Bavarian Crochet Placemats/Tablerunner
March 2021 CrochetMastery
Designed by Lauren Samar for Yarn Bits Shop
Feel free to email for pattern help or questions: help@yarnbitsshop.com
March 2021- CrochetMastery
Bavarian Crochet Placemats/Tablerunner
Skill Level: Intermediate to Intermediate-Advanced
Hook Size: I/5.5mm
Bavarian Crochet is a technique composed of two round repeats- the clusters round and the shell round. The resulting texture and fabric looks like diamonds outlined and it’s a great technique for color work. While it is most commonly worked in rounds, it can be adjusted for rows. The patterns below are adjustable to the size rectangles you would like AND can be used for other patterns like scarves, cowl, blankets, and more. There are also details about setting up for a square instead of a rectangle at the end for your reference for other patterns (blankets, motifs, pillows, flat doily, etc). Also at the end, there is a list of ideas for utilizing this technique.
In this box, there is:
- 3 skeins of Red Heart Hygge Charm in three colors- $30
- Size I/5.5mm Crochet Hook- $4
- Handmade by Lauren Stitch Markers – $6
- Darning Needle (in envelope!)
- Exclusive Pattern and Support- $10
- Plus all the subscribers perks!
Stitches/Abbreviation Guide:
Yarn Over (yo); Space (sp); Stitch (st); Skip (sk); Loop (lp)
Chain (ch): with one lp on hook, yo and pull through the lp on hook
Slip Stitch (sl st): insert hook into target sp, yo and pull through sp AND lp on hook
Single Crochet (sc): insert hook in target sp, yo and pull through sp, yo and pull through both loops on hook
Triple Crochet (tr): yo twice, insert hook in target sp, yo and pull through st, [yo and pull through 2 loops] three times.
Small Shell (sm shell): (4 tr, ch 1, 4 tr) in target space
Large Shell (lg shell): (4 tr, {ch 1, 4 tr} twice) in target space
4-triple cluster (4-tr cl): *yo twice, insert hook in target sp, yo and pull through st, [yo and pull through 2 loops] two times (leaving last loop of st on hook)**, repeat from * to ** 3 more times, yo and pull through all loops on hook.
4-back post triple decrease (4-bptr dec): *yo twice, insert hook from front to back of post to work around then insert hook from front to back on other side of post (picking up post as space), yo and pull through sp, [yo and pull through 2 loops] two times (leaving last loop of st on hook)**, repeat from * to ** for the next three posts, yo and pull through all loops on hook.
8-back post triple decrease (8-bptr dec): *yo twice, insert hook from front to back of post to work around then insert hook from front to back on other side of post (picking up post as space), yo and pull through sp, [yo and pull through 2 loops] two times (leaving last loop of st on hook)**, repeat from * to ** for the next seven posts, yo and pull through all loops on hook.
Pattern Notes
The above stitches are ALL the stitches needed for the patterns. Once you are used to the shells and clusters, it is rhythmic. What makes it easier to remember what goes where is (when working in rounds):
- 8-bptr dec are used on edges only
- These are the bottom half of the diamond between corners
- This FILLS the space between shells
- sm shells are used on edges only.
- These are the top half of the diamond between corners.
- This ADDS space to width/length.
- 4-bptr dec are used at corners only
- These are ¼ of the NEW diamonds at corners, adding to the total number of diamonds per side.
- lg shells are used at corners only
- These are ¾ of NEW diamonds at corners.
For any size rectangular Bavarian Crochet patterns, the beginning ch is a multiple of 10 + 2.
For square patterns, the beginning is different but once you get past the set-up, the pattern for squares and rectangles are the same.
For these patterns, the color order is repeated (color 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, etc) until desired size is reached. BUT with Bavarian crochet, there’s many opportunities to explore color changes.
