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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

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!

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

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. -Whitney

 Materials

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

  • Main Color: 4 skeins of Cascade’s Ultra Pima, 100% Pima Cotton. I used Natural #3718
  • Contrast Colors: 1 skein each of four colors of Cascade’s Ultra Pima.  I used, from the top, Yellow Roses #3743, Gold #3747, Marigold #3749, and Ice Peach #3753.
  • A size E (3.5 mm) crochet hook

This is enough yarn to make four placemats.

Gauge

6 1/2 single crochets = 1 inch

Size

14 inches in diameter

Pattern

Round 1: With the Main Color, chain 3 into an adjustable loop (see our Adjustable Loop Tutorial right here for how-to’s!)…

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

…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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

Round 2: Make 1 slip stitch into next stitch, and 1 slip stitch into space…

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

…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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

Round 4: Make 1 slip stitch into next two stitches, and 1 slip stitch into space…

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

…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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

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:

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

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.

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho

Make three more and you’ll have a set!

Granny Circle Placemats | Purl Soho