Ribbed Crochet Placemat Free Pattern with Video Tutorial – Winding Road Crochet
If you’ve been searching for a beginner-friendly crochet project that actually looks impressive on the table, you’ve landed in exactly the right place. This ribbed crochet placemat pattern is one of those satisfying makes that works up quickly, uses minimal yarn, and produces a result so clean and textured that people will assume you’ve been crocheting for years. Whether you’re brand new to crochet or just looking for a relaxing weekend project, this free pattern has everything you need — including a step-by-step video tutorial to guide you through every single stitch.
At Winding Road Crochet, the goal has always been to make crochet approachable, beautiful, and genuinely useful. Placemats are one of those functional items that often get overlooked in favor of blankets and garments, but they’re secretly one of the best projects you can make. They protect your table, add personality to your home, and they make incredibly thoughtful, handmade gifts. A set of four ribbed crochet placemats in a beautiful cotton yarn? That’s a gift that people actually use.
Let’s dive into the full free pattern, plus all the tips and tricks you need to make this project a success from start to finish.
Why You’ll Love This Ribbed Crochet Placemat Pattern
Before we get into the yarn and hook details, let’s talk about why the ribbed stitch is such a great choice for placemats specifically.
The ribbed texture is created by working into the back loops only of your stitches (sometimes called BLO). This simple technique creates a gorgeous, dimensional ridge that runs horizontally across the placemat, giving it an almost woven appearance. The result is a fabric that has a little bit of stretch, lays flat beautifully, and has a satisfying thickness that makes it feel sturdy and well-made.
Cotton yarn, which is the recommended material for this project, pairs perfectly with the ribbed stitch. It has a natural drape, it’s washable (a must for anything that goes on a dining table), and it shows off stitch definition in a way that acrylic yarn simply doesn’t. When the light hits those ridges in a cotton placemat, the texture practically glows.
There’s also something genuinely meditative about working in back loops only. Once you get into a rhythm, the repetitive motion is incredibly calming. Many crocheters find this type of project to be the perfect thing to work on while watching television or listening to a podcast.
Materials You’ll Need
Here’s everything you need to gather before you cast on for this project:
Yarn: Approximately 100–150 yards of worsted weight cotton yarn per placemat. Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is a perennial favorite for this type of project because it’s widely available, affordable, comes in a huge range of colors, and holds up beautifully through repeated washing. Paintbox Simply DK Cotton is another great option if you prefer a slightly lighter weight. You can also use Paintbox Simply Worsted Cotton or any other 100% cotton worsted weight yarn you already have in your stash.
Hook: A 5.0mm crochet hook (US size H/8) is recommended for worsted weight cotton. If you’re using a DK weight cotton, try a 4.0mm or 4.5mm hook. As always, adjust your hook size based on your personal tension to achieve the gauge listed below.
Other supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape or ruler to check your gauge and final dimensions.
Gauge
Gauge: 14 stitches x 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet BLO
Gauge is especially important for placemats because you want them to come out a consistent size, particularly if you’re making a full set. Take a few minutes to crochet a gauge swatch before you begin, and adjust your hook size accordingly. If your swatch is larger than 4 inches, go down a hook size. If it’s smaller, go up a hook size.
Finished Dimensions
Each finished placemat measures approximately 14 inches wide by 10 inches tall. This is a standard rectangular placemat size that works well for most place settings. If you’d like to make them slightly larger, you can add extra stitches to your foundation chain and additional rows to increase the height.
Abbreviations and Stitch Guide
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
BLO – back loop only
sl st – slip stitch
sk – skip
st(s) – stitch(es)
rep – repeat
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
BLO Single Crochet: Insert your hook into the back loop only of the indicated stitch (the loop farthest away from you as the work faces you), yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over again, and pull through both loops on your hook. This is the main stitch used throughout this pattern and is what creates the beautiful ribbed texture.
Pattern Notes
Before you begin, please read through these notes carefully as they’ll save you time and prevent common mistakes.
This pattern is worked in rows, turning at the end of each row. The ribbed texture is created entirely by consistently working into the back loops only throughout the pattern. It may feel a little awkward at first to find the back loop, but after a few rows it becomes second nature. If you’re not sure which loop is the “back” loop, the video tutorial linked below walks you through this clearly.
A starting chain of 3 is used to begin each row and counts as the first single crochet. This keeps your edges tidy and consistent.
Cotton yarn has less stretch than acrylic, which means your tension may need to be a bit more relaxed than you’re used to. If your work is coming out stiff or tight, try loosening your grip and working with a slightly larger hook.
Free Ribbed Crochet Placemat Pattern
Foundation Chain: Chain 51. (This gives you 50 working stitches plus 1 turning chain.)
Row 1 (RS): Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc across. You should have 50 sc. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sc in BLO across all 50 stitches. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 through 40: Repeat Row 2 (sc in BLO across, ch 1, turn) for each row.
After completing Row 40, you should have a piece that measures approximately 10 inches in height. Do not fasten off yet.
Border Round:
After completing the final row, you’ll work a simple single crochet border around the entire perimeter of the placemat to give it a clean, polished finish.
Working into the last row of your placemat, sc across the top edge (50 stitches). At the corner, work 3 sc into the corner stitch to turn.
Along the side edge, work 1 sc into each row end. Because you worked 40 rows, you’ll place approximately 40 sc along each side edge. At each corner, work 3 sc into the corner stitch to turn.