Yarn Amounts Notes
With three skeins of Red Heart Hygge Charm, you can make 4 placemats safely with the same color order. You MAY be able to make up to 6 if you rotate the color you start with so the amounts are used up evenly across the rounds and placemats. For example the color order is always the same (1 then 2 then 3 then 1, etc) but placemats 1 and 2 start with color 1, placemats 3 and 4 start with color 2, and placemats 5 and 6 start with color 3.
If a longer table runner is desired, roughly 60-70 inches would use up all the yarn to create a 14 inch wide runner.
Small Rectangle // Placemats
With color 1, ch 32 (3 multiples of 10 + 2).
Foundation Round:
- sc in 2nd ch from hook,
- *sk next 4 chs, sm shell in next ch, sk next 4 chs, sc in next ch**,
- repeat from * to ** to last ch,
- working on the OPPOSITE side of the ch (turn your work to bottom of ch)- sk first 5 ch
- *sm shell in next ch (same sp as other side’s shell), sk next 4 chs, sc in next ch,
- repeat from * until all same amount of shells are completed on both sides
- sk last 5 ch,
- sl st to beg sc
- fasten off color 1
Stitches Count: 6 sm shells, 6 sc
Round 1:
- With the next color, sl st to first sc of previous
- ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp (top of shell)
- Corner cluster completed
- (ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp) two times
- Edge clusters completed
- To make this more generic for length: the number of shells per side from foundation round minus 1 repeat is completed here. SO if you are doing 10 shells on the foundation round, 9 edge clusters are completed here.
- (ch 5, 4 bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp) two times
- Corner 2 and 3 clusters completed
- (ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp) two times
- Opposite edge clusters completed
- ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sl st to beg sc
- Last corner cluster completed
- Do not fasten off
Stitches Count: 8 sc, 4 8-bptr dec, 4 4-bptr dec
Round 2:
- ch 1, sc in first sc
- lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec (the corner), sc in next sc,
- Corner 1 completed
- (sm shell in top of 8-bptr dec sp, sc in next sc) twice
- Or repeat until sc before next corner
- Edge shells completed
- (lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec, sc in next sc) twice
- Corners 2 and 3 completed
- (sm shell in top of 8-bptr dec sp, sc in next sc) twice
- Or repeat until sc before next corner
- Opposite edge shells completed
- lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec (the corner), sl st to beg sc
- Corner 4 completed
- Fasten off.
Stitches Count: 8 sc, 4 lg shells, 4 sm shells
Round 3:
- With next color, sl st to ch 1 sp of first corner shell (first ch-1 of lg shell), sc in same sp,
- ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 sp (2nd ch-1 sp of lg shell)
- Corner 1 cluster completed
- (ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp) three times
- Or until you reach first ch-1 sp of next lg shell
- Long edge 1 clusters completed
- ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp (2nd ch-1 sp of lg shell)
- Corner 2 cluster completed
- ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp
- Short edge 1 clusters completed
- ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp (2nd ch-1 sp of lg shell)
- Corner 3 clusters completed
- (ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp) three times
- Or until you reach first ch-1 sp of next lg shell
- Long edge 2 clusters completed
- ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp (2nd ch-1 sp of lg shell)
- Corner 4 clusters completed
- ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sl st to beg sc
- Short edge 2 clusters completed
Stitches Count: 12 sc, 8 8-bptr dec, 4 4-bptr dec
Round 4:
- ch 1, sc in first sc
- lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec (the corner), sc in next sc,
- Corner 1 completed
- (sm shell in top of 8-bptr dec sp, sc in next sc) three times
- Or repeat until sc before next corner
- Long edge 1 shells completed
- lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec, sc in next sc
- Corner 2 completed
- sm shell in top of 8-bptr dec sp, sc in next sc
- Short edge 1 shells completed
- lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec, sc in next sc
- Corner 3 completed
- (sm shell in top of 8-bptr dec sp, sc in next sc) three times
- Or repeat until sc before next corner
- Long edge 2 shells completed
- lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec, sc in next sc
- Corner 4 completed
- sm shell in top of 8-bptr dec sp, sl st to beg sc
- Short edge 1 shells completed
- Fasten off.
