for free online. So grab your yarn basket, find a comfortable spot, and get ready to build a collection of table accessories you will actually be proud to use.
Why Knit Your Own Placemats?
Before diving into the patterns themselves, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate why knitted placemats deserve a spot in your project queue.
For starters, they are fast. Most placemats can be completed in an afternoon or over the course of a couple of evenings. That means you get the full satisfaction of a finished object without the weeks or months it might take to complete a sweater or a blanket. If you are the kind of knitter who loves the feeling of binding off and calling something done, placemats are incredibly rewarding.
They are also incredibly affordable. You can often make a complete set of four to six placemats using just one or two skeins of cotton yarn, depending on the weight and the stitch pattern. Many knitters find that placemats are a great way to use up leftovers from larger projects, turning partial skeins into something functional and lovely.
From a practical standpoint, knitted placemats protect your table from heat, moisture, and scratches, just like store-bought versions. Cotton and linen yarns in particular are excellent for this purpose because they are durable, washable, and naturally absorbent. A well-made knitted placemat can last for years with proper care.
And then there is the gift-giving angle. A set of handknitted placemats, perhaps tied with a ribbon and paired with matching napkin rings or coasters, makes a genuinely thoughtful housewarming gift, wedding present, or holiday offering. They show effort and care in a way that something purchased simply cannot replicate.
What You Need to Get Started
Most of the patterns in this list require only a few basic supplies. Here is a general overview of what you will want to have on hand.
Yarn: Cotton is the most popular choice for placemats because it is washable, heat-resistant, and holds its shape well over time. Worsted weight cotton is a great starting point because it works up quickly and is easy to handle. Lighter weight cottons like DK or sport weight produce a more delicate, fine fabric that feels almost like woven cloth. Some knitters prefer linen or a cotton-linen blend for its natural drape and durability. Avoid wool and acrylic for placemats, as wool requires more delicate washing and acrylic does not handle heat well.
Needles: Most worsted-weight placemat patterns call for US size 5 to 7 needles (3.75mm to 4.5mm). If you are working with DK or sport weight cotton, you will generally use size 3 to 5 needles (3.25mm to 3.75mm). Straight needles work perfectly fine for rectangular placemats. For round or shaped placemats, you may need a short circular needle or double-pointed needles.
Other tools: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a tape measure or ruler for checking dimensions are all you really need. A blocking mat and pins come in handy if you want to give your finished placemats a crisp, professional appearance.
Tips for Success
Before you cast on, a few tips will help your placemat projects come out looking their best.
Always check your gauge, especially if the pattern specifies a finished size. Gauge swatching feels tedious but it makes a real difference when you want your placemat to actually fit your table setting. A standard placemat is roughly 12 by 18 inches, though you will find variation throughout this list.
Wash and block your finished placemats before using them. Cotton tends to relax and bloom after the first wash, and blocking ensures an even, professional finish. Pin them to your blocking mat to the correct dimensions and let them dry flat.
If you are making a set, try to work all placemats from the same dye lot of yarn to ensure consistent color. Even subtle differences in dye lot can be noticeable when several placemats are laid side by side on a table.
Weave in your ends securely. Placemats get washed frequently, and loose ends have a way of working themselves free over time. Take the extra few minutes to weave each end in two or three different directions for security.
The Patterns
1. Classic Garter Stitch Placemat
This is the most foundational placemat pattern you will find, and it is perfect for absolute beginners. Cast on the appropriate number of stitches for your desired width, knit every row until you reach your desired length, and bind off. That is truly all there is to it. The garter stitch creates a thick, ridged fabric that lies perfectly flat — no curling, no fussing. Use a solid-colored worsted-weight cotton for a clean, modern look, or choose a variegated yarn to add visual interest without any extra work on your part.
2. Seed Stitch Placemat
Seed stitch is one step up from garter in terms of complexity, but it creates a beautifully textured, reversible fabric that looks far more sophisticated than the effort involved would suggest. You alternate knit and purl stitches across each row, always working the opposite stitch of what faces you. The result is a pebbly, nubby surface that has a lovely handmade quality.
