How to Crochet a Moss Stitch Table Mat: Free Crochet Pattern
There is something quietly satisfying about making something useful for your home entirely by hand. A table mat might seem like a small project, but when it’s worked in the moss stitch — one of the most beautifully textured stitches in all of crochet — it becomes something you’ll want to show off every single day. This free crochet pattern will walk you through everything you need to know to create a gorgeous, sturdy, and washable moss stitch table mat from start to finish. Whether you’re a beginner who has learned the basics or an intermediate crocheter looking for a satisfying weekend project, this pattern is for you.
What Is the Moss Stitch in Crochet?
Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about the moss stitch, because understanding what you’re making and why it looks the way it does makes the whole process more enjoyable.
The moss stitch — also called the granite stitch, the linen stitch, or the woven stitch depending on where you learned to crochet — is a combination of single crochets and chain stitches worked in alternating spaces. The result is a dense, slightly raised, crosshatch-like texture that looks far more complicated than it actually is. The fabric it creates is firm without being stiff, with a lovely drape that makes it perfect for table mats, dishcloths, and placemats.
What makes the moss stitch especially appealing for a table mat is its durability. Because the stitches interlock in both directions, the finished fabric holds its shape beautifully even after multiple washes. It also has a lovely flat lay — meaning it won’t curl up at the edges the way some other stitch patterns tend to do, which is exactly what you want from something meant to sit flat on a table.
The stitch repeat is a simple two-row pattern, which means once you’ve worked the first four rows, your hands will have found the rhythm and you’ll be able to crochet almost on autopilot while watching your favourite show.
Materials You’ll Need
Choosing the right materials for a table mat matters more than it might for other projects, because table mats need to be practical. They’ll be near food, drinks, and heat, and they’ll need regular washing. Here’s what to gather before you start.
Yarn: You’ll want a cotton yarn or a cotton-blend yarn rated as worsted weight (also labeled as size 4 or “aran” on some brands). Cotton is the classic choice for kitchen and table textiles because it’s absorbent, easy to wash, gets softer with each wash, and holds its shape well. Some great options include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, Drops Safran (for a finer version), or any supermarket cotton yarn you have on hand. You’ll need approximately 100–150 grams for a standard placemat-sized mat, depending on the dimensions you choose.
Hook: A 5.0mm crochet hook works beautifully with worsted weight cotton. You may want to go up half a size to 5.5mm if your tension tends to run tight, or stay at 4.5mm if you crochet loosely. The goal is a fabric that’s firm but not rigid.
Scissors and a yarn needle for weaving in your ends at the finish.
Measuring tape to check your dimensions as you go.
Optional but helpful: a spray bottle with water and some blocking mats if you want to give your finished mat a professional, perfectly square finish.
Pattern Notes and Abbreviations
This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
ch — chain
sc — single crochet
sk — skip
sp — space
st — stitch
rep — repeat
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
The moss stitch is worked over a foundation of an odd number of chains. In this pattern, you’ll be creating a placemat that measures approximately 30cm × 45cm (12 inches × 18 inches) when finished and lightly blocked, which is a standard placemat size.
Your gauge should be approximately 14 stitches and 16 rows to 10cm (4 inches) in moss stitch with a 5.0mm hook, but gauge is not critical for this project. What matters more is that your fabric has a pleasing texture and the right level of firmness — not so loose it flops, not so tight it curls.
How to Work the Moss Stitch
Let’s learn the stitch itself before we start the pattern. The moss stitch works over a chain foundation with an odd number of chains plus a small turning chain.
For a practice swatch, chain 17.
Row 1 (Foundation Row): Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook, work 1 sc, ch 1, skip the next chain, sc in the next chain, repeat from to across to the end. Turn. (You’ll have 9 sc and 8 ch-1 spaces.)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc into the first ch-1 space from the previous row, ch 1, skip the next sc, sc into the next ch-1 space, repeat from to across, ending with a sc into the turning chain space from the previous row. Turn.
Row 3: Repeat Row 2.
That’s it. That’s the entire stitch pattern. Rows 2 and 3 are your repeating rows, and you simply continue working them until your mat is the length you want. The magic is in the way each sc sits above a ch-1 space and each ch-1 space sits above an sc, creating that characteristic woven, interlocking texture.
A note on turning chains: the ch 1 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch in this pattern. Always sc into that first ch-1 space immediately, rather than skipping it.
Free Pattern: Moss Stitch Table Mat
Now let’s put it all together into the actual table mat pattern.
Finished size: Approximately 30cm × 45cm (12″ × 18″)
Yarn: 120g worsted weight cotton (one skein is usually sufficient)
Hook: 5.0mm
Gauge: 14 sts × 16 rows = 10cm in moss stitch (not critical)
Foundation Chain
Chain 63. (This gives you an odd number of working stitches — 31 sc across — plus the extra chain for the first stitch position.)
If you’d like a wider or narrower mat, adjust your starting chain by adding or subtracting in increments of 2 to keep the stitch count odd.
Row 1
Sc in the 2nd chain from the hook. Ch 1, skip 1 ch, sc in the next ch. Repeat from to all the way across. You should have 32 sc and 31 ch-1 spaces — wait, let’s recount to be precise. With a starting chain of 63, you’ll work a sc in the 2nd chain, then repeat (ch 1, skip 1, sc) across the remaining 61 chains, which gives you (61 ÷ 2 = 30 repeats) plus that first sc, so 31 sc total and 30 ch-1 spaces. Turn your work.
