How to Crochet a Flat Round Place Mat
A flat, round place mat results from crocheting in the round while making evenly spaced stitch increases. These stitch increases keep the place mat flat. Without increases, the fabric takes on a bowl shape. The larger the place mat grows, the more stitches you have between each increase, but the number of increases on each round remains constant. The type of crochet stitch you use to construct the place mat determines the number of increases you need in each round to maintain flatness. Taller stitches require more increases than shorter stitches. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Single Crochet Place Mat
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1
Review basic crochet stitches. A flat, round place mat with a tightly woven fabric uses the chain stitch, slip stitch and single crochet stitch.
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2
Chain two stitches to begin your single crochet place mat at the center.
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3
Single crochet six times into the second chain from the hook. Join with a slip stitch in the first stitch to join the round.
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4
Chain one stitch to begin the next round and all subsequent rounds. To maintain flatness, a single crochet place mat requires six evenly spaced increases in every round.
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5
Make a single crochet increase in every stitch on the first round by single crocheting twice in each stitch rather than once. This gives you a total of 12 stitches in the second round.
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6
Join this round and all subsequent rounds with a slip stitch in the first stitch.
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7
Continue working in rounds, making six evenly spaced single crochet increases per round, until the place mat is the width you need. To keep the increases evenly spaced, keep the number of stitches between each increase the same throughout a round, and then raise that number by one on the next round. For example, in round three place the increases in every second stitch for 18 stitches total. In round four, place the increases in every third stitch for 24 stitches total.
Double Crochet Place Mat
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8
Review basic crochet stitches. A flat, round place mat with a loosely woven fabric that allows for space between the stitches uses the chain stitch, slip stitch and double crochet stitch.
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9
Chain three stitches.
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10
Double crochet 11 times in the third chain from the hook. Join with a slip stitch in the top of the beginning chain-three. The chain-three serves as your first double crochet stitch for a total of 12 stitches in round one.
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11
Chain three stitches to begin the next and all subsequent rounds. This counts as your first double crochet stitch. To maintain flatness, a double crochet place mat requires 12 evenly spaced increases in every round.
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12
Make a double crochet increase in every stitch on the first round by double crocheting twice in each stitch rather than once. This gives you a total of 24 stitches in the second round.
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13
Join this round, and all subsequent rounds with a slip stitch in the top of the beginning chain-three stitch.
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14
Continue working in rounds, making 12 evenly spaced double crochet increases per round, until the placemat is the width you need. To keep the increases evenly spaced, keep the number of stitches between each increase the same throughout a round, and then raise that number by one on the next round. For example, in round three place the increases in every second stitch for 36 stitches total. In round four, place the increases in every third stitch for 48 stitches total.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To construct a flat, round place mat with half-double crochet stitches, increase eight stitches in every round. If you want to use a triple crochet stitch, increase 18 stitches every round.
If your place mat starts to come up on the edges like a bowl, you do not have enough evenly spaced increase stitches in the last round.
If your place mat starts to develop a wave or ruffle across the surface, you have too many increases in one or more rounds.
References
- For Dummies: How to Crochet in the Round
- Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs; Edie Eckman
- Crocheting for Dummies; Susan Brittain and Karen Manthey, et al.
