Crossed DC Placemat Set (Crochet): The Complete Guide to Making a Stunning Table Accessory
There is something deeply satisfying about sitting down to a meal where every element of the table feels intentional. The food, the dishes, the centerpiece — and beneath it all, a set of handmade placemats that quietly anchor the entire scene. Crocheted placemats have enjoyed a long and well-deserved place in the world of fiber arts, and among the many stitch patterns available to makers, the Crossed Double Crochet stands out as one of the most rewarding choices you can make for this kind of project.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating a Crossed DC Placemat Set, from understanding the stitch itself to selecting the right materials, working through the pattern row by row, finishing your pieces beautifully, and styling them on your table for maximum effect. Whether you are a longtime crocheter looking for a fresh project or someone who has recently caught the crochet bug and wants to create something genuinely functional, this is the project for you.
What Makes the Crossed Double Crochet So Special?
The Crossed Double Crochet, often abbreviated as Crossed DC or sometimes written as cross-stitch DC in older patterns, is a two-stitch combination that produces an X-shaped texture across the surface of your fabric. Unlike a standard double crochet, which creates a relatively uniform, upright post, the crossed version skips a stitch, works into the next one, then doubles back to complete the skipped stitch. The result is an interlocking diagonal that gives the finished fabric a woven, almost braided appearance.
This texture serves several purposes in a placemat. First, it adds visual interest without becoming too busy or overwhelming the items placed on top of it. A placemat needs to complement the table setting, not compete with it, and the Crossed DC strikes that balance perfectly. The X pattern is geometric and satisfying to the eye, but it recedes gracefully behind a beautiful plate or a steaming bowl.
Second, the stitch creates a fabric that has excellent body and structure. Placemats need to lie flat, resist curling at the edges, and hold their shape after repeated washing. The Crossed DC, particularly when worked with a cotton yarn and an appropriately sized hook, produces a firm but not stiff fabric that does exactly this.
Third, and perhaps most importantly for anyone who has ever crocheted a placemat only to feel underwhelmed by the finished product, the Crossed DC is simply beautiful to look at up close. The diagonal crossing of the stitches catches the light differently than a flat stitch, adding a dimension of texture that elevates the finished piece into something that feels genuinely handcrafted.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on — or rather, before you make your foundation chain — it is worth spending a few minutes thinking carefully about your materials. The choices you make here will have an enormous impact on the finished placemats, both in terms of how they look and how they hold up over time.
Yarn: For placemats, cotton is almost always the right answer. Cotton is washable, it does not stretch and distort the way acrylic can, and it has a slight sheen that photographs beautifully and looks wonderful on a table. Look for a worsted weight or DK weight cotton yarn. Worsted weight will give you a slightly more substantial placemat that feels sturdy and luxurious, while DK weight will produce a finer, lighter fabric. Both work beautifully with the Crossed DC pattern.
In terms of quantity, a standard rectangular placemat measuring approximately 12 by 18 inches will use roughly 100 to 130 yards of worsted weight cotton. For a set of four placemats, plan on 450 to 550 yards, depending on your gauge and how generous you want to be with sizing. If you are working with DK weight, expect to use a little more yardage since the stitches are slightly smaller and you will work more rows to achieve the same dimensions.
Popular yarn choices for this kind of project include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Paintbox Simply DK Cotton, Drops Paris, and Paintbox Recycled Cotton Worsted. Each of these comes in an excellent range of colors, launders well, and has a pleasant hand that works nicely with the Crossed DC stitch.
Hook: For worsted weight cotton, a 5.0 mm hook (US size H/8) is a reliable starting point. For DK weight, a 4.0 mm hook (US size G/6) tends to give a good result. That said, gauge matters here, and it is worth working a small swatch before diving into your first placemat. Because placemats are a functional item with a target size, getting gauge right will save you from the frustration of producing a set of slightly mismatched pieces.
Additional supplies: You will need a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a pair of scissors, and a measuring tape. If you want to add a border to your finished placemats — and you probably should, since borders add polish and help the edges lie flat — a smooth, fine cotton in a coordinating or contrasting color can be lovely.
Understanding Gauge and Sizing
Because placemats are an item with a practical size requirement, taking a gauge swatch before beginning is genuinely worth the extra fifteen minutes. Work a swatch of at least 15 stitches by 15 rows, working in the Crossed DC pattern, then wash and dry it the same way you plan to launder the finished placemats. Measure your swatch once it has completely dried.
A typical gauge for worsted weight cotton on a 5.0 mm hook in the Crossed DC pattern runs approximately 14 stitches and 10 rows per 4 inches. If your swatch is larger than this, try going down a hook size. If it is smaller and your fabric feels stiff or difficult to work, go up a hook size.
For the placemats themselves, a finished size of 12 by 18 inches is a practical standard that fits most table settings comfortably, accommodates a dinner plate with a little room to spare, and requires a manageable amount of yarn and time. You can adjust the size up or down by simply adding or subtracting from your foundation chain — keeping in mind that the Crossed DC pattern requires a foundation chain in an even number of stitches.
The Pattern: Step by Step
Abbreviations used:
Ch = chain, Sl st = slip stitch, DC = double crochet, Crossed DC = crossed double crochet, St = stitch, Sp = space, RS = right side.
The Crossed DC stitch: Skip 1 stitch, DC in the next stitch, then DC in the skipped stitch (working in front of the stitch just made). This creates one Crossed DC unit, which spans 2 stitches.
Foundation Chain: Chain 56 (or any even number to achieve your desired width). With worsted weight cotton and a 5.0 mm hook, a chain of 56 should give you a placemat approximately 12 inches wide, though you should always verify against your gauge swatch.
