Sampler Placemats
I am not a fan. I don’t particularly like working with cotton, linen is good but I’ve been there done that, silk is great but can break the bank, and it’s often too hot and sticky for knitting with animal fibers. I don’t mind knitting out of season but it tends to look a little weird to those around me. Plus, anything I knit can only be worn late at night or it has to wait for cooler months. Not to be a complete downer but I miss winter already and it’s only July!
In order to perk myself out of my summer knitting blues I decided to create something practical for summer. I knit these sampler placemats with the intention of giving them as host/hostess gifts at a summer BBQ (which, by the way, are my favorite part of summer, nothing like a backyard BBQ). Having finished them, I kind of want to keep them. I wanted a bit of fun colour and some different patterns to hold the interest. They are also a ridiculously quick knit as they are made with Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton held doubled on 8mm (US11) needles. One ball per placemat.
There are 4 different stitch patterns and each placemat is knit with a seed stitch border. If your friends are a little more subdued you could go with the undyed organic version of the same yarn. These placemats are a fun and practical little knit, perfect for a gift or to brighten your patio/kitchen table. Although the label says hand wash only, I have machine washed mine and they are a titch smaller but none the worse for wear. Alexa’s Sampler Placemats pattern is available for free here: Placemats Pattern
Mary said,
December 27, 2009 at 10:32 am
Row 6 on the Spirals placemat does not equal 34 sts that are required to cast on. What can be changed in the pattern to accomodate?
alexaludeman said,
December 27, 2009 at 4:45 pm
For the Spiral Columns Placemat Row 6 should read:
Row 6: (p1, k1) twice, p2, k6, (p2, k6) across to last 6 stitches, (p1, k1) 3 times
Lindsay said,
March 2, 2010 at 12:49 am
I have a question, when you say twice does that mean you double up on the knits twice the purls or does that mean you repeat the k1 p1 twice? I’m just learning to knit. I don’t know all the glossary quite just yet. Thanks
alexaludeman said,
March 2, 2010 at 9:52 am
Hi Lindsay
It means repeat the k1, p1 twice. Hope you are enjoying the knit!
Alexa
Valerie said,
May 26, 2010 at 2:47 pm
On the Spiral Columns, one of my rows looks funny, I think maybe Row 7? Should it really be K2, P5 then (P3, K5) across… ? Should the parentheses be (K3, P5)? I’m new to knitting (3 months) so I can’t really figure it out. Could just be user error.
Your placemats are cute and hopefully will make a nice gift. Thanks so much for the pattern!
Linda said,
April 22, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I was also confused about ROW 7… thanks for your quick reply:)
alexaludeman said,
April 23, 2011 at 5:38 pm
which pattern?
Linda said,
April 24, 2011 at 9:18 pm
spiral columns Row 7
alexaludeman said,
April 26, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Hi Linda
Row 7 should read: Row 7: (k1, p1) twice, k2, p5, (k3, p5) across to last 7 stitches k2, (p1, k1) twice, p1
Sorry for the confusion!
Amy said,
June 9, 2010 at 4:56 pm
I am a new knitter so please forgive me but, you say the yarn is held doubled throughout for the knitting of the placemats. How do you do that? How do I pull 2 strands of yarn from one ball or do I need two balls and pull a strand from each?
Beverly Melligan said,
October 12, 2010 at 5:36 am
I don’t understand! You say 1 skein of yarn is required for each placemat, but then under “The Recipe” it says yarn is held double throughout. Wouldn’t I be need 2 skeins of yarn to be knitting with a “double” thread??
alexaludeman said,
October 12, 2010 at 8:48 am
Hi Beverly
The yarn is indeed held doubled throughout and you will only need one ball. I wound my yarn into a center pull ball and grabbed both ends, or you could wind your yarn into 2 balls if that’s easier. I hope that clears everything up!
Alexa
GG Sanders said,
January 29, 2011 at 1:53 pm
These are cute but ridiculously small. I had to crochet several rows to make them usable.
alexaludeman said,
January 29, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Hmmm, mine were 14.5″x10″ I would say gauge swatch it but they are kind of swatches themselves….
Summertime Crochet and Knit Patterns « .free.stitch. said,
April 4, 2011 at 3:57 pm
[...] consider summer tableware. Alexa Aludeman’s blog Gourmet Crafter has a free knitting pattern for summer inspired placemats. Placemats can be as complicated or as simple as you desire, so [...]
Cheryl said,
June 23, 2011 at 7:44 am
I think they are “simply” beautiful and can’t wait to try them!
I am pretty sure my sister will love a set for her summer birthday~
thank you for sharing your FREE pattern!!!
Cheryl R(SC)
escapetoknit said,
September 5, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Hi Alexa,
Love the design, texture and colors! What brand of yarn (if you recall) was used for your placemats?
Love the pumpkin color and would like to get ahold of some of that yarn.
Thanks for reading,
Ann
escapetoknit said,
September 7, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Hi Alexa,
I concur with Cheryl. Do you recall what brand of yarn you knit the sampler placemats. I love the pumpkin color and want to use the same for mine.
Thanks for reading,
Ann
alexaludeman said,
September 7, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Hi Ann
I used Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton! It’s fantastic and it’s got quite the variety of colours. The orange placemat is in the colour Poppy.
A
escapetoknit said,
September 8, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Thank you Alexa,
I’ve never seen Alpaca cotton. I have to get some. Their colors are remarkable.
Thanks again,
Ann
Bianca said,
July 4, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Thanks a bunch! Can’t wait to make my own!