33 Free Knitted Placemat Patterns (Easy Projects)

There is something deeply satisfying about sitting down to a meal with handmade placemats beneath your dishes. They bring warmth and texture to any table setting, and unlike many knitting projects, they are fast enough to finish in a single weekend. Whether you are a beginner picking up needles for the first time or an experienced knitter looking for a low-stakes creative outlet, knitted placemats are one of the most rewarding projects you can take on. They require minimal yarn, no complicated shaping, and the results are immediately useful in your everyday life.

This roundup collects 33 free knitted placemat patterns that span every skill level and style. From classic garter stitch rectangles to textured basketweave designs and colorful striped sets, there is something here for every taste and every table. We have also included tips on yarn selection, sizing, and care so your placemats look beautiful for years to come.

Why Knitted Placemats Are the Perfect Project

Before diving into the patterns themselves, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate what makes placemats such ideal knitting projects. First, they are small and manageable. A standard placemat measures roughly 12 by 18 inches, which means most projects can be completed with just one or two skeins of yarn. Second, placemats are inherently flat, so there is no seaming, no picking up stitches, and very little finishing work required. You cast on, knit your rows, bind off, and you are done.

Placemats are also an excellent opportunity to practice new techniques without committing to a large project. If you have always wanted to try seed stitch, cables, or slipped stitch patterns but felt intimidated by a sweater, a placemat lets you explore those techniques on a small scale. And because placemats are purely functional objects, any small imperfections are hidden under a dinner plate.

Finally, handmade placemats make thoughtful gifts. A set of four or six placemats knitted in a friend’s favorite colors shows care and intention, and they are practical enough that people actually use them.

Choosing the Right Yarn for Knitted Placemats

Yarn selection matters a great deal when it comes to placemats, because these are items that will be washed frequently and placed beneath hot dishes. Here are the most important things to consider before you cast on.

Cotton and cotton blends are the most popular choice for placemats, and for good reason. Cotton is durable, washable, and heat-resistant. It lies flat without blocking, and it comes in a wide range of colors. Worsted weight cotton is particularly easy to work with and produces a sturdy, substantial fabric.

Linen yarn is another excellent option. It has a natural crispness that makes it ideal for table linens, and it softens beautifully with washing. Linen is slightly more expensive than cotton but wears exceptionally well over time.

Wool and wool blends are generally not recommended for placemats unless you are comfortable with hand-washing only items. Wool can felt in the washing machine and is not ideal for use near hot dishes. That said, some superwash wool yarns can work well if you prefer the feel of wool fabric.

Acrylic yarn is budget-friendly and machine washable, which makes it appealing for practical projects. The main drawback is that acrylic is not heat-resistant, so it can melt or deform if a very hot dish is placed directly on it. For everyday use with plates at normal serving temperatures, acrylic is usually fine.

For most of the patterns in this list, a worsted weight yarn in cotton or a cotton blend will give you the best results. Aim for a smooth, plied yarn rather than a textured or bouclé yarn, which can make stitch patterns difficult to read.

Needle Size and Gauge

Because placemats do not need to fit a body, gauge is less critical than it would be for a sweater or hat. However, you do want to make sure your fabric is not too loose, which would make it floppy and unstable, or too tight, which would make it stiff and difficult to knit.

For worsted weight cotton, US size 7 (4.5mm) needles typically produce a nice, firm fabric. For a denser, more table-ready fabric, you might go down to a US size 6 (4.0mm). If your placemat ends up slightly smaller or larger than the pattern suggests, you can simply adjust the number of rows you knit. The beauty of a rectangular placemat is that sizing adjustments are easy.

Straight needles work perfectly well for most placemat patterns, though some knitters prefer circular needles even for flat projects because the long cable takes the weight of the work off your wrists. Use whatever you have on hand.

The 33 Free Knitted Placemat Patterns

1. Classic Garter Stitch Placemat

The garter stitch placemat is the definitive beginner project. You cast on a rectangle of stitches and knit every single row until your work reaches the desired length, then bind off. The resulting fabric is thick, reversible, and has a lovely ridged texture that grips plates and bowls. This pattern is a wonderful way to practice consistent tension across a large number of rows, and the finished placemat has a timeless, rustic quality that suits farmhouse and modern country tables alike. Use a single bold color for graphic impact, or work stripes in alternating colors for a more playful look.