Stitches Count: 4 lg shells, 8 sm shells
Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 until desired size is reached. The pattern ends on a shell round.
Each pair of rounds adds one sm shell per side.
For a placemat- 10 rounds (5 pairs of rounds after foundation round) with Red Heart Hygge Charm yarn and size I hook will create a placemat with a dimension of ~17 by ~14 inches.
Long Rectangle // Table runner
This pattern is a repeat of the small rectangle pattern but with more shells per long side to start (instead of 3 diamonds at center).
With the Red Heart Hygge Charm yarn and size I hook, each multiple of 10 adds about 2 inches to the beginning length. The foundation round + 10 rounds (5 pairs of cluster and shell rounds) adds 12 inches to the length. So if you want a 50 inch long table runner, your beg chain should be a multiple of 10 + 2 that is approximately 38 inches long. This chain (based on the gauge and dimensions) will be 192 chains with 19 shells on either side of the ch for the foundation round.
Square center
With color 1, ch 5 and sl to first ch to create a ring.
Round 1:
- ch 1,
- (sc in ring, ch 5, 4-tr cl in ring, ch 5) 4 times
- sl st to beg sc
- fasten off color 1
Stitches Count: 8 ch-5 sp, 4 sc, 4 4-tr cl
Round 2:
Note: ch-2s in this round are only used here to create height and will not be worked into in later rounds.
- ch 1, sc in first sc
- ch 2, lg shell in top of next 4-tr cl sp, ch 2
- (sc in next sc, ch 2, lg shell in top of next 4-tr cl sp, ch 2) three times
- sl st to beg sc and fasten off
Stitches Count: 8 ch-2 sp, 4 lg shells, 4 sc
Round 3:
- With next color, sl st to ch 1 sp of first corner shell (first ch-1 of lg shell), sc in same sp,
- *ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 sp (2nd ch-1 sp of lg shell)
- Corner 1 cluster completed
- ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp**
- Edge 1 clusters completed
- Repeat from * to ** around, skipping last sc of repat
- sl st to beg sc
Stitches Count: 8 sc, 4 8-bptr dec, 4 4-bptr dec
Round 4:
- ch 1, sc in first sc
- *lg shell in top of 4-bptr dec (the corner), sc in next sc,
- Corner 1 completed
- sm shell in top of 8-bptr dec sp, sc in next sc**
- Edge 1 completed
- Repeat from * to ** around, skipping last sc of repat
- sl st to beg sc
- Fasten off.
Stitches Count: 4 lg shells, 4 sm shells
Repeat rounds 3 and 4 until desired size is reached. Each pair of rounds adds one sm shell per side.
Ideas for Projects with Bavarian Crochet
With the above techniques, you have MANY options for projects utilizing Bavarian Crochet. Besides placemats and table runner, below is a list of ideas.
Square Motifs for Blanket
Center-out blanket of either Square or Rectangular shape
Square/Rectangle Pillow Covers– end on a cluster round to get flat edges and sew together THEN use a shell round to create an edge of the cover.
Use cotton yarn to create a hotplate mat
Scarf– Set up with very long beg ch, complete foundation round for rectangle, then 1-3 pairs of rounds.
Turning at ends of round to create different textures of same patterns.
Email us at help@yarnbitsshop.com with any questions!
Back of Bavarian Crochet view- it looks pretty on both sides!
Pattern Declaimer
This is a paid pattern originally designed for a Yarn Bits Shop subscription box.
You have permission to sell any item made from this pattern. However, you are not allowed to resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern or downloads in any printed or digital form (in full), or to claim the pattern as your own original design. If you want to sell or share a picture of your work from this pattern, please clearly credit the design to me: Lauren Samar of Yarn Bits Shop (with link to the website when applicable).
Occasionally a mistake or typo falls through, please report them via email (help@yarnbitsshop.com) and the pattern will be updated accordingly.