Rows 2 Onward
Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), turn. Sc into the first ch-1 space. Ch 1, skip the next sc, sc into the next ch-1 space. Repeat from to across the row. At the end of each row, make sure to sc into the very last ch-1 space (the one sitting above the turning chain from the row below) — it’s easy to miss this final stitch and lose width over time, so count occasionally to make sure your stitch count is holding.
Continue repeating this row until your mat measures approximately 45cm (18 inches) from the foundation chain. Depending on your tension and hook size, this will take somewhere between 60 and 72 rows.
Finishing the Mat
When your mat has reached the right length, fasten off and leave a tail of about 15cm for weaving in. Thread your yarn needle and weave the tail into several stitches along the edge, going through the back loop of the edge stitches to keep things tidy and secure. Repeat with any other yarn tails from colour changes or joining new yarn if you ran out mid-project.
Adding a Border (Optional but Recommended)
A simple border transforms a crochet piece from something that looks almost finished to something that looks completely professional. For this mat, a clean single crochet border works beautifully with the moss stitch texture and gives you a neat, crisp edge all the way around.
To add the border, join your yarn with a slip stitch at any corner of the mat. Work 3 sc into the corner stitch to create a neat turn. Then sc evenly along each edge — along the foundation chain edge and the final row edge you can sc into each stitch and space, while along the side edges you’ll work approximately one sc per row end (about 1 sc per row, sometimes 2 sc every 3 rows, to keep the edge from puckering or ruffling — swatch a little to find what looks flat and even for your tension). Work 3 sc into each corner as you go. When you reach your starting point, slip stitch to join, fasten off, and weave in the tail.
If you want something a little more decorative, a shell stitch border or a simple reverse single crochet (also called crab stitch) edge gives a lovely raised, rope-like finish. To work reverse single crochet, simply work a row of sc going from left to right instead of right to left — it feels awkward at first but creates a beautiful twisted cord effect.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Cotton yarn can be a little less forgiving than acrylic when it comes to tension, because it has less stretch. If your stitches feel very tight and your hook is dragging through the fabric, try going up a hook size before you start the full project.
The moss stitch has a tendency to pull slightly to one side in the early rows. Don’t panic — this usually resolves itself as the fabric grows, and blocking will straighten it out completely at the end.
When counting stitches in the moss stitch, count each sc as one stitch and each ch-1 space as one stitch, giving you a total stitch count that includes both. This makes it easier to spot if you’ve accidentally increased or decreased.
If you’re making a set of matching mats, consider winding off equal amounts of yarn before you start each one, so you can be confident they’ll all be the same length.
How to Block Your Finished Mat
Blocking is the step many crocheters skip, but it makes a remarkable difference, especially with cotton yarn. To block your mat, wet it thoroughly with cool water (or use your spray bottle), gently squeeze out the excess water without wringing, and lay it flat on your blocking mats. Use pins or blocking wires to stretch it gently into a perfect rectangle, checking your measurements as you go. Leave it to dry completely — with cotton, this usually takes a few hours or overnight. When you unpin it, the fabric will be beautifully flat, the texture will be more defined, and the edges will be crisp and straight.
Caring for Your Moss Stitch Table Mat
One of the best things about a cotton crochet table mat is how practical it is to care for. Machine wash on a cool or warm gentle cycle, and either tumble dry on low or lay flat to dry. Cotton can handle warm washes, which is great for a mat that might encounter food spills. Avoid high heat in the dryer for extended periods, as this can cause cotton to shrink a little over time.
With each wash, cotton yarn gets softer and the stitches settle more comfortably into each other, meaning your mat actually improves with use.
Variations to Try
Once you’ve made one moss stitch table mat and gotten comfortable with the rhythm, there are so many directions you can take it. A runner for the centre of the table uses the same stitch pattern but with a much wider foundation chain and a longer overall length — around 30cm wide and 120–180cm long depending on your table size. A set of coordinating coasters works up in just 20 to 30 minutes each and makes a beautiful gift when bundled together. You could also experiment with stripes by changing colour at the beginning of every 10 rows or so, carrying the unused yarn up the side rather than cutting it each time to save yourself weaving in extra ends.
The moss stitch also looks stunning worked in a variegated or self-striping cotton yarn, where the colour shifts do all the visual work and the stitch texture adds depth and interest. Even a simple tonal yarn — the same colour in two different shades — worked in alternating sections gives a subtle, sophisticated result.
Why This Pattern Makes a Great Gift
A handmade table mat is one of those gifts that manages to be both practical and deeply thoughtful. Unlike some handmade items that recipients aren’t quite sure what to do with, a beautiful placemat gets used every single day. Because this pattern is relatively quick to complete — most makers finish a single mat in three to five hours of comfortable crocheting — you can make a set of four or six in a weekend, coordinate them to match someone’s kitchen colours, and package them up in a simple ribbon-tied bundle. They’re particularly lovely as housewarming gifts, wedding gifts, or as a contribution to a holiday table.
If you’re making gifts, keep notes about the yarn and hook you used for the first mat so you can replicate the results exactly across the whole set.
Final Thoughts
The moss stitch is one of those patterns that genuinely rewards the time you put in. It’s simple enough to be meditative and rhythmic, but it produces a result that looks considered and crafted rather than basic. For a table mat specifically, it ticks every box: it lies flat, it washes well, it’s durable, and the texture is interesting enough to complement any table setting without competing with it.
Whether this is your first time trying the moss stitch or you’re returning to a favourite, I hope this pattern gives you everything you need to make something you’re truly proud of. There’s a real pleasure in sitting down to a meal and knowing that the mat under your plate or glass came from your own hands — and with this pattern, that pleasure is completely within reach.
Happy crocheting, and don’t forget to share your finished mats — seeing how different yarn choices and colour palettes change the whole feel of the same stitch pattern never gets old.
