Dear Heart Placemat

Introduction

The Dear Heart Placemat/tablemat, crochet heart placemat, is the perfect addition to your Valentine’s Day dinning for two. Add a personal touch to that special evening with your loved one that will say how much you care without uttering a single word!

The heart is made using Tunisian crochet technique that creates wonderful texture. This pattern includes simple shaping and it is a great first project if you would like to step beyond the basics.

You can whip up the set in an evening, which makes it perfect for last minute project!

You can purchase the add free PDF version of the pattern at LoveCrafts here and Ravelry here.

Last updated: 18/02/2025

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Please NOTE that this pattern is subject to copyright and is my intellectual property. The online version is for personal use only. Do not re-publish or sell this pattern in part or full or make video tutorials of it. Any such actions are a breach of copyright and can result in legal action.

Skills required:

To create this beautiful crochet heart placemat you will need to master (or already know) these stitches and techniques:

Chain, Tunisian crochet technique (alternating forward and return passes), Tunisian simple stitch (tss), Tunisian full stitch (tfs, increase st), return pass with decrease (dec), Tunisian simple stitch bind-off, blocking.

Skill level:

Finished measurements:

The final crochet heart placemat measurements (blocked):

33 cm x 30 cm (approx. 13” x 11.75”)

Materials and tools

Yarn:

To get the exact look as on the pictures of crochet heart placemat, you will need:

Scheepjes Stone Washed (78% Cotton, 22% Acrylic | Sport | 50 g (1.8 oz) = 130 m (142 yds)),

  • (#836) Tourmaline 2 skeins   

Approx. 40 g per 1 heart (not including yarn used for a swatch)   

Other yarn alternatives:

Please always swatch when substituting yarn:

  • Scheepjes: River Washed
  • Yarnart: Denim Washed

For further alternatives, please see:

Scheepjes Stone Washed | Substitutes

You can get your craft supplies here.

Tools and notions:

  • Tunisian crochet hook size 4.0 mm (US size G/6) with cable (at least 20 cm (8”)) or size to obtain the gauge
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scissors

Gauge:

Blocked Gauge:

18 sts x 15 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”) over tss

The gauge is not essential for this colourwork washcloth, but it will impact the amount of yarn used.

Gauge helps you to understand how the project turns out in terms of the final size. If you would like to achieve the exact size of the final project as in the instructions above, you gauge needs to match exactly to the above.

If you get more stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact hook size as per instructions, your final project will turn out smaller. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact hooks size as per instructions, your final project will turn out bigger.

To make adjustments, if you get more stitches and/or rows, you can try using bigger hook size to get closer to the desired size. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows, you can try using smaller hook size to get closer to the desired size.

It may take trial and error to try out a few hook sizes to achieve the exact size.

Alternatively, if you really don’t want to make several samples to achieve the desired size, you can try to alter your tension as you work the project. However, I would advise to try this out once you master the basics of Tunisian crochet as it may be a bit tiresome to try to master the basics of Tunisian crochet and focus on alternating your tension while working the project.

If this crochet heart placemat is your first Tunisian crochet project and are not sure if this project matches your skills, I have a Tunisian crochet masterclass tutorial that will jump-start your Tunisian crochet journey!

Stitch guide:

Tunisian crochet stitches are worked in 2 steps; forward and return pass from right to left, with the number of sts (lps) increasing on the hook during the forward pass and decreasing during the return pass.

Standard Return pass is worked in the same way for all stitches (rows of sts) used in this project as follows: 1 ch, * yrh, draw through 2 lps on hook, rep from * until 1 lp on hook.

Return pass with decrease is worked as follows: * yrh, draw through 2 lps on hook, rep from * until 1 lp on hook.

Edge stitches:

Right edge stitch- This is the first lp on hook and counts as first st unless otherwise stated.

Left edge stitch- This st is referred to in the pattern as the End Stitch (ES) and is crocheted as follows: Rotate the end of the fabric towards yourself, insert the hook under both bars (left and right) of the last st, yrh and pul.

Tunisian crochet stitches:

  • First row of Tunisian crochet: Insert the hook in the back bump of second ch from hook, yrh and pul across.
  • Tunisian simple stitch: Insert the hook from right to left under front vertical bar of the next st, yrh and pul.
  • Tunisian full stitch:  Insert the hook from front to back between the next 2 st, yrh and pul.

Bind off:

Tunisian Simple stitch bind-off: Insert hook from right to left under front vertical bar of the next st, yrh, pul and pull through the lp that is on the hook. One lp remains on the hook.

