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Round Placemat with Red Popcorn Border Crochet Pattern

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Round Placemat with Red Popcorn Border Crochet Pattern
6-8 Hours 0 made this
Intermediate Level

You need to be comfortable with double crochet, chain spaces and popcorn stitches.

6-8 Hours Each

One placemat is a relaxed weekend project, and a set of four makes a lovely table.

Festive Gold and Red

A thin gold line and bright red popcorns turn a soft cream placemat into a holiday centerpiece.

About This Round Placemat with Red Popcorn Border Crochet Pattern Pattern

This round placemat is worked in cream cotton from the center out. It has a thin gold line, two open mesh bands and a border of 48 red popcorn stitches hugged by gold shells. The placemat measures about 14 inches (35 cm) across, which is a good size for a dinner plate with a cup beside it.

You will use double crochet increases, eyelet rounds and popcorn stitches. It suits crocheters who have made a few doilies or round motifs and want a polished table piece that still works up in a few hours.

Round Placemat with Red Popcorn Border Crochet Pattern step detail

Why You'll Love This Round Placemat with Red Popcorn Border Crochet Pattern Pattern

I love how a small amount of red makes the whole placemat feel festive. The popcorn stitches look like little roses lined up along the edge, and the gold thread catches the light when the table is set.

I make these in sets of four or six, one an evening, and they make a lovely gift for a wedding, a housewarming or the holidays. You can also use leftover yarn, since each placemat needs only a small amount of red and gold.

Round Placemat with Red Popcorn Border Crochet Pattern step 1 - construction progress

Switch Things Up

Try a few changes to make it your own. Use ivory with dusty pink popcorns and silver thread for a spring table, or deep green with gold for Christmas. Work the same border around a longer base to make a matching table runner. Skip the popcorn round and use only the gold shells for a calmer look. You can also stop after Round 10 for a small doily or a pretty mug rug.

Materials Needed

— Main Fabric

01 Size 4 worsted cotton yarn in cream: about 100 yd (90 m), roughly 50 g, per placemat
02 Size 4 cotton or acrylic yarn in red: about 40 yd (37 m), roughly 20 g, per placemat
03 Fine metallic gold thread: about 30 yd (27 m) per placemat. If your thread is very thin, hold 2 strands together
04 For a set of 4 placemats, multiply each amount by 4 and add a little extra

— Tools Required

05 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
06 Yarn needle for weaving in ends
07 Stitch markers
08 Scissors
09 Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
10 Measuring tape
11 Spray starch or fabric stiffener (optional)

The Free Pattern

Intermediate 6-8 Hours

0% complete

— Round Placemat (Make 4, cream with red and gold) :

Popcorn: work 5 dc in the same st, remove your hook from the loop, insert it from front to back into the first dc of the group, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through, then ch 1 to close the popcorn tightly. The ch 1 is the top of the popcorn and counts as part of that st.
Rounds 1 to 4 should measure about 3.5 in (9 cm) across. The finished placemat measures about 14 in (35 cm) after blocking. Join every round with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3 unless the round says otherwise.
Round 1 (cream): Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc in the ring, pull the ring closed and join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, 2 dc in each remaining st around, join. (24 dc)
Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, dc in next st, [2 dc in next st, dc in next st] 11 times, join. (36 dc)
Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, dc in each of next 2 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts] 11 times, join. (48 dc)
Round 5 (eyelets): Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 3 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 11 times, join. (36 dc and 12 ch-1 sps, 48 sts in all)
Round 6: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each remaining st and in each ch-1 sp around, join. (48 dc)
Round 7: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in next st, [dc in next st, 2 dc in next st] 23 times, join. (72 dc)
Round 8 (eyelets): Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st, [dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 1, skip next st] 23 times, join. (48 dc and 24 ch-1 sps, 72 sts in all)
Round 9: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each remaining st and in each ch-1 sp around, join. (72 dc)
Round 10: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, dc in each of next 2 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in each of next 2 sts] 23 times, join. Fasten off cream. (96 dc)
Round 11 (gold line): Join gold with a sl st in any st. Sl st in each st around, join with sl st to the first sl st and fasten off gold. (96 sl st)
Gold metallic thread is slippery, so tie a firm knot when you join and weave the ends in extra carefully later. Keep your sl sts loose so the round does not pull the placemat into a bowl shape.
Round 12 (cream mesh): Join cream with a sl st in any st. Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), skip next st, [dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] 47 times, join with sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch 4. (48 dc and 48 ch-1 sps, 96 sts in all)
Round 13: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each remaining st and in each ch-1 sp around, join. (96 dc)
Round 14 (cream mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), skip next st, [dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st] 47 times, join with sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch 4. (48 dc and 48 ch-1 sps, 96 sts in all)
Round 15: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each remaining st and in each ch-1 sp around, join. Fasten off cream. (96 dc)
Round 16 (red popcorns): Join red with a sl st in any st. Ch 1, sc in same st, popcorn in next st, [sc in next st, popcorn in next st] 47 times, join with sl st to the first sc. Fasten off red. (48 sc and 48 popcorns, 96 sts in all)
Round 17 (gold): Join gold with a sl st in any sc. Ch 1, sc in each sc and in the top of each popcorn around, join with sl st to the first sc. (96 sc)
Round 18 (gold shells): Ch 1, [sl st in next st, 5 dc in next st] 48 times, join with sl st to the first sl st. Fasten off and weave in the end. (48 shells of 5 dc and 48 sl st, 96 sts in all)
In Round 18 each sl st lands on a sc that sits over a sc from Round 16, and each 5 dc shell lands on a sc over a popcorn. This keeps one gold shell centered on every red popcorn and gives the edge its wavy scalloped look.

