Introduction
Bring the holiday spirit to your dining room with this eye-catching round crochet placemat featuring dramatic color-blocking in festive red and green. The central circle cleverly divides the two classic colors, and the playful sunburst petal border adds volume and a touch of whimsy. The placemat’s texture is soft yet sturdy, displaying neat rounds of half double crochet stitches, giving the piece a bold and defined look. Lively yet classic, it instantly elevates any holiday tablescape or coffee table arrangement.
Perfect for Christmas entertaining or cozy winter gatherings, this placemat also doubles as a decorative centerpiece under vases, candles, or festive arrangements. The cheerful palette and geometric color division make it an engaging project to crochet and a conversation starter when finished. It is a wonderful item to make for yourself or as a thoughtful, handmade holiday gift.
Despite its striking appearance, the construction involves repeated rounds and simple color changes, making it rewarding for improvers while remaining manageable for confident beginners ready to try their hand at basic colorwork and fun border details.
Project Overview
This placemat is made in the round from the center out, with half double crochet (hdc) stitches throughout the main body. The piece uses continuous (spiral) rounds for a seamless base and requires changes between red and green yarn to achieve the two-color effect. The petal-like edging is crocheted in separate joined rounds at the end. The entire project is worked as one piece with integrated color changes, with only finishing and weaving in of ends required.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate: The main techniques involve working in the round, increasing evenly, basic color changes, and creating a decorative edging. Some experience with working in continuous rounds and changing colors midway through a round is helpful but not essential with careful counting.
Materials
- Worsted weight (Medium/4) cotton yarn: Approx. 100 g (about 180 yds/165 m) red, 70 g (about 126 yds/115 m) green.
- Crochet hook: US size H/8 (5.0 mm). Adjust if your gauge is very tight or loose.
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
- Stitch markers for marking rounds and color changes (highly recommended).
- Sharp scissors.
- Measuring tape/ruler (for checking gauge and blocked size).
Yarn suggestion: Use mercerized cotton for crisp stitch definition, washability, and a lovely sheen. Acrylic is also suitable if you prefer.
Finished Size
This placemat measures approximately 36 cm (14 inches) in diameter from petal tip to petal tip. The inner circle is about 30 cm (12 inches) across. To increase or decrease the overall size, add or subtract rounds in the center motif before starting the border, ensuring you end with a stitch count that is a multiple of 16 to match the number of border petals.
Gauge
With 5.0 mm hook and worsted weight cotton, 8 hdc + 5 rows = 5 cm (2 inches) in the round (unblocked). Slight personal variations will not affect use, but a significantly looser or tighter gauge may change the overall dimensions and yarn needed. Try to match gauge for a placemat of similar size.
Stitches and Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- MR – magic ring
- inc – increase (2 hdc in same stitch)
Pattern Notes
- This placemat is worked in continuous (spiral) rounds for the body. Use a stitch marker to note the beginning of each round.
- The border is added in one final joined round; you will join each petal motif to the base with slip stitches.
- Color changes for the split half design: Work with two strands (one green, one red), changing colors halfway through each round at the same stitch count each time to form a clear division. Carry unused color neatly at the back or fasten off and rejoin for cleaner results.
- Chains at the start of petals count as stitches.
- Right side (RS) is always facing. Weave in ends on the wrong side (WS).
- Consistency in where you place increases (always in the first stitch of a pair or as written) helps avoid visible ‘steps’ in shaping.
Crochet Pattern Instructions
Center Circle
With red yarn, start:
- MR, ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), 8 hdc in ring. Tighten ring. (8 sts)
- Hdc inc in each st around. (16)
- (Hdc in next st, inc in next st) around. (24)
- (Hdc in next 2 sts, inc in next st) around. (32)
- (Hdc in next 3 sts, inc in next st) around. (40)
Begin color changes (starting with round 6):
- Hdc in next 20 sts (red), switch to green, hdc in next 20 sts (green). (40)
- Increase round: (Hdc in next 4 sts, inc in next st) 8 times (red), switch to green, repeat for next 8 sections (green), for a total of 48 sts (24 per color).
- (Hdc in next 5 sts, inc in next st) in red for 24 sts, change to green at halfway mark; repeat in green for next 24 sts. (56)
- (Hdc in next 6 sts, inc in next st) for each color, changing at halfway point. (64)
- (Hdc in next 7 sts, inc in next st) for each color block, switching at halfway. (72)
- (Hdc in next 8 sts, inc in next st) for each color section. (80)
- (Hdc in next 9 sts, inc in next st) for each section. (88)
- (Hdc in next 10 sts, inc in next st). (96)
- (Hdc in next 11 sts, inc in next st). (104)
- (Hdc in next 12 sts, inc in next st). (112)
- (Hdc in next 13 sts, inc in next st). (120)
Adjust to reach approximately 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter or as desired. Continue increasing 8 sts per round, always switching color halfway. End with a stitch count divisible by 16 for the border (e.g., 128).
TIP: For crisp color division, switch colors on the final yarn-over of last hdc before the switch point. Carefully follow color changes on every round to keep the line straight.
Sunburst Petal Border
You should have 128 sts on the last round (if not, increase or decrease evenly to reach a multiple of 16). Join red yarn if necessary. This round is worked in joined rounds, not spiral.
- Join yarn with sl st, ch 1. *Sc in next st, skip 1 st, (dc, ch 2, dc, ch 2, dc, ch 2, dc) all in next st, skip 1 st, sc in next st*, repeat * to * around (16 petals).
- Sl st to first sc to join. Cut yarn and fasten off.
Petals should lay flat. If they curl, check that your stitch count is correct or use a larger hook for the border round.
Assembly and Finishing
- Weave in all ends neatly on the WS using a tapestry needle.
- If you carried yarn between color changes, ensure it is secured and not visible from the RS.
- To shape the placemat, gently steam block (for cotton) or wet block. Pin the edge petals to shape evenly around the circle. Let dry completely.
- Trim any excess yarn and reshape if needed before use.
Customization Ideas
- Change the color palette to match seasons or holidays (e.g., gold and white for New Year’s, yellow and orange for autumn, pink and lilac for Easter).
- Use a single color for a classic look or add more color segments for a multicolored effect.
- Make a smaller version for coasters or mug rugs, or a larger runner by joining several motifs.
- Add metallic threads with your main yarn for an elegant shimmer.
Troubleshooting
- Puckering or curling: If the circle won’t lay flat, your increases may be off. Ensure you increase evenly each round. If it ruffles, use fewer increases; if it curls, try more increases or go up a hook size.
- Jagged color line: If your division between red and green is not straight, check that you always switch after the same number of stitches each round and pull color changes through neatly.
- Uneven petals: Double-check your stitch count for the final round. Each petal should be spaced evenly; if not, adjust by adding/removing a stitch or using a stitch marker for each starting sc.
- Loose carries: If carrying yarn, catch it every few stitches at the back or twist colors at the change point to avoid loops on the back.
- Piece too small or too large: Adjust your hook size or yarn weight, or increase/decrease the number of center rounds.
Care Instructions
Hand wash gently or machine wash on a delicate, cold cycle (preferably in a laundry bag) to preserve shape and color. Reshape and air dry flat. Do not tumble dry. Iron on low with a protective cloth if needed.
Final Notes
Carefully count stitches at the end of every round to keep the piece symmetrical. Adjust your tension for an even fabric. Refer to the sample photo as your color placement and border guide. Enjoy displaying or gifting your beautiful handmade placemat!