Along the bottom edge, work 1 sc into each of the foundation chain stitches (50 stitches). At the final corner, work 3 sc into the corner stitch to turn.
Work up the remaining side edge the same as the first side edge. Join with a slip stitch to the first sc of the border round. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Finishing: Block your placemat by lightly misting it with water and laying it flat on a blocking mat or clean towel. Use pins or blocking wires to hold it in shape if needed, and allow it to dry completely. Blocking is especially helpful with cotton yarn because it evens out your tension and relaxes the fibers into a beautifully flat finish.
Video Tutorial
If you’re a visual learner — or if any step in the written pattern feels unclear — the full video tutorial for this ribbed crochet placemat is available on the Winding Road Crochet YouTube channel. The video walks through every step in real time, from making the foundation chain through completing the border and weaving in your ends. You’ll be able to watch exactly how to find the back loop, how to keep your edges straight and consistent, and how to work the corner stitches of the border round neatly.
Video tutorials are genuinely valuable for crochet patterns because there are nuances in technique that are difficult to fully capture in text alone. Seeing how to hold the yarn, how much tension to apply, and how the finished fabric should look as it develops makes a significant difference, especially for newer crocheters. The video for this pattern is paced so that you can pause and work alongside it at your own speed.
Tips for Making a Perfect Set
If your plan is to make a full set of four or six placemats (maybe for yourself, maybe as a gift), here are some practical tips to keep them consistent.
Work from the same dye lot of yarn for all placemats in a set. Cotton yarn can vary slightly in color between dye lots, and while this may not be obvious in a skein, it can be noticeable when placemats are placed side by side on a table.
Write down your tension notes. If you notice that you tend to crochet loosely in the morning and more tightly in the evening, try to work on all placemats during similar conditions.
Count your stitches at the end of every few rows, at least for the first placemat. It’s easy to accidentally add or drop a stitch when you’re just getting into a rhythm with a new pattern, and catching it early saves significant time.
Block every placemat in the set, even if they look fine unblocked. The uniformity you get from blocking an entire set is worth the extra step, and your table will look noticeably more polished.
Color Inspiration
One of the best things about making your own placemats is that you get to choose exactly the colors that work in your home. Here are some combinations that look particularly stunning with this ribbed stitch texture.
A set of four placemats in four shades of the same color — say, light sage, medium sage, dusty sage, and deep eucalyptus — creates a gorgeous, layered monochromatic table setting that feels both intentional and relaxed. This approach works especially well for earthy greens, warm terracottas, and cool blues.
Alternating between two neutrals like cream and natural linen creates a classic, farmhouse-inspired look that pairs beautifully with wooden dining tables and simple white dishes.
If you prefer something more vibrant, consider working a set in a bold color palette — think mustard yellow, burnt orange, rust, and deep burgundy — for a table that feels warm and inviting during the fall and winter months.
Caring for Your Crochet Placemats
Since these placemats are made with cotton yarn, they’re wonderfully easy to care for. Machine wash them on a gentle cycle in cool or warm water. Lay flat to dry rather than putting them in the dryer, which can cause cotton to shrink slightly over time. If they come out of the wash looking a little rumpled, a light press with a warm iron through a damp cloth will restore them beautifully.
With proper care, cotton placemats like these will last for years — which makes them an excellent investment of your time and a gift that keeps giving long after the holidays have passed.
This Pattern Makes a Beautiful Handmade Gift
A set of ribbed crochet placemats is one of those gifts that people genuinely love to receive. They’re practical, they’re beautiful, and they carry the warmth of something handmade. Unlike a gift that gets used once and forgotten, a set of placemats shows up on the table again and again — at everyday dinners, at holiday gatherings, at Sunday brunches with friends.
If you’re making these as a gift, consider packaging them tied together with a simple ribbon in a coordinating color. You could also tuck in a small card with washing instructions, which is a thoughtful touch that shows the recipient how to keep their new placemats looking beautiful for years to come.
For baby showers or new home celebrations, consider making a larger set of six in a neutral palette. For weddings, check the couple’s registry or ask about their home decor style so you can choose colors that complement their space.
More Free Patterns from Winding Road Crochet
If you enjoyed this ribbed placemat pattern, there’s a whole library of free patterns waiting for you here at Winding Road Crochet. From cozy home goods to wearable accessories to quick gift projects, there’s something for every skill level and every season. Be sure to subscribe to the Winding Road Crochet YouTube channel so you never miss a new video tutorial, and follow along on social media for sneak peeks at upcoming patterns, yarn hauls, and finished project inspiration.
If you make this ribbed crochet placemat, please share a photo in the comments or tag Winding Road Crochet on social media. Seeing your finished makes is genuinely one of the best parts of sharing free patterns, and your version might just inspire someone else who’s been on the fence about trying the pattern for the first time.
Final Thoughts
This ribbed crochet placemat pattern is proof that simple stitches, good yarn, and a little patience add up to something genuinely beautiful. The back loop only technique is one of the most underused tools in a crocheter’s toolkit, and once you see how it transforms a basic single crochet fabric into something with real texture and dimension, you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again.
Whether you’re making one placemat as a practice project or working up an entire set as a gift, we hope this pattern brings you that particular kind of quiet satisfaction that comes from making something lovely with your own hands. Happy crocheting from all of us here at Winding Road Crochet — and as always, enjoy the journey.
