23 FREE Crochet Placemat Patterns You’ll Actually Want to Make

There’s something quietly satisfying about setting a table with handmade placemats. Unlike a store-bought set that everyone else can have too, crochet placemats carry the texture of your hands, the color choices you made on a Tuesday afternoon, and the small imperfections that make them entirely yours. Whether you’re a beginner who just learned the granny square or an experienced crocheter looking for a new weekend project, placemats are one of those rare wins that come together quickly, use up yarn scraps, and make your home feel genuinely warmer.

The best part? You don’t need to spend a single dollar on patterns. There are dozens of talented designers who have generously shared their work for free, and we’ve rounded up 23 of the best free crochet placemat patterns available right now. From farmhouse-style rounds to elegant hexagons and beginner-friendly rectangles, there’s something here for every skill level and every dining table.

Let’s get into it.

Why Crochet Placemats Are the Perfect Project

Before we get to the patterns, let’s talk about why placemats deserve a spot in your project queue. First, they’re small. A standard rectangular placemat is roughly 12 by 18 inches, which means most patterns work up in just a few hours. That makes them ideal for trying a new stitch without committing to a full blanket, or for squeezing in a meaningful handmade gift when time is short.

Second, they’re forgiving. If you’re off by a stitch or two, no one is going to notice once the dinner plates go down. This makes placemats one of the friendliest projects for people who are still building confidence in their tension and stitch counting.

Third, they’re practical. Every household uses them. They protect tables, reduce noise, and add color to a dining space without requiring the commitment of new furniture or curtains. A set of six matching crochet placemats is the kind of home detail that guests notice and compliment but can’t quite place.

Finally, placemats are a perfect way to use up stash yarn. That half-skein of cotton you bought for a project that never happened? A placemat will use it up beautifully. Cotton, linen blends, and jute yarns all work especially well because they’re washable and flat-laying, but we’ll get into yarn recommendations as we go through the patterns.

What Yarn Works Best for Crochet Placemats?

Most crochet placemat patterns will recommend a cotton yarn, and for good reason. Cotton is washable, durable, heat-resistant to a reasonable degree, and it lays flat without curling at the edges. It also comes in a fantastic range of colors, from bright citrus tones to muted neutrals.

Some popular choices include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Paintbox Simply DK Cotton, Paintbox Simply Chunky, and Drops Paris. If you want something with a little more texture and a natural feel, try a cotton-linen blend, which adds a slight sheen and a sturdier drape. For a farmhouse or rustic look, some crafters use jute twine or a raffia-style yarn, which creates beautiful organic-looking mats.

Avoid yarns with a lot of synthetic stretch, like most acrylics, unless the pattern specifically calls for them. Acrylic tends to curl and doesn’t hold up as well to frequent washing. That said, if you’re making decorative placemats that won’t see daily use, any yarn you love will work.

Crochet hook size will depend on the yarn you choose, but most cotton DK or worsted weight placemat patterns call for a 4mm to 5mm hook.

23 Free Crochet Placemat Patterns

1. Classic Striped Rectangle Placemat

This is the go-to beginner pattern that shows up on nearly every “learn to crochet” list for good reason. Working in simple rows of half double crochet or double crochet, you build up clean horizontal stripes by switching colors every two rows. The result is tidy, graphic, and completely customizable. Choose two neutrals for a Scandinavian look or go bold with contrasting brights for a more playful table setting. Search for “free striped crochet placemat pattern” on Ravelry or Yarnspirations and you’ll find multiple variations at no cost.

2. Granny Square Placemat

If you know how to make a granny square, you already know how to make this placemat. The pattern simply joins four large granny squares in a two-by-two arrangement to create a rectangular mat. It’s a wonderful way to use up scrap yarn while still producing something cohesive, especially if you stick to one accent color for all the joining rounds. You can find free versions of this pattern from designers like Daisy Farm Crafts and on the Ravelry free pattern database.

3. Sunburst Round Placemat

Round placemats have a relaxed, bohemian feel that works beautifully on wooden tables. The sunburst version starts with a magic ring and expands outward in rounds of treble crochets fanned to create a radiating, flower-like design. It’s typically worked in one or two colors and finishes with a scalloped or picot border. This style looks especially striking in earthy tones like terracotta, sage, and cream. Many free versions are available on sites like AllFreeCrochet and Pinterest-linked designer blogs.

