Looking for a free beginner knitting project that's a little bit more advanced than a garter stitch scarf? You've come to the right place! These easy placemats by Katina Killey from Knit Today issue 60 are super-simple and super-stylish. They have us dreaming of long lazy summer days in the garden. If you know the knit stitch then you can make these, plus they're a great chance to try simple colourwork!
You could work these stripes by cutting the yarn each time you change colour, but that would leave you with lots of fiddly ends to weave in. Instead, for those sections where you'll be using the yarn again in just a few rows' time, try carrying the unused yarn up the side of the work, remembering to catch it in the working yarn every now and then so you don't end up with a big loop at the edge.
This knitted placemat project is ideal for using up scraps from your stash. Choose four cheerful colours, including a mix of light and dark shades, to create your stripes. To use up even more stash you could make an extra-long placemat to use as a matching table runner. Happy knitting, and bon appétit!
More beginner knitting patterns
Start your knitting journey by casting on one of our easy knits for beginners. Which one will you choose?
To knit these placemats you'll need:
- Rowan Handknit Cotton (100% cotton, 50g/85m) 1 ball of each: Yarn A Ochre (349), Yarn B Florence (350), Yarn C Sea Foam (352), Yarn D Cassis (351). Can't find Ochre, Florence and Cassis? Try Sunshine (354), Goosberry (219) and Raspberry (356) instead
- Find this yarn at www.lovecrafts.com
- A pair of 4mm knitting needles
- A crochet hook
How to make a knitted placemat:
Before you begin, check out our guide to knitting abbreviations.
Tension
Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 20 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) in garter stitch using 4mm needles
Measurements
Placemat 1 is 25½ x 35cm (excluding fringe)
Placemat 2 is 25½ x 30cm (excluding fringe)
Knitted Placemat One
Cast on 50 stitches in Ochre (A). Knit 3 rows.
Change to Florence (B). Knit 4 rows.
Change to Sea Foam (C). Knit 4 rows.
Change to Cassis (D). Knit 4 rows.
Change to A, knit 4 rows.
Change to B, knit 4 rows.
Change to C, knit 4 rows.
Change to D, knit 20 rows.
Change to A, knit 4 rows.
Change to B, knit 4 rows.
Change to C, knit 4 rows.
Repeat these last 12 rows once.
Change to D, knit 20 rows.
Change to C, knit 4 rows.
Change to B, knit 4 rows.
Change to A, knit 4 rows.
Change to D, knit 4 rows.
Change to C, knit 4 rows.
Change to B, knit 4 rows.
Change to A, knit 3 rows.
Cast off.
Making up the placemat
Cut lengths of each colour and use the crochet hook to pull through stitches on the wrong side of the placemat, to make the fringe. Trim to the desired length.
Knitted Placemat Two
Cast on 50 stitches in C. Knit 8 rows.
Change to A, knit 4 rows.
Change to B, knit 10 rows.
Change to A, knit 6 rows.
Change to D, knit 10 rows.
Change to A, knit 4 rows.
Change to C, knit 20 rows.
Change to A, knit 4 rows.
Change to D, knit 10 rows.
Change to A, knit 6 rows.
Change to B, knit 10 rows.
Change to A, knit 4 rows.
Change to C, knit 8 rows.
Cast off.
Making up the placemat
Cut lengths of Ochre, Sea Foam and Florence. Use the crochet hook to pull them through the stitches at the edge, to make the fringe. Trim to the desired length.
Download your free knitted placemat pattern
Click the link below to download a PDF version of this pattern so you can access it when you're offline.
Once you've finished your knitted placemat check out these easy crafts to do at home and get inspired.
