Whit's Knits: Granny Circle Placemats
As hot weather settles over the city I can feel my summer appetite kicking in. Winter may be all about heavy red sauces and rich, maple drizzled squashes, but, for me, summer is a whole different story. Everything lightens up, and the operative word becomes "fresh", fresh salads, fresh fruit, fresh everything! And, so, to recognize this culinary shift, I decided that my tabletop would definitely need a summer overhaul.
These Granny Circle Placemats fit right into the mood of summer: bright, casual and as fresh as this morning! I took the classic design of the granny square, spun it into a circle and added a colorful edge. The result is a simple and cheerful set of placemats that will be perfectly at home under a bowl of salted cucumber slices!
For a no-fuss look I used Cascade's Ultra Pima. One hundred percent Pima Cotton, this yarn does durable duty with elegance. It's machine washable and ready for wear, but has a pretty, subtle shine and classic cotton simplicity.
There are so many sunny colors of Ultra Pima to choose from, you can really have good time personalizing your placemats. Go for white with royal and navy blues for a fun, nautical take, or stick to naturals and peaches for a breezy, beachy look. To reflect my seasonal mood, I chose four colors with the zesty flavors of citrus and melon.
The Materials
- Cascade's Ultra Pima, 100% Pima Cotton.
- 4 skeins of the Main Color (I used Natural #3718)
- 1 skein each of four Contrast Colors (I used, from the top, Yellow Roses #3743, Gold #3747, Marigold #3749, and Ice Peach #3753)
- A size "E" crochet hook
The Pattern
Gauge
6 1/2 single crochets = 1 inch
Finished Size
14 inches in diameter
Begin
Round 1: With the Main Color, chain 3 into an adjustable loop (see our Adjustable Loop Tutorial right here for how-to's!)...
...1 double crochet (dc) into the loop, (chain 1, 2 dc) 5 times, chain 1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Round 2: Make 1 slip stitch into next stitch, and 1 slip stitch into space...
...chain 3, 1 dc into same space, chain 1, 2 dc into same space, *chain 1, 2 dc into next space, chain 1, 2 dc into same space, repeat from * to end of round, chain 1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Round 3: Make 1 slip stitch into next stitch, and 1 slip stitch into space, chain 3, 2 dc into same space, *chain 1, 3 dc into next space, repeat from * to end of round, chain 1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Round 4: Make 1 slip stitch into next two stitches, and 1 slip stitch into space...
...chain 3, 2 dc into same space, *chain 1, 3 dc into next space, repeat from * to end of round, chain 1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Round 5: Make 1 slip stitch into next two stitches, and 1 slip stitch into space, chain 3, 2 dc into same space, chain 1, 3 dc into same space, *chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into same space, repeat from * to end of round, chain 1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Rounds 6 and 7: Repeat Round 4.
Round 8: Make 1 slip stitch into next two stitches, and 1 slip stitch into space, chain 3, 2 dc into same space, chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into same space, *chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into same space, repeat from * to end of round, chain 1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Rounds 9, 10 and 11: Repeat Round 4.
Round 12: Make 1 slip stitch into next two stitches, and 1 slip stitch into space, chain 3, 2 dc into same space, chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into same space, *chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into next space, chain 1, 3 dc into same space, repeat from * to end of round, chain 1, join to third chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Rounds 13, 14, and 15: Repeat Round 4.
Round 16: Repeat Round 12.
Rounds 17 and 18: Repeat Round 4.
Cut the yarn and pull the yarn through the last stitch.
Here's a visual of all 18 rounds:
Trim
With the Contrast Color, join to any stitch or space and chain 2. Make a half double crochet into each stitch and space around the edge of the placemat. Join to second chain of beginning chain with a slip stitch.
Cut the yarn and pull it through the last stitch.
Make three more and you'll have a set!
June 19, 2011
Reader Comments (37)
You're right! Thank you so much for your attentive reading! Round 8 is now officially corrected...
Thank you again!
Whitney
you tutorial is very good.
also check my blog post
http://roycedavids.blogspot.com/2011/06/crochet-red-simple-and-elegent-doily.html
hope you like it
It is normal that as you crochet the even rounds the edges might curl up a little bit, but the increase round should ease the tension. If that's not happening for you, I think that you are either missing something in the pattern (remember to chain 1 between every group of double crochets!) or perhaps your gauge is a little tight and you need to use a bigger hook.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have more questions!