4. Linen Stitch Placemat

The linen stitch (sometimes called the moss stitch or granite stitch) creates a tight, almost woven-looking fabric that is ideal for placemats. The pattern alternates single crochets and chain spaces in a way that produces a dense, flat, and incredibly elegant texture. It’s not quite beginner level since it requires attention to placement, but it’s very achievable for anyone who has mastered basic stitches. The resulting placemat looks far more expensive than it is. Look for free linen stitch placemat tutorials on YouTube alongside written patterns on designer blogs like MooglyBlog.

5. Hexagon Placemat

Hexagon placemats have a modern, geometric appeal that suits contemporary and mid-century modern tables equally well. The pattern typically builds one large hexagon from the center outward, which keeps the shape consistent and eliminates seaming. A single-color version in a rich cotton yarn looks incredibly clean and intentional. Some designers add a final round in a contrasting color to define the edges. Yarnspirations and Paintbox Yarns both offer free hexagon placemat patterns on their websites.

6. Tunisian Crochet Placemat

Tunisian crochet creates a fabric that looks almost like knitting, with a neat grid of interlocking loops that lies beautifully flat. For a placemat, the simple Tunisian stitch or Tunisian full stitch produces a dense, smooth fabric that stands up to heavy plates and repeated washing. You’ll need a Tunisian crochet hook, which has a long shaft or a cable extension, but these are widely available and inexpensive. Free patterns for Tunisian placemats appear on Annie’s Craft Store and through individual designers on Ravelry.

7. Farmhouse Cotton Placemat

This style is all about texture. The farmhouse placemat typically uses a combination of front post and back post double crochets to create a ribbed or basketweave pattern that feels substantial and homey. Worked in natural cotton — off-white, cream, or wheat — these placemats look right at home on a rustic wood table with linen napkins. The Crochet Crowd and Daisy Farm Crafts both have free versions of textured farmhouse-style placemat patterns.

8. Boho Fringe Placemat

For a more relaxed, bohemian aesthetic, this pattern works up a simple rectangular or oval base and then adds cut fringe along the short ends. The base is often worked in single crochet or half double crochet to keep it flat, while the fringe adds movement and personality. It works especially well in natural cotton or a cotton-jute blend. You can find free patterns for this style with a quick search on Pinterest or through designers like Hooked by Robin.

9. Shell Stitch Placemat

The shell stitch is one of crochet’s most beloved textures — a repeating fan of five or seven double crochets fanned into a single stitch, creating a wavy, scalloped fabric. Applied to a placemat, it produces something that looks almost lacey but still has the density to protect a table surface. It photographs beautifully, which makes it a popular choice for handmade gift-givers who want their work to look impressive. Free shell stitch placemat patterns are available on sites like Crochet 365 Knit Too and AllFreeCrochet.

10. Oval Placemat

The oval placemat is a classic shape for a reason — it mimics the footprint of a dinner plate more closely than a rectangle does, and it looks elegant on a table set for a formal dinner. The pattern is typically worked from a foundation chain in the center, expanding outward in rounds with strategic increases at each end to maintain the oval shape. It’s a good intermediate project that teaches you how increases work in the round. Free oval placemat patterns can be found on Yarnspirations and through many designers on Crochet Pattern Bonanza.

11. Waffle Stitch Placemat

The waffle stitch creates a deeply textured grid of raised squares that resembles actual waffle texture — which, appropriately, makes it feel right at home on a breakfast table. It requires a basic understanding of post stitches but is very rhythmic and satisfying once you get into the pattern repeat. Worked in a warm yellow or neutral cream, these placemats are absolutely charming. Free waffle stitch placemat tutorials are widely available on YouTube, and Marly Bird and The Crochet Crowd have offered free patterns in this style.

12. Tapestry Crochet Placemat

Tapestry crochet uses two colors simultaneously, carrying the unused color inside the stitches to create a colorwork design without floats on the back. For placemats, this technique opens up a world of geometric patterns, from simple diamonds and chevrons to more complex tribal or Aztec-inspired motifs. The result is a thick, sturdy mat that looks almost like woven textile art. These patterns tend to run intermediate to advanced, but many free tutorials walk beginners through the technique step by step. Look for free tapestry crochet placemat patterns on Ravelry and on YouTube channels dedicated to colorwork crochet.

13. Crochet Mandala Placemat

Mandala placemats are worked in the round from the center out, building up layers of intricate color changes and stitch combinations that result in a symmetrical, meditative design. These patterns can be as simple or as complex as you like — some free versions use just three colors and basic stitches, while others involve eight or more color rounds with popcorns, picots, and clusters. The finished product is genuinely stunning and often gets framed as wall art or used as a decorative mat for potted plants as well as a table setting. Designers like TL Yarn Crafts and B.hooked Crochet have offered free mandala placemat patterns.

