Free Crochet Rectangle Placemat & Hand Towel Pattern

This free crochet rectangle placemat pattern brings a little handmade charm to your table — and it comes with a matching napkin ring. Worked in the cozy granny spike stitch, it’s a soft cream center with striped borders down each side, or stripes all the way through. Both versions are included. The same instructions make a lovely hand towel.

I make handmade gifts for just about everyone at Christmas. This is the one I kept.

One pattern, two practical pieces — and I’ve made it both ways.

The placemats look lovely on my dining table, with the napkins pulled through those little wooden rings. But I’ve made the same piece as a kitchen towel too, and it looks just as at home hanging by the sink.

That’s really the only decision you need to make: where do you want to use it? I made a set for our Christmas dinner and I love the colors — festive, but not too Christmassy — and with the napkin rings on, the whole table looks pulled together.

For the towel I ended up making two versions: one with narrow stripes, and one plain with striped borders. I think they look wonderful together — and paired with the Evergreen Washcloth, they make a lovely gift set.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Placemat Pattern

• Two pieces, one pattern — a placemat for the table or a hand towel for the kitchen, same instructions either way.
• Two stripe versions included — a plain center with striped borders, or stripes all the way through.
• Endless color options — narrow stripes, wide bands, festive Christmas shades, or soft neutrals for year-round.
• Easy to make — a simple one-row repeat with no shaping and no stitch markers.
• Beautiful texture — the granny spike stitch gives it a soft, woven look with real depth.
• Makes a lovely gift set — pair it with the Evergreen Washcloth, tie them with twine, and you’re done.

Part of the Evergreen Christmas Collection

The Evergreen Christmas Collection is five free crochet patterns designed with holiday gifting in mind: a lovely washcloth and towel set, a placemat with a matching napkin holder, a mug cozy, a wine cozy, and a cozy blanket. Each one uses the same granny spike stitch, so once you’ve made one, the rest fly by.

The full pattern is free right here on the blog — just keep scrolling.

If you’d rather have an ad-free printable PDF, the complete Evergreen Collection is available now in all my shops — five patterns plus printable gift tags. Individual patterns are available too in my Etsy and Ravelry shops.

Free Crochet Rectangle Placemat Pattern

RECOMMENDED YARN: Any #4 worsted-weight cotton yarn works. I used: Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Cotton Yarn. Colors shown:

• Forest Green (Yarn A)
• Serene Spa (Yarn B)
• Parchment (Yarn C)

YARN SUBSTITUTION

• Lion Brand Yarn Cotton Hemp
• Paintbox Cotton Aran Yarn
• Premier Yarns Home Cotton

YARDAGE: About 236 yards total

• Yarn A:  about 29 yards
• Yarn B:  about 45 yards
• Yarn C:  about 162 yards

HOOK: 5 mm or the hook to meet the gauge.

GAUGE: 4” square = 11 rows x 23 ST

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: Approximately 14 ½  in. long × 11 ½ in. wide

OTHER MATERIALS(optional)

• Faux leather tag
• 2 in. wooden ring (for the napkin holder if making the placemat)

ABBREVIATIONS

• CH: Chain
• ST: Stitch
• STS: Stitches
• SL ST: Slip stitch
• SC: Single crochet
• HDC: Half double crochet
• DC: Double crochet
• SSC: Stacked single crochet
• YO: Yarn over
• SK: Skip
• Rep: Repeat

Pattern notes

• TERMINOLOGY: Written in US terms.
• DIFFICULTY: Easy.
• This pattern is written for the plain version  — a solid center with striped side borders. Instructions for a fully striped version are included.
• This piece works as either a towel or a placemat. If you’re making the placemat, instructions for a matching napkin holder are included.
• This pattern uses the granny spike stitch. Keep your tension even for the best finish. Photos are included, and there are lots of video tutorials on YouTube if you’d like to see it in motion.

SPECIAL STITCHES

• Double crochet Spike Stitch: YO, insert hook into the indicated stitch from the row below, YO, pull up a loop to the height of the current row, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, pull through the remaining 2 loops.
• Stacked single crochet (SSC): Work 1 SC in the 1^st ST, then insert the hook into the left vertical bar of the SC just made, YO and pull up a loop, YO, and pull through both loops.

CHANGING COLORS: Complete the last stitch until 2 loops remain on your hook. Yarn over with the new color and pull through the last 2 loops. Cut the old yarn and continue with the new color.

Crochet the placemat /towel  

Row 1: With yarn A,  CH 48. SC in 2nd CH from hook and each CH across, turn. (47 ST)

Row 2: SSC, *CH 1, SK next 3 ST, 3 DC in next ST; rep from * across until 2 ST remain, SK next ST, DC in last ST. CH 1, turn. 

Note: Keep your tension nice and even throughout the pattern.

Row 3: HDC in first ST,  CH 1, SK next 3 ST, *DC in next CH-1 SP, DC spike st in the middle SC from the row below, DC in same CH-1 SP, CH 1, SK next 3 DC; rep from * across, ending with DC spike st in the middle SC from the row below, DC in same CH-1 SP,  HDC in the last ST. Change to yarn B, CH 1, turn.  Cut yarn A.

Rows 4-7: With yarn B, repeat Row 3. At the end of Row 7, change to yarn C. Cut yarn B.

Rows 8-38: With yarn C, repeat Row 3. At the end of Row 38, change to yarn B. Cut yarn C.

Rows 39-42: With yarn B, repeat Row 3. At the end of Row 42, change to yarn A. Cut yarn B.

Row 43: With yarn A, repeat Row 3.

Row 44: With yarn A, HDC in first ST, *SK next ST, HDC in the next ST, SK next ST, DC in next CH-1 SP, DC spike st in the middle DC of the 3 DC from the row below, DC in same CH-1 SP; rep from * across. End with a HDC in the last ST, CH 1, turn.

Row 45: SC in each ST across. Fasten off. Weave in all ends, and you’re all done!

Stripped Towel: Follow the same instructions as the plain towel. After Row 3, alternate colors every 2 rows.  Optional: Add a border by working (SC, CH 1, SC) evenly around the towel. In each corner, work (2SC, CH 2, 2 SC).

Placemat and Napkin holder

Use the same pattern to make a placemat.

Napkin Holder: Make a slip knot with yarn C. *Insert your hook through the center of the wooden ring and pull up a loop. YO and pull through both loops on your hook. Repeat from * around the ring, wrapping the yarn around the wooden ring as you crochet until it is completely covered. Join with a SL ST to the first st. Change to yarn A and SC in each ST around the ring. Join and fasten off.