10+ Free Patterns for Small and Medium Floor Mats: Your Complete Guide to Beautiful Handmade Rugs

There is something deeply satisfying about placing a handmade mat on the floor. Whether it greets guests at your front door, cushions your feet in the kitchen, or adds a pop of color to a bare bathroom, a floor mat you made yourself carries a warmth that store-bought versions simply cannot replicate. The good news is that you do not need to spend money on patterns to get started. A wealth of free, well-designed patterns exists for crafters of every skill level, and this guide rounds up more than ten of the best options available for small and medium floor mats.

This post covers patterns across several techniques — crochet, knitting, weaving, latch hook, and rag rug construction — so no matter what tools you already have at home or what craft you love most, you will find something here that fits your style. We will also walk through tips on yarn and material selection, how to choose the right size for each room, and how to finish your mat so it stays put and holds up over time.

Why Make Your Own Floor Mat?

Before diving into the patterns themselves, it is worth understanding why handmade floor mats have seen such a surge in popularity. The first reason is cost. Quality floor mats from home goods stores can run anywhere from thirty to well over a hundred dollars, especially for anything with texture or a unique design. With a free pattern and a modest yarn budget, you can often create something comparable — or far more interesting — for a fraction of the price.

The second reason is customization. When you make your own mat, you choose every color, every material, and every dimension. If your bathroom has mint green tiles and you want a mat that picks up exactly that shade, you can make it. If your entryway is narrow and no commercial mat fits properly, you can adjust a pattern to your measurements.

The third reason is sustainability. Rag rugs and fabric-strip mats give new life to old t-shirts, worn denim, and fabric remnants that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Many of the patterns in this guide are ideal for upcycling materials you already have at home.

Finally, making a floor mat is genuinely enjoyable. Many of these patterns are rhythmic and meditative once you get going, making them excellent projects for evenings when you want to keep your hands busy while listening to a podcast or watching television.

What to Know Before You Start: Sizing and Materials

Small floor mats generally measure somewhere in the range of 17 by 24 inches to 20 by 30 inches. These are ideal for in front of a sink, beside a toilet, at a desk, or in front of a small chair. Medium mats typically range from 24 by 36 inches up to about 27 by 45 inches. These work well as entryway mats, kitchen runners, or beside a bed.

For materials, the most common choices are cotton yarn, wool yarn, fabric strips cut from old clothing, jute twine, and nylon cord. Cotton is the most popular for bathroom and kitchen mats because it is absorbent, washable, and widely available in bulk at low cost. Wool makes beautiful, durable mats but requires more care when washing. Fabric strips from upcycled cotton t-shirts create a thick, cushioned feel and are essentially free if you have old clothes to repurpose. Jute is best for entryway mats since it is tough and durable, though it is not soft underfoot and should not be used in wet areas.

For crochet and knitting patterns, a bulky or super-bulky weight yarn (size 5 or 6) will work up quickly and create a dense fabric. Hooks in the 8mm to 12mm range are typical for mat projects. If you are working with fabric strips, you will need a much larger hook — often 15mm to 25mm — depending on how thick your strips are.

Do not forget about backing. A finished crocheted or woven mat can be beautiful but slippery without something to grip the floor beneath it. You can purchase non-slip rug backing fabric by the yard at most fabric stores, or use a can of non-slip spray, or cut a piece of rubberized shelf liner to size and either hand-stitch or hot glue it to the underside of your mat.

The Patterns

1. Basic Granny Square Crochet Mat

The granny square is one of the most iconic motifs in all of crochet, and it translates beautifully into floor mat format. This free pattern involves crocheting individual granny squares in whatever color combination you choose and then joining them in a grid arrangement — four squares across and six rows down makes a small mat, while six squares across and eight rows down creates a medium one. Finish the outer edge with a simple single crochet border for a clean, tidy look. The beauty of this pattern is that it is extremely forgiving. You can work on individual squares in spare moments and assemble them when you have a full set.

You can find this style of pattern on Ravelry, the free crafting database, where dozens of variations exist with different joining methods and edging styles.