Row 1 (RS): DC in the 4th chain from the hook (the skipped chains count as the first DC). Now begin your Crossed DC pattern: skip 1 ch, DC in the next ch, then DC in the skipped ch. Continue working Crossed DC pairs across the row until you have 2 stitches remaining. DC in the final 2 chains. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first DC). DC in the next stitch. Work Crossed DC pairs across the row until 2 stitches remain. DC in the last 2 stitches. Turn.
Repeat Row 2 until your placemat measures approximately 18 inches from the foundation chain. This will typically be around 40 to 45 rows depending on your gauge.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Repeat this process for each placemat in your set. For a complete set of four, you will work the pattern four times, using the same yarn and hook throughout to ensure consistency.
Adding a Border
A clean border is what separates a good placemat from a great one. It frames the fabric, helps the edges lie flat, and gives the finished piece a professional, considered look.
For a simple single crochet border, join your yarn at any corner with a slip stitch. Work 3 single crochets in the corner stitch. Single crochet evenly along the long edge, working approximately 1 stitch per row end. Work 3 single crochets in the next corner. Continue along the short edge, working 1 stitch per foundation chain or stitch across the top. Work 3 single crochets in the third corner, then continue along the remaining long edge. Work 3 single crochets in the final corner and join with a slip stitch. Fasten off and weave in ends.
For a more decorative border, consider a shell stitch edge or a simple picot border. A picot border — where you work a small chain loop at regular intervals along the edge — adds a delicate, heirloom quality to the finished placemat that pairs beautifully with the geometric texture of the Crossed DC body.
If you choose a contrasting color for your border, even a single round of single crochet in a coordinating shade can add a significant amount of visual interest. Imagine a set of placemats worked in natural ecru cotton with a thin border in warm terracotta, or in deep navy with a crisp white edge. These small choices make the finished set feel curated and intentional.
Washing and Blocking Your Placemats
Because cotton yarn can be somewhat stiff and dimensional when first worked up, washing and blocking your finished placemats before using them at the table makes a real difference. The process relaxes the fibers, evens out the stitches, and gives the fabric a softer, more finished hand.
Wash your completed placemats in cool or warm water with a gentle detergent. Most cotton yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle, but hand washing gives you more control and is gentler on the fibers. Once washed, gently press out excess water without wringing or twisting the fabric, which can distort the stitches.
Lay each placemat flat on a clean, dry towel and gently shape it to the correct dimensions. Pin the corners and edges to a blocking board or foam mat if you want very precise edges, then allow to dry completely. This step is optional but produces noticeably crisper, more professional results.
Once fully dried, your placemats should feel soft, lie completely flat, and display the Crossed DC pattern at its best.
Color Choices and Design Variations
One of the great pleasures of making your own placemat set is the freedom to choose colors that genuinely suit your home and your table. Unlike anything you might buy from a shop, a handmade set can be matched precisely to your existing linens, dishes, or kitchen color scheme.
For a clean, contemporary kitchen, a set of placemats worked in a single neutral — warm white, soft grey, or natural oat — looks timeless and versatile. These colors photograph beautifully, work with almost any dish color, and never feel dated.
For a more playful, seasonal approach, you might work each placemat in a different color from the same palette. Four placemats in shades ranging from pale sage to deep forest green, for instance, would bring a lovely botanical quality to a spring or summer table. For a holiday table, deep jewel tones — burgundy, forest green, midnight navy, and warm gold — make a set of Crossed DC placemats feel festive and rich.
If you want to push the pattern further, you can experiment with color changes within a single placemat. Working several rows in one color before switching to a coordinating shade creates a striped effect that plays interestingly off the X texture of the Crossed DC. Because the stitch already has so much visual texture, stripes in close tonal values — two shades of the same color family — tend to look more refined than high-contrast combinations.
Gifting and Display Ideas
A completed set of Crossed DC Placemats makes an exceptional handmade gift. They are the kind of thing that is deeply appreciated precisely because most people would not think to make them for themselves, and yet they are used and seen every single day. For a housewarming gift, a wedding present, or a holiday thank-you, a neatly rolled and ribbon-tied set of four placemats in colors suited to the recipient’s home is thoughtful in a way that few purchased gifts can match.
For display or gifting, roll each placemat loosely and stack them, then tie with a length of natural twine or a coordinating ribbon. A simple handwritten tag noting the materials used and washing instructions adds a personal touch. If you are selling your placemats at a craft fair or through an online shop, beautiful, well-lit photography showing the placemats both flat and styled on a real table setting will go a long way toward communicating their quality.
Why This Project Is Worth Your Time
If you have made it this far and are still deciding whether to start a Crossed DC Placemat Set, here is a final thought to tip the scales. Placemats are one of those crochet projects that occupy a sweet spot between ambition and practicality. They are not so large or complex that the project becomes a slog, and yet they are substantial enough that finishing each one feels genuinely satisfying. The Crossed DC stitch gives your hands something interesting to do — the slight rhythm of skip, DC, back-stitch DC — without demanding the constant attention that a lace or colorwork pattern requires. You can work on a placemat while listening to a podcast, watching a favorite series, or sitting in good conversation.
And when you are done, you have something you will use. Not something decorative that lives on a shelf or in a drawer, but something that sits on your table at every meal, that earns compliments from guests, and that improves a little corner of daily life in an unassuming but real way. That is the quiet power of functional handmade craft, and the Crossed DC Placemat Set embodies it beautifully.
Pick your yarn. Find your hook. Make your chain. The table is waiting.