Good luck-
Whitney
Maybe you have figured it out already, but I wonder if you are making the same mistake on row 6 that I almost did (my first time crocheting in like 20 years!). Are you crocheting into *every* space created by the chain 1's after each set of 3 dc's? Assuming I've done this correctly, there are 24 spaces to crochet into during row 6. There are small spaces (the chain 1's between the 2 sets of 3dc's you crocheted w/in one space) and big spaces. If you only crochet into the big spaces on row 6, I think you will get the curling up you describe.
-Sara
Sounds absolutely stunning! I don't think you can wrong with beautiful neutrals - maybe, like these, an ecru center with different natural colors around the edges? I hope your cousin not only loves them, but catches the bug too!
Thank you!
Whitney
Brandie
One question from a crochet noob - how do I secure the new colour to the edge? Do I just knot it on then weave in the tail or is there a special way? Thanks again :)
I hope this advice isn't coming too late because there is a very easy way to change colors. It doesn't involve knots. You actually just start crocheting with the new color, leaving a tail that you weave in later (or, even easier, crochet over as you go). Our Crocheted Yarmulke pattern shows you how: http://www.purlbee.com/crocheted-passover-yarmulke/2009/3/8/whits-knits-crocheted-passover-yarmulke.html .
Sounds like a great project! Good luck!
Whitney
Thank you for showing your beautiful crochet creations....I have been crocheting for 15 years (Since I was 19 years old) and I love that you have "brought it back"...I have a stepdaughter who loves to watch me "yarning" and we sit and talk as she pretends to "yarn" along with me...as we grow our family in the next few years, I am sure to incorporate crochet into everything for our home, gifts and mementos for whoever comes along....so please keep posting the crochet especially the granny stitch...which I noticed to be you guys' favorite ;) I am also in love with the shell stitch and trinity stitch...looks well in photographs and makes pretty patterns... and thank you!
I featured added this great tutorial over here:
http://www.thebackloop.com/blog/granny-square-love
Thank you for sharing
hugs from Brasilia, Brazil.
Should I keep going or will this row make it worse?
Want to make a set of these do much!
Thanks,
Diane
What a nice idea! Each placemat used one skein of the main color and a quarter skein of the trim color (so, 1 skein of the trim color would be enough for four placemats).
Another cotton alternative would be Blue Sky Skinny Cotton (http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/3823-Blue-Sky-Skinny-Cotton ). And some wool washable wool alternatives would be the Cascade Superwash 220 Sport (http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8066-Cascade-Yarns-Cascade-220-Superwash-Sport ) or the Madeline Tosh Sport (http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8682-Madeline-Tosh-Sport ).
Good luck and thanks for your questions!
Whitney
I suspect that an increase round is just what your placemat needs! I suggest that you keep going and if there's still some curl to the final mat, give it a good blocking. It should be just fine!
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Whitney
Joanne
I believe you will find that you'll need to increase the number of rounds between increase-rounds as your circle grows. So, you'll probably want to increase every four rounds a few times, then every five rounds, etc.
I agree with you about all things granny. it's so easy and beautiful and classic!
Thanks for your question and good luck!
Whitney
I may now have to give this placemat pattern a go.
Many compliments to all involved in the website and on the scene at the Broome Street shop. Purl is a very inspiring place.
I love this pattern! I have a set of 6 made and I think they will make a lovely gift. Do you have any suggestions for stain protecting them- Scotch Guard?
Thanks
Charlotte
I honestly haven't ever stain protected anything I've made (although I have certainly wished I had!), but doing a little research, I found that Scotchgard makes a special product for crafts called Scotchgard Needlecraft and Sewing Protector. I can't personally endorse it, but it does sound intriguing!
Thanks for your question and I hope you enjoy your mats!
Whitney
Have you tried blocking your placemats? By that I just mean soaking them in warm water, squeezing out the excess water and then letting them dry flat on a towel.
Hopefully that will work, but it may also be possible that you need to go up a hook size or two.
Please let us know if you have any more questions and good luck!
Whitney