Charcoal Scallop Placemat

Easy Textured Rectangular Placemat with Cream Scalloped Border

A dense, pebbled Lemon Peel stitch body in charcoal gray is worked in one piece, then finished with a gently wavy cream shell border on all four sides. Perfect for everyday table settings.

Skill Level: Easy
Finished Size: Approximately 13" tall × 18" wide (33 × 45.5 cm) after blocking, including border
Yarn Weight: Worsted

Materials

• Main Color (MC): 100% cotton worsted weight yarn, Charcoal Gray — 180 yd (165 m) / approx. 3.5 oz (100 g)
  (Sample uses Lily Sugar’n Cream or equivalent)
• Contrast Color (CC): 100% cotton worsted weight yarn, Cream — 60 yd (55 m) / approx. 1.2 oz (34 g)
• Hook: US I/9 (5.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• Stitch markers (4)
• Scissors
• Blocking mats and rust-proof pins (or blocking wires)

Yardage Note: Total approximately 240 yd (220 m). Exact amounts vary by tension and brand.

Gauge

14 sts and 16 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Lemon Peel stitch, unblocked
Gauge Swatch: Ch 22. Work Lemon Peel stitch for 20 rows. Measure central 4".
Adjust hook size if necessary — denser fabric is preferred for placemats.

Stitch Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sp – space
• sk – skip
• rep – repeat
• rnd – round
• MC – main color
• CC – contrast color
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side

Special Stitch – Lemon Peel Stitch (worked flat)
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next ch, *sc in next ch, dc in next ch; rep from * across, ending with sc in last ch.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in first dc, dc in next sc, *sc in next dc, dc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with sc in last st.
Repeat Row 2 for pattern. Always work sc into dc of previous row and dc into sc of previous row. Stitch count remains constant and odd.

Special Stitch – Shell (for border)
5 dc in indicated stitch or space.

Pattern Notes

• Placemat is worked flat from short edge to short edge in MC, then border is added in the round with CC.
• Turning ch-1 does not count as a stitch.
• Keep edges even; place a stitch marker in the first and last stitch of every row if needed.
• Lemon Peel creates a dense, reversible pebbled texture ideal for placemats.
• Inline stitch counts are shown in parentheses at the end of key rows/rounds.
• Weave in ends as you go when possible.

Body (MC – Charcoal Gray)

Foundation: With MC, ch 64.
(64 ch provides 63 working sts — multiple of 2 + 1 ✓)

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next ch, *sc in next ch, dc in next ch; rep from * across to last ch, sc in last ch. (63 sts ✓)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in first dc, dc in next sc, *sc in next dc, dc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with sc in last sc. (63 sts ✓)

Rows 3–52: Repeat Row 2.
(52 rows × 4"/16 rows = 13" length ✓)
At end of Row 52, fasten off MC. Do not turn.

Border (CC – Cream)

Setup Round (RS facing): Join CC with sl st in the last st of Row 52 (top-right corner when RS facing).

Work sc evenly around the entire placemat as follows:

• Across top edge: sc in each of the 63 sts.
• Corner: 3 sc in corner st.
• Down left side: work 51 sc evenly spaced along the row ends (approximately 1 sc per row end, missing 1 every few rows to land on 51).
• Corner: 3 sc in corner.
• Across bottom (foundation chain): sc in each of the 63 free loops of foundation ch.
• Corner: 3 sc in corner.
• Up right side: work 51 sc evenly spaced along the row ends.
• Corner: 3 sc in corner.
• Join with sl st to first sc.

Stitch count check: 63 (top) + 3 + 51 (side) + 3 + 63 (bottom) + 3 + 51 (side) + 3 = 240 sc ✓
Place a marker in the center sc of each 3-sc corner.

Scallop Round: Ch 1, sc in same st as join,
*sk next sc, 5 dc in next sc, sk next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * around, working the following at each corner:
When you reach a marked corner sc, work (sc, 5 dc, sc) all in the marked center corner sc (this creates a fuller scallop that turns the corner smoothly).
Continue the sk 1, 5 dc, sk 1, sc rhythm between corners.
Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Scallop math check: 240 sts ÷ 4 = 60 repeats of (sk, shell, sk, sc) base unit; the four corner modifications absorb the extra stitches cleanly and produce gentle waves on all sides ✓

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely on the WS with yarn needle.
2. Gently steam or wet-block (see below) to final measurements.
3. Optional: for extra durability, work a second round of sc in CC before the Scallop Round (still placing 3 sc in each corner); adjust shell spacing by one stitch if needed.

Blocking (Essential)

Lemon Peel and shells both benefit from blocking to even the texture and set the scallops.

Wet-block method (recommended for cotton):

1. Soak placemat in lukewarm water with a drop of mild wool wash for 15 minutes.
2. Gently squeeze (do not wring) and roll in a towel to remove excess water.
3. Pin to blocking mats to exactly 13" × 18", easing the scalloped edges into gentle, even waves. Pin each shell tip outward.
4. Allow to dry completely (24 hrs).
5. Unpin. Fabric will hold its shape and the dense texture will relax slightly while remaining sturdy.

Steam alternative: Hover a steam iron 1" above the fabric (do not press) and pin to size while warm. Avoid crushing the pebbled surface.

Care Instructions

Machine wash cold gentle cycle, lay flat to dry, or hand wash. Cotton softens and improves with washing. Reshape scallops while damp if needed.

End of Pattern
Enjoy your new textured placemat! Make a set in coordinating neutrals for a complete table suite.