How to Crochet Place Mats

Wouldn't you like to be able to make your own placemats in whatever color and pattern that you like? Even to be able to make extra for when you have company and you want everything to match. You can. By following a few simple instructions, you can use your spare time while watching commercials to make some beautiful place mats.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Crocheting hook

Instructions

1. 

   Decide what color you would like. Maybe look around the dining room and see what colors you might like to bring out of your carpet or curtains or even a complementary color. Yarn can be found in craft stores quite reasonably priced. Choose a yarn that will be able to be washed. If you pick a medium weight yarn then pick a medium sized crocheting needle, such as a J10 sized hook.

2. Crochet the beginning chain row to be about 20 inches long. Keep the stitches loose and evenly spaced. Turn back on the chain and start crocheting the second row after skipping the first stitch. A simple pattern of single crochet stitches is tight and neat looking for a placemat. When you get to the end of the second row, add a chain stitch and turn around and again skip the first stitch. This process of adding and skipping should keep your mat square.

3. 

   Pull the placemat from time to time lengthwise and widthwise to keep it straight. Continue adding rows until the width is about sixteen inches long. The number of rows is not important as different types of yarns have diiferent widths and stitches vary in tightness. Basically though, you can count on crocheting about thirty rows. Add different colors in as you like for a striped effect by tying a new color in as you go. Some yarn comes in multicolors.

4. Cut the string about six inches from the last stitch when you get to the end of last row. Pull the string through the last loop and tighten to knot it. Pull the string into the placemat by weaving it in tightly with your crocheting hook. This is done by simply poking your hook under a string close to the last stitch and pulling the loose string through it. Do this several times until the string is hidden.

5. 

   Iron the mat for a nice smooth appearance and lay on your table. It should be square and uniform, but best of all, something beautiful you made youself.

Tips & Warnings

• Unravel that old Irish wool sweater that is torn and ball up the yarn to use for this project.

• Do a single crochet stitch all along the outside edge for a sharp look.