2. Herringbone Weave Loom Mat

If you have a rigid heddle loom or even a simple frame loom made from a picture frame, a herringbone weave mat is an achievable and stunning project. This pattern uses two colors alternated in a twill-based structure to create the classic V-shaped herringbone design. Warp your loom with sturdy cotton rug warp and weave with thick cotton or wool yarn as your weft. A 20-inch-wide loom will produce a mat approximately 17 to 18 inches wide after washing and finishing. Weaving tension and consistent beat (how tightly you pack down each row) matters more in rug weaving than in most other weaving, so this pattern tends to be recommended for people who have done at least a little weaving before.

Gist Yarn and Fiber and Halcyon Yarn both offer free weaving drafts and project tutorials on their websites that cover this type of mat.

3. Tunisian Entrelac Crochet Mat

Tunisian crochet is a technique that uses a long hook to create a fabric that looks almost knitted, and the entrelac variation produces interlocking squares that look impressively complex but are built up methodically one section at a time. Free patterns for Tunisian entrelac mats appear on sites like Yarnspirations and on individual crochet designers’ blogs. The resulting fabric is thick, flat, and very satisfying underfoot. Use a size 6mm Tunisian hook and bulky cotton for a small bath mat that you can finish in a weekend.

4. T-Shirt Yarn Rag Mat (Crochet)

This is one of the most popular patterns in the handmade mat world for good reason. You cut old cotton t-shirts into continuous strips — or buy pre-made t-shirt yarn, often called Tarn — and crochet them into a thick, plush mat using a 12mm to 15mm hook. The pattern itself is typically just rows of single crochet or half double crochet stitches worked back and forth, but the thick material creates a luxurious-feeling mat that is genuinely cushioned. Many variations add stripes by switching to shirts of different colors at set intervals. Because the fabric is cotton, these mats are machine washable on a gentle cycle. Free versions of this pattern appear widely on Pinterest, Ravelry, and craft blogs like Mooglyblog.com and RedHeart.com.

5. Braided Fabric Mat (No-Sew Option)

Braided rugs have a long history in American folk craft, and a small braided mat is one of the few projects on this list that requires no special tools at all — no loom, no hook, no needles. You braid three strands of fabric strips together into a long, continuous braid, then coil that braid tightly and use strips of the same fabric to lace adjacent rows together, working outward from the center. The no-sew lacing method means you do not even need a needle and thread. Free step-by-step instructions with photos for this technique are available on the Instructables website, on YouTube, and on numerous homesteading and crafting blogs.

6. Waffle Stitch Crochet Bath Mat

The waffle stitch creates a deeply textured grid pattern that is both visually beautiful and functionally excellent for a bath mat because the raised texture helps absorb and hold moisture. This pattern uses front and back post double crochets in combination with chains to build up the characteristic waffle grid. It is an intermediate-level pattern — you will need to be comfortable with post stitches — but clear video tutorials exist on YouTube channels like Bella Coco and Daisy Farm Crafts. The Daisy Farm Crafts website specifically offers a free waffle stitch bath mat pattern with written instructions and a stitch chart.

7. Simple Striped Knit Mat

If you are a knitter rather than a crocheter, a simple striped mat worked in garter stitch (knit every row) with bulky cotton yarn is an excellent beginner-friendly project. The garter stitch creates a naturally ridged, slightly springy fabric that lies flat without curling — important for a floor mat. Cast on the number of stitches needed for your desired width, knit in stripes of alternating colors until you reach your desired length, and bind off. That is genuinely the whole pattern. Use size US 10.5 or US 11 (6.5mm or 8mm) needles with a bulky cotton yarn like Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton or Paintbox Simply DK worked double-stranded for the best results. This style of pattern appears on Ravelry as a free download under search terms like “cotton knit mat” or “striped garter mat.”

8. Latch Hook Geometric Mat

Latch hooking is a craft that involves pulling short pieces of yarn through a grid canvas using a specialized hook, and it produces a shaggy, pile-like mat that is soft and visually striking. Free geometric designs — chevrons, diamonds, hexagons, color blocks — are available as printable PDFs on sites like Latchhookdesigns.com and through Etsy sellers who offer free samples. Because the design is drawn on graph paper and translated to the canvas grid, latch hook mats are highly customizable. A 20 by 27-inch canvas is a common starter size and produces a mat that works well as a small accent in a bedroom or living room.