3. Basketweave Placemat
The basketweave stitch creates an interlocking pattern of raised blocks that resembles woven fabric. It is worked by alternating groups of knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence, then reversing the arrangement every few rows. The finished effect is stunning and three-dimensional, and it looks far more difficult than it actually is. This pattern is ideal for a knitter who has mastered the knit and purl stitches and is ready for something that feels like a real accomplishment.
4. Moss Stitch Placemat
Similar to seed stitch but with a slightly different rhythm, moss stitch creates a dense, flat fabric with a pleasingly regular texture. It is fully reversible and lies flat without blocking, making it one of the most practical stitch patterns for placemats. The pattern works well in almost any color and translates beautifully from a simple single color to a subtle two-color stripe.
5. Striped Garter Stitch Placemat
Add color to the classic garter stitch by switching yarns every two rows. The result is a cheerful, contemporary placemat with horizontal stripes that can be as bold or as subtle as you like. This is a wonderful stash-busting project because you can use up multiple small amounts of cotton in coordinating or contrasting colors.
6. Simple Linen Stitch Placemat
The linen stitch creates a woven-looking fabric that is dense, flat, and absolutely gorgeous in a solid or semisolid yarn. It involves slipping stitches with yarn in front, which creates the characteristic woven texture. The fabric is slightly stiff and very durable — perfect placemat material. This pattern works best in a smooth, light-colored yarn that lets the texture shine.
7. Log Cabin Placemat
The log cabin is a traditional patchwork quilt concept translated into knitting. You begin with a small center square and pick up stitches along its edges to build outward in alternating blocks, usually in two contrasting colors. The finished placemat has a graphic, architectural quality that looks beautiful in both modern and traditional table settings.
8. Mitered Square Placemat
A mitered square is worked from the center outward with decreases at the center point, creating a square with diagonal lines radiating from the middle. It is a clever piece of construction that is both satisfying to work and beautiful to look at. Use a gradient yarn or change colors every few rows to emphasize the geometric structure.
9. Diagonal Garter Placemat
By casting on just a couple of stitches and increasing at the beginning of every row, then decreasing back down after reaching maximum size, you can create a square placemat worked entirely on the diagonal. The garter ridges run at 45 degrees to the edges, giving the finished piece a dynamic, modern feel.
10. Simple Rib Placemat
A wide rib pattern — say, four knit stitches alternated with four purl stitches — creates a placemat with deep vertical channels that give it a substantial, structured look. Rib fabric has natural stretch, so this style of placemat drapes beautifully over a table edge.
11. Herringbone Stitch Placemat
The herringbone stitch creates a subtle, interlocking V-pattern that resembles the classic herringbone weave. It is worked by knitting two stitches together and then returning the first stitch to the left needle before moving on. The resulting fabric is dense and elegant, and the pattern rewards knitters who enjoy a satisfying, meditative stitch rhythm.
12. Waffle Stitch Placemat
Waffle stitch creates deeply textured squares arranged in a grid, resembling — as the name suggests — a waffle. The pattern combines knit, purl, and yarn-over stitches to create its characteristic indentations. The finished fabric is thick, absorbent, and wonderfully tactile, and it works up beautifully in a natural cotton or linen yarn.
13. Simple Cable Placemat
A single cable column running down the center of a stockinette or reverse stockinette background gives a placemat a classic, traditional feel. If you have never worked a cable before, a placemat is the ideal project to learn on — the stakes are low, and you will gain enough practice to feel confident tackling cables in larger projects. All you need is a cable needle and a willingness to learn.
14. Eyelet Lace Placemat
A simple eyelet pattern — rows of yarn-overs paired with decreases — creates a lightweight, airy placemat that works beautifully as part of a formal place setting. Use a fine cotton or linen yarn and small needles for a truly delicate result. While lace can sound intimidating, a basic eyelet grid is well within reach for anyone who is comfortable with knit, purl, yarn-over, and k2tog.
15. Feather and Fan Placemat
The feather and fan stitch (also called old shale) creates gentle waves across the fabric that have a lovely, graceful quality. The pattern is worked in a four-row repeat and is easy to memorize after just one or two repetitions. It works beautifully in a gradient or semisolid yarn that allows the wave pattern to read clearly.
16. Broken Rib Placemat
The broken rib creates a subtle horizontal texture that is simpler to work than it appears. By alternating a row of ribbing with a row of plain knitting, you get a fabric that has just enough visual interest to look intentional without demanding much concentration. This is a wonderful pattern for evening knitting when you want something engaging but not taxing.
