Bring extra flavour to a table – whether inside or out – with these crocheted lemon and peach placemats.
You will need:
Rico Design Ricorumi DK yarn (25g 100% cotton):
x2 balls Yarn A Smokey Orange (024)
x2 balls Yarn B Yellow (006) - if making lemons as well as peaches
x1 ball Yarn C Fir Green (050)
1 x 23m roll of 10mm white chunky macramé cord (We got ours from woollymahoosive.com)
4mm crochet hook
Stitch marker
Finished size
Approx. 25cm x 25cm
Techniques
Magic loop (ML)
To start a magic loop, create a loop in the same way as you would when making a slip knot. Insert the hook into the loop, from front to back. Wrap the yarn around the hook anticlockwise and pull the yarn through the loop. Ch1 to secure the magic loop. Work the stitches as indicated into the centre of the magic loop, making sure all stitches are worked over the loop itself and the tail end. Once you have worked your first round, pull the tail of the yarn to the close the loop.
Chain (ch)
Hold the crochet hook in your hand and make a slip knot on the hook. Bring yarn over hook from back to front and pull the hook towards you to catch the loop. Pull the hooked yarn through the slip knot and onto the hook. One chain made. Repeat these steps, keeping your stitches even, until you have the desired number of stitches. One loop will always remain on the hook.
Double crochet increase (dcinc)
Make two double crochet stitches into one from the previous row/round. Insert hook into required stitch, yarn over hook (when you place your hook under the yarn and pull the yarn over the hook from back to front) and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over hook and then pull through both loops. Repeat once more in the base of the same stitch.
Double crochet 2 stitches increase (dc3inc)
Make three double crochet stitches into one from the previous row/round: Insert hook into required stitch, yarn over hook and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over hook and pull through both loops. Repeat twice more in the base of the same stitch.
Working in the round: spiral method
When working in the round, the pattern starts with a Magic Loop or a chained foundation ring. For the first round of the pattern, stitches will be made into the centre of the loop or ring. When working the spiral method, at the end of the round no join will be made to connect the last stitch of the round to the first stitch of the round, and the work is not turned.
Pattern
For the peach placemat
Using Yarn A, carrying cord. Create a Magic Loop and ch1. See below.
Take the end of your cord and fold the end over by 2–3cm to form a loop, with the end of the cord sitting on top. Insert the cord loop into your ML and pull to close. See below.
Rnd 1 Working into the centre of the cord loop, 12dc evenly around the loop. (12sts). See below.
Rnd 2 working into the prev rnd, carrying the cord as you go, *inc; rep from * 11 more times. (24sts)
Rnd 3 *1dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (36sts)
Rnd 4 *2dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (48sts)
Rnd 5 *3dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (60sts). See below.
Rnd 6 *4dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (72sts)
Rnd 7 *5dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (84sts)
Rnd 8 *6dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (96sts)
Rnd 9 *7dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (108sts)
Rnd 10 *8dc, dcinc; rep from * 11 more times. (120sts)
On the last stitch of rnd 10, change colour to Yarn C.
Cut and fasten off Yarn A by weaving in end.
For the peach leaf
Using Yarn C only.
1 Moving the cord aside, ss into next dc from prev rnd, ch7.
2 Starting in 2nd ch from hook, 6dc back down ch, 1ss into the base of the same stitch as ch7, using Yarn C, carrying cord. See below.
3 Make 5dc along the chain, dc3inc in top of chain, 5dc back down other side of ch. (13sts)
4 2ss into next 2 unworked dc from prev Yarn A rnd.
5 Crocheting over the top of the cord only, 16dc, ss into next unworked dc from prev Yarn A rnd.
6 Cut and fasten off Yarn C using a ss, leave a 15cm tail. Cut the cord, leaving a 5cm tail. See below.
7 Turn the placemat over and use a yarn needle to sew over the top of the cord end 10-15 times, catching the stitches behind to anchor it down. Fasten off Yarn C and sew in all ends. See below.
For the lemon placemat
Using Yarn B, carrying cord. Work as for Peach until end of Rnd 4.
Rnd 5 dc3inc, 18dc, dc3inc, ch2, dc3inc, 18dc, dc3inc, ch2. (60sts)
Rnd 6 dc3inc, 24dc, dc3inc, ch2 and sk ch2 from prev rnd, dc3inc, 24dc, dc3inc, ch2 and sk ch2 from prev rnd. (72sts)
Rnd 7 dc3inc, 30dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd, dc3inc, 30dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd. (84sts)
Rnd 8 dc3inc, 36dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd, dc3inc, 36dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd. (96sts)
Rnd 9 dc3inc, 42dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd, dc3inc, 42dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd. (108sts)
Rnd 10 dc3inc, 48dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd, dc3inc, 48dc, dc3inc, ch2 and skip ch2 from prev rnd. (120sts)
For the lemon leaf
Work as for Peach Leaf.
Maker’s notes:
The macrame cord is never crocheted with but carried, tapestry crochet style, throughout.
The placemats are worked in the round in a continuous spiral. Use a stitch marker to mark the last stitch of every round and move it each round to help you keep your place.
If your placemats start to curl, you are working your stitches too tightly. When you pull up a loop, exaggerate this action to make the loop longer than normal. It should reach up and over the cord, to sit comfortably on top.
Extracted from Modern Crochet Style by Lindsey Newns (Pen and Sword). Photography: Jesse Wild and Lindsey Newns. Find more patterns, crochet kits and books by Lindsey at lottieandalbert.com
Reader offer
For 20% off the RRP, please use the code CROCHET20 at the checkout on pen-and-sword.co.uk (paperback only, cannot be used in conjunction with other offers).
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