Assembly Instructions

  1. Work the round placemat from Round 1 to Round 18, changing from cream to gold, back to cream, then to red and gold as written.
  2. Weave in all ends on the wrong side. Tie the gold and red ends firmly before weaving them in, because metallic thread can slip loose.
  3. Wet block the placemat flat on a blocking mat with pins around the edge, easing the gold shells into even scallops.
  4. Let the placemat dry completely, then remove the pins and lightly press the shells with your fingers.
  5. For a firmer table piece, spray with starch or fabric stiffener while it is still pinned, and let it dry before use.
  6. Repeat to make a set of 4 placemats, and check that each one measures about 14 in (35 cm) so they match on the table.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Loose popcorns: pull the dropped loop through firmly and close each popcorn with a snug ch 1, or the red bobbles will look floppy.

Wavy center: too many sts in the eyelet rounds or tight gold sl sts can make the placemat ripple, so keep your tension even and block it flat.

Misaligned shells: start Round 18 with a sl st on a sc that sits over a sc from Round 16, so every 5 dc shell lands on a popcorn.

Losing count: use a stitch marker at the start of each round, especially in Rounds 12 and 14 where the dc and ch-1 sps alternate.

Denise

Denise is a crochet designer who writes friendly, easy to follow patterns for cozy home projects at Denise's Patterns.

Important Notes

Gauge is not critical, but Rounds 1 to 4 should measure about 3.5 in (9 cm). If yours is smaller, go up half a hook size.

Yarn amounts are estimates for one placemat. Buy extra in the same dye lot for a set.

Cotton can be machine washed gently, but hand washing is kinder to the gold thread. Dry flat and re-block if the shells lose their shape.

I hope this placemat brings a little warmth to your table. Make one, set it with your favorite cup and then make the rest of the set. Happy crocheting!

Crochet Abbreviations

01 ch — chain
02 sl st — slip stitch
03 sc — single crochet
04 dc — double crochet
05 st / sts — stitch / stitches
06 sp / sps — space / spaces
07 popcorn — 5 dc worked in the same st, then closed by pulling the dropped loop through the first dc and working ch 1

You Ask, We Answer

What is the finished size of the placemat?

It measures about 14 in (35 cm) across after blocking, with a 3.5 mm hook and size 4 cotton. Your size may vary a little with tension and yarn.

Can I use a different yarn weight?

Yes. Size 3 cotton with a 3 mm hook gives a smaller placemat of about 12 in, and size 5 yarn with a 4 mm hook gives one of about 16 in. Keep the same stitch counts and check the size after Round 4.

How do I wash and care for the placemat?

Hand wash gently in cool water, press out the water with a towel and dry flat. Do not wring it, and re-block with pins if the gold shells lose their shape.