14. Corner-to-Corner (C2C) Placemat

The corner-to-corner technique builds a rectangle diagonally, starting at one corner and increasing to the widest point before decreasing back to the opposite corner. It creates a fabric covered in small, textured squares and works up surprisingly quickly once you find your rhythm. It’s also an excellent technique for creating pixel art designs if you work it in multiple colors following a graph. Free C2C placemat patterns and blank graphing tools can be found on sites like Stitch Fiddle and through designers on Ravelry.

15. Spike Stitch Placemat

The spike stitch adds a fun, graphic pop to what would otherwise be a simple single crochet fabric. By inserting your hook one or more rows below the current row, you create elongated stitches that cross the fabric diagonally, forming a pattern that looks almost like it was hand-embroidered on afterward. It works especially well in two-color combinations. Free spike stitch tutorials are available on YouTube, and several bloggers have published free full placemat patterns using this technique.

16. Checkered Placemat

A checkered placemat uses a simple color-change sequence within rows to produce alternating blocks of two colors. Depending on how large you make the blocks, you can get a classic checkerboard, a bold gingham effect, or a subtle tone-on-tone texture. It’s an excellent pattern for learning how to manage yarn changes without tangling your work. Free versions range from beginner to intermediate and are widely available on craft blogs and Ravelry.

17. Daisy or Flower Center Placemat

This charming pattern places a raised or textured floral motif at the center of an otherwise simple rectangular or round mat. The flower can be a traditional daisy, a stylized bloom made with puff stitches, or a bold center medallion worked in contrasting color. The surrounding fabric is kept intentionally simple to let the centerpiece shine. These are especially popular for spring and Easter table settings. Free daisy and floral placemat patterns appear regularly on AllFreeCrochet and in seasonal collections on Yarnspirations.

18. Entrelac Crochet Placemat

Entrelac creates a woven or basketweave look by building small tilted squares that interlock across the fabric. It’s one of crochet’s more visually impressive techniques and produces a placemat that looks like it took far longer than it actually did. While the concept sounds intimidating, most free entrelac tutorials break it down step by step and the technique clicks quickly. Look for free crochet entrelac placemat patterns on YouTube and on designer blogs like Jonna Martinez.

19. Ruffled Edge Placemat

Take any basic rectangular or round placemat base and finish it with a ruffled border by working multiple stitches into each edge stitch for the final round or two. The ruffle adds a romantic, cottage-style flourish and can be done in a contrasting color for extra impact. This pattern modification works with almost any base pattern, making it endlessly adaptable. Many free tutorials show how to add ruffles to an existing placemat, and some designers have published full patterns with the ruffle built in from the start.

20. Reversible Placemat

A reversible placemat is worked in a technique that produces a clean, neat finish on both sides — no visible yarn ends, no wrong side. The most common method uses a double-layered construction or a specific stitch sequence that creates an identical (or complementary) appearance front and back. These placemats are incredibly practical because you can flip them over if one side gets stained. Look for free reversible crochet placemat tutorials on YouTube from channels like Bella Coco and Crochet Along with Connie.

21. Jute or Raffia Placemat

Working with jute twine or a raffia-style yarn gives your placemats a natural, organic texture that feels completely at home in a farmhouse, coastal, or bohemian dining space. The pattern is usually simple — a spiral round, a basic rectangle in single crochet — because the material itself does the heavy lifting aesthetically. These mats are often thicker and sturdier than cotton versions and have a wonderful earthy smell when new. Many free jute placemat patterns exist on craft blogs and Pinterest, and the technique transfers well from standard cotton patterns.

22. Beginner Chunky Placemat

This pattern is designed specifically for crochet beginners and uses a chunky or bulky weight cotton yarn with a large hook (6mm to 8mm) to work up a placemat in under an hour. The stitch pattern is typically single or double crochet in simple rows, making it an ideal first project for someone who has just learned how to hold a hook. Despite its simplicity, the chunky texture makes these placemats look bold and modern. Free beginner chunky placemat patterns are available on Lion Brand’s website, Yarnspirations, and many starter crochet blogs.

23. Mix-and-Match Sampler Set

This final option is less one pattern and more a philosophy: work one placemat in each of several different stitch patterns using the same yarn color, and you end up with a cohesive sampler set where every placemat is unique but the palette holds them together. It’s a wonderful long-term project that lets you practice new stitches while building a genuinely beautiful table collection. Many designers publish free sampler placemat sets as blog series, releasing one new pattern each week. Daisy Farm Crafts and The Spruce Crafts have both offered free multi-pattern placemat collections.

Tips for Making Your Placemats Lie Flat

One of the most common frustrations with croc