2. Seed Stitch Placemat

Seed stitch alternates knit and purl stitches across every row, creating a pebbly, textured surface that lies beautifully flat. Unlike stockinette, seed stitch does not curl at the edges, which makes it ideal for placemats and other flat projects. The pattern is easy to memorize after just a couple of rows and produces a fabric that looks far more complex than it really is. A seed stitch placemat in a natural cotton color has the look of a carefully crafted linen, perfect for a neutral, elegant table setting.

3. Basketweave Placemat

The basketweave pattern creates an interwoven appearance by alternating blocks of knit and purl stitches. The blocks are typically worked in groups of four or six stitches over four or six rows, creating a checkerboard of raised knit squares and recessed purl squares that give the impression of woven material. This is an excellent pattern for knitters who have mastered basic knit and purl but want to explore something more visually interesting. Basketweave placemats have a traditional, crafted quality that makes them feel special on any table.

4. Moss Stitch Placemat

Similar to seed stitch but with a slightly different rhythm, moss stitch creates a dense, even texture that is both attractive and practical. The pattern is forgiving of small mistakes and produces a fabric with excellent drape and body. Moss stitch placemats are particularly well-suited to worsted weight cotton in earthy, natural tones.

5. Striped Placemat

Stripes are one of the simplest ways to introduce color into your knitting without learning any colorwork techniques. By changing yarn color at the beginning of a row, you create clean horizontal stripes across the width of your placemat. You can work bold, equal-width stripes for a graphic look, narrow pinstripes for something more subtle, or uneven stripes in varying widths for a more eclectic feel. Striped placemats are a great way to use up leftover yarn from other projects, and a matched set in coordinating colors makes a lovely gift.

6. Diagonal Stripe Placemat

By increasing at one edge and decreasing at the other, you can create a diagonal striping effect that adds visual dynamism to a simple rectangle. This technique is slightly more involved than standard stripe knitting but is well within reach of confident beginners. The finished placemat has an energetic, modern look that stands apart from the typical horizontal stripe.

7. Mitered Square Placemat

The mitered square technique involves casting on stitches along two sides of a triangle and working decreases down the center to create a square that appears to be folded at the diagonal. Multiple mitered squares can be joined together to create a larger placemat, and because each square is small, this is an ideal pattern for using up small balls of yarn in many different colors. A mitered placemat with squares in a gradient from light to dark has a beautiful, graphic quality.

8. Simple Cable Placemat

A single central cable flanked by garter or seed stitch borders adds elegant detail without overwhelming the design. This pattern is a natural next step for knitters who have mastered the basics and want to try cable needle techniques. The cable twist is typically worked every fourth or sixth row, so most of the knitting still involves simple knit and purl stitches. The finished placemat has a classic, heirloom quality.

9. Honeycomb Cable Placemat

For knitters who love cables, a full honeycomb pattern across the face of a placemat creates a dense, beautiful texture that looks like it took far longer to make than it actually did. The honeycomb cable is a repeating four-stitch cable that alternates direction, creating the appearance of interlocking rings. Worked in an off-white or cream cotton, a honeycomb placemat evokes the look of vintage table linen.

10. Linen Stitch Placemat

The linen stitch involves slipping alternate stitches with the yarn held in front, creating a woven-looking fabric that is denser and more stable than regular stockinette. It is knitted flat and produces a surface that genuinely resembles woven linen cloth. This pattern works beautifully in two colors, with alternating rows in each color creating a subtle two-tone weave effect.

11. Waffle Stitch Placemat

Waffle stitch combines knit, purl, and yarn-over stitches to create a deeply textured grid pattern that looks like the surface of a waffle. It is visually striking and has practical benefits too, as the raised texture helps grip plates and prevents sliding. Waffle stitch placemats have become popular in recent years because they photograph beautifully and have a clean, contemporary look.

12. Herringbone Stitch Placemat

The herringbone stitch creates a dense, chevron-like texture through a technique of knitting two stitches together and then placing one stitch back on the needle. It produces a tightly interlocked fabric with excellent stiffness and body, perfect for a placemat that will hold its shape through years of use. This is a slightly more advanced technique but is easy to master with a little practice.

13. Corner-to-Corner Placemat

Also known as the diagonal or C2C method, this technique involves casting on just a few stitches and increasing at both ends of every row until you reach the widest point of your desired placemat, then decreasing symmetrically to form a perfect square or diamond. Corner-to-corner placemats have a graphic, geometric quality and work well in bold single colors or simple two-color stripe combinations.

14. Ribbed Placemat

A simple 2×2 or 1×1 rib worked across the full length of a placemat creates a stretchy, textured fabric that has an elegant vertical stripe appearance. Because ribbing naturally draws in, ribbed placemats tend to be a little narrower and thicker than their stitch count might suggest. They are soft and comfortable under plates and have a classic look that works with almost any tableware.