17. Diamond Brocade Placemat
Diamond brocade is a classic knit-purl pattern that creates a repeating diamond motif worked entirely in the knit and purl stitches. No cables, no lace — just thoughtful placement of knit and purl to create a sophisticated, textured surface. It looks considerably more complex than it is and makes a genuinely impressive finished object.
18. Checkerboard Placemat
A checkerboard pattern made by alternating blocks of knit and purl stitches is clean, modern, and visually striking. Use two contrasting colors — perhaps a natural ecru and a deep navy, or a warm terracotta and cream — and stripe them through the checkerboard for a truly bold table setting.
19. Simple Colorwork Placemat
For knitters who want to try colorwork, a placemat is an ideal first project. A simple two-color stripe, a slip-stitch colorwork pattern, or a basic stranded checkerboard are all achievable without complicated floats or color management. Work with two skeins of cotton in complementary colors and follow a beginner-friendly colorwork chart.
20. Nordic-Inspired Placemat
Inspired by traditional Scandinavian patterns, these placemats use simple two-color stranded colorwork to create snowflakes, trees, stars, or geometric borders. The scale of a placemat means you only need to manage a short stretch of the chart at a time, making this a great entry point into stranded colorwork.
21. Tunisian-Inspired Textured Placemat
Some free patterns attempt to recreate the look of Tunisian crochet stitch using knitting techniques, working elongated stitches or horizontal slipped stitch rows to create a linen-like, structured fabric. The result is a unique-looking placemat that blurs the line between knitting and weaving.
22. Round Placemat
Who says a placemat has to be rectangular? A round placemat worked from the center outward creates a lovely, modern table setting, particularly well-suited to round tables. The construction typically involves casting on a small number of stitches, joining in the round, and increasing at regular intervals to maintain the flat circular shape.
23. Hexagon Placemat
A hexagon placemat worked in short rows or mitered sections gives a geometric, contemporary look that works beautifully in a modern dining room. These are often worked in two contrasting colors to emphasize the hexagonal shape and can be arranged in a variety of configurations on the table.
24. Oval Placemat
An oval shape more closely mimics the proportions of a traditional fabric placemat. These are typically worked back and forth with increasing and decreasing sections at the ends to create the elongated, rounded shape. They fit beautifully at a standard table setting.
25. Textured Stripe Placemat
Alternate bands of different stitch patterns — perhaps a few rows of garter, then a few rows of moss stitch, then a few rows of a simple rib — to create a placemat with horizontal zones of contrasting texture. It is a free-form, creative approach that works well for knitters who enjoy improvising.
26. Farmhouse-Style Placemat
Inspired by rustic, country aesthetics, this style of placemat often uses a chunky cotton or jute yarn with a simple stitch that shows off the natural character of the fiber. Garter stitch or a wide rib works beautifully in an undyed or natural linen color. The finished placemats look at home on a wooden farm table.
27. Boho Fringe Placemat
A simple rectangular placemat in a neutral cotton yarn becomes something special when finished with a knotted fringe along the short ends. The fringe is added after binding off by pulling loops of yarn through the edge stitches and knotting them. It is an easy finishing technique that gives an otherwise simple placemat a Bohemian, relaxed vibe.
28. Market Bag Stitch Placemat
The mesh stitch used in classic market bags — yarn-overs and decreases arranged to create an open, net-like fabric — translates surprisingly well into a lightweight, decorative placemat. These are best suited for decorative use rather than everyday dining, but they look beautiful as a base for a centerpiece or under a vase.
29. Vintage Lace Placemat
For more experienced lace knitters, vintage-inspired lace patterns featuring leaves, flowers, or intricate geometric motifs create heirloom-quality placemats that feel like a true craft achievement. Many vintage lace patterns have been digitized and made available for free through knitting archives and databases. These take longer and require more focus, but the results are breathtaking.
30. Modular Patchwork Placemat
Work a series of small squares or triangles individually, then seam them together to create a patchwork placemat. Each module is a quick, self-contained project, and assembling them into a finished piece is enormously satisfying. This approach also allows you to mix and match colors and stitch patterns for a truly one-of-a-kind result.