9. Crochet Oval Center-Out Mat

Many traditional bath and kitchen mats are oval rather than rectangular, and the oval center-out crochet method begins with a chain at the center and grows outward with increasing rounds, similar to the way a knitted top-down hat works. The shape emerges naturally as you work rounds with strategically placed increases at the two ends of the initial chain. This pattern is worked most easily in single crochet or slip stitch using thick cotton cord or t-shirt yarn. Free oval mat patterns with detailed increase placement instructions are available on the Crochet 365 Knit Too blog and on the free pattern section of Yarnspirations.

10. Tapestry Crochet Geometric Mat

Tapestry crochet involves working single crochet stitches while carrying unused colors behind your work and picking them up as needed, similar to stranded colorwork knitting. The result is a flat, stiff, densely worked fabric with bold graphic patterns — triangles, arrows, stepped diamonds, and abstract geometric shapes are all common motifs. This technique requires a little more concentration than basic crochet, but free tapestry crochet mat patterns from designers like Marly Bird and on the Crochet Guru website are very clearly written with color charts to follow. These mats tend to be firm and durable, making them excellent for entryways.

11. Jute Rope Coiled Mat

Working with natural jute rope or cotton rope, you coil a length of rope in a spiral and either stitch the coils together by hand with a tapestry needle and twine, or use a heavy-duty sewing machine with a wide zigzag stitch. The result is a natural-toned, textured mat with excellent durability. Many crafters hot glue the coils as a simpler alternative, though this is less durable over time. This project requires no special knitting or crochet skills whatsoever and is therefore extremely accessible. Free tutorials and sizing guides for rope coil mats appear widely on YouTube and on blogs like The Navage Patch and Lovely Crafts.

12. Double Crochet Striped Rectangular Mat

This pattern is almost as simple as it gets but produces a clean, professional-looking result. Working in double crochet rows back and forth on a foundation chain, you change colors every two rows to create crisp horizontal stripes. The double crochet stitch works up faster than single crochet, so a small to medium mat can be completed in just a few evenings. The pattern is appropriate for absolute beginners who have learned the basics of chaining and double crochet. Free versions are available on Red Heart Yarn’s website, on Lion Brand’s website, and through the Caron Simply Soft yarn pattern library — all of which also conveniently sell the recommended cotton yarn.

Tips for Making Your Mat Last

Regardless of which pattern you choose, a few finishing steps will extend the life of your mat significantly. Weaving in ends securely — threading the tail through at least five or six stitches in different directions — prevents unraveling at the corners and edges, which is where handmade mats most often begin to fail. Blocking your mat (wetting it, shaping it flat, and allowing it to dry) before use will set the stitches evenly and help the mat hold its shape.

For mats in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens, choose machine-washable materials from the start. 100% cotton and acrylic yarns handle repeated washing far better than wool, which can felt and shrink. Wash on a gentle cold cycle and reshape while damp.

Always add a non-slip backing. This is not optional for safety reasons — a mat without backing on a hard floor is a slip hazard, especially for children and older adults. Non-slip rug pads are available in sheets you can cut to any shape, and they are inexpensive.

Choosing the Right Pattern for Your Space

Not every pattern suits every room. For bathrooms, prioritize absorbency and washability — the waffle stitch crochet mat, t-shirt yarn rag mat, and simple striped knit mat are all excellent here. For entryways, where mats take heavy foot traffic and need to hold up to dirt and moisture, the jute coiled mat, latch hook mat, and tapestry crochet geometric mat are the most durable options. For living room accents or bedroom beside-the-bed placement, a braided fabric mat or granny square mat adds warmth and character without needing to withstand heavy use.

Getting Started Today

Every pattern mentioned in this guide is available for free online, and most require only a basic search to locate the specific version that appeals to you. If you are new to any of these techniques, YouTube is an invaluable resource — you can find video walk-throughs for every stitch and method described here, often from multiple teachers so you can find the explanation style that clicks for you.

Start small. A small mat measuring 17 by 24 inches is a perfectly satisfying project, and completing one builds your skills and confidence before you attempt something larger. Once you have made one floor mat, you will almost certainly want to make another — and with more than ten free patterns here to explore, you have plenty of directions to go.