Abbreviations:

 Abbreviations used in crochet heart placemat 
ch- chain  pul- pull up a loop  
st(s)- stitch(es)  FP- forward pass  
lp(s)- loop(s)  RP- return pass  
tss- Tunisian simple stitchRS- right side  
tfs- Tunisian full stitch  approx.- approximately  
ES- End stitch  rep- repeat  
yrh- yarn round the hook   

Dear Heart Placemat stitch chart:

Notes:

  • Similar sport weight yarns may be substituted; please check gauge.
  • Number of loops on hook equals number of sts for row counting before RP.
  • The crochet heart placemat is worked flat with RS always facing from right to left.

Instructions:

Crochet Heart Placemat

Base

Ch 3.

Row 1 FP: Insert the hook in the back bump of second ch from hook, yrh and pul, insert the hook in the back bump of next ch, yrh and pul. 3 lps

Row 1 RP and all other RPs unless indicated otherwise: Standard RP.

Row 2: Tfs, tss in next st, tfs, ES.5 lps

Row 3: Tfs, tss across to last st, tfs, ES. 7 lps

Continue working the crochet heart placemat in established pattern of increasing at the beginning and end of the row and working tss between (2 sts inc per row).

Rows 4-28: Rep Row 3. 57 lps

Row 29: Tss across to last st, ES.

Row 30: Rep Row 3. 59 lps

Rows 31-32: Rep Rows 29-30. 61 lps

Rows 33-35: Rep Row 29.

Row 36 FP: Rep Row 29.

Row 36 RP: Standard RP with decrease to last 3 lps, yrh and pul. (FP: 61 lps, RP:59 lps).

The stitches will be split in the next row with 1 st bind-off leaving 29 sts on each side of the crochet heart placemat.

Left side of heart will be worked till bind-off (sts on right side will be left on hook).

Row 37 FP: Tss in next 30 sts, bind-off next st (this creates a small gap between the group of sts on right and left), tss across to last st ES. (29 sts left per side).

Left side:

Row 37 RP: Standard RP with decrease to last 3 lps, yrh and draw through 3 lps. (FP: 29 lps, RP: 27 lps)

Row 38 FP: Tss across to last st, ES. 27 lps

Row 38 RP: Rep Row 37 RP. 25 lps

Rows 39-43: Rep Row 38. (FP: 17 lps, RP: 15 lps)

Row 44 FP: Rep Row 38. 15 lps

Row 44 RP: Yrh, draw through 3 lps (2 sts dec made),* yrh, draw through 2 lps on hook; rep from * until 4 lp on hook, yrh and draw through 4 lps. 11 lps

Row 45: Rep Row 44. (FP: 11 lps, RP: 7 lps)

Row 46: Tss bind-off.

Fasten off.

Right side:

Re-join yarn on right side working RP.

Row 37 RP: Standard RP with decrease to last 3 lps, yrh and draw through 3 lps. (FP: 29 lps, RP: 27 lps)

Row 38 FP: Tss across to last st, ES. 27 lps

Row 38 RP: Rep Row 37 RP. 25 lps

Rows 39-43: Rep Row 38. (FP: 17 lps, RP: 15 lps)

Row 44 FP: Rep Row 38. 15 lps

Row 44 RP: Yrh, draw through 3 lps (2 sts dec made),* yrh and draw through 2 lps on hook; rep from * until 4 lps on hook, yrh and draw through 4 lps. 11 lps

Row 45: Rep Row 44. (FP: 11 lps, RP: 7 lps)

Row 46: Tss bind-off.

Fasten off.

Finishing:

Weave in all ends and block the crochet heart placemat to final measurements as above.

I would love to see and share your work on social media, use #dearheartplacemat or #exquisitecrochetuk.

Pattern support: exquisite.crochet.uk@gmail.com

Further resources:

Pattern video tutorial for this crochet heart placemat:

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You can purchase the add free PDF version of the pattern at LoveCrafts here and Ravelry here.

Did you enjoy the Dear Heart Placemat pattern? Why not try my other Valentine’s Day item patterns:

Tunisian Heart Coaster

Lovely Heart Coaster

Mishelka Blanket

Sweetheart Placemat

Thank you so much if you got this far in the pattern! I hope you got inspired for your own version using different colours. I can’t wait to see it! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram and let me know in the comment section below how you got on with it! As always, if you have any pattern query, the quickest way to get it answered is by emailing me on the pattern support email address above.

Happy crocheting!