15. Dropped Stitch Placemat

By intentionally dropping certain stitches after binding off and unraveling them back to a point where they were secured, you create open vertical columns in the fabric that give a lacy, open-work appearance. Dropped stitch placemats are airy and delicate-looking, making them well-suited to spring and summer table settings.

16. Eyelet Border Placemat

A solid garter or stockinette center with a simple eyelet border created by working yarn-over increases and k2tog decreases along the edges creates a delicate, lace-like frame around a practical fabric center. This design is elegant without being fussy and is a lovely introduction to eyelet lace techniques.

17. Log Cabin Placemat

Inspired by the traditional log cabin quilt block, this knitted version involves picking up stitches along the edges of a central square and working short rectangular strips outward in alternating directions. The finished placemat has a warm, patchwork quality and is an excellent stash-busting project because each strip can be knitted in a different color.

18. Chevron or Zigzag Placemat

By working paired increases and decreases across each row, you create a bold chevron pattern that runs the full width of the placemat. Chevrons are even more striking in two or more colors, with each stripe following the zigzag path across the fabric. This pattern has an energetic, modern feel that works well in both contemporary and bohemian table settings.

19. Diamond Lace Placemat

A simple repeating lace diamond motif worked across the placemat creates an open, decorative fabric that is light enough for warm-weather dining. This pattern requires some familiarity with yarn-over and decrease techniques but is not especially difficult. Blocking the finished placemat opens up the lace and creates a truly beautiful effect.

20. Double Knitting Placemat

Double knitting produces a reversible two-color fabric by knitting two layers simultaneously. Each row involves working alternating stitches for each layer, with the yarn color swapped between them. The resulting placemat is thick, stable, and shows a different color on each side. This is a more advanced technique but results in a truly exceptional placemat that feels substantial and professional.

21. Simple Entrelac Placemat

Entrelac creates a woven appearance by working small rectangular blocks at right angles to one another. Each block is worked by picking up stitches from the edge of an adjacent block, and the finished fabric looks like a woven basket. A full entrelac placemat is a satisfying advanced project that produces results impressive enough to be displayed on the most elegant table.

22. Checkerboard Colorwork Placemat

Working a simple two-color checkerboard pattern using stranded colorwork techniques produces a cheerful, graphic placemat that is surprisingly easy once you get the rhythm of carrying two yarns. The checkerboard can be as small as a two-stitch, two-row check or as large as a four or six-stitch block. This design works in endless color combinations.

23. Feather and Fan Placemat

The feather and fan stitch, also called old shale, creates a gentle wave pattern through alternating increases and decreases worked across the same row. It is a four-row repeat that is easy to memorize and produces a beautifully flowing, undulating surface. Feather and fan placemats have a vintage, heirloom quality that is particularly lovely in soft, muted tones.

24. Nordic Snowflake Placemat

A single bold snowflake or star motif worked in two-color stranded colorwork against a solid background creates a festive placemat perfect for winter tables and holiday gatherings. The snowflake chart is typically straightforward, with the colorwork limited to the central motif area while the borders remain in a single color.

25. Textured Diamond Placemat

A diamond pattern created through knit and purl combinations rather than colorwork gives this placemat a quietly elegant, raised-texture appearance. The diamonds emerge from a background of reverse stockinette, creating a subtle contrast that is sophisticated without being showy.

26. Bobble Border Placemat

A solid center in garter or seed stitch surrounded by a bobble border creates a playful, three-dimensional frame. Bobbles are worked by knitting into the front, back, and front of a single stitch to create a small cluster, then binding those stitches back together. A bobble border adds a fun, tactile quality to an otherwise simple placemat.

27. Farmhouse Striped Placemat

Thick stripes in two or three natural, earthy tones create a placemat with a warm, rustic feel. This pattern uses simple garter stitch within each stripe for extra thickness and reversibility. These placemats work particularly well in a farmhouse, cottage, or Scandinavian-style kitchen.

28. Windowpane Placemat

By working a grid of knit squares against a background of purl stitches, you create a windowpane effect that resembles the leaded glass in old houses. This pattern has a quietly architectural quality that makes it feel modern and intentional. It works best in a smooth, single-color yarn that allows the textural contrast to show clearly.

29. Slip Stitch Mosaic Placemat

Mosaic knitting creates colorwork effects using only one color per row by slipping selected stitches from the previous row. The result looks like intricate two-color knitting but is actually worked