Poinsettia Doily Chain Table Runner — Free Crochet Pattern
Intermediate
For crocheters comfortable with the basics, ready to try new shaping and assembly techniques
Multi-Day Project
A rewarding 12+ hour journey — perfect for dedicated crafters who love detailed work.
Handmade Gift
A beautiful keepsake — free forever. Read online or print at home.
About This Poinsettia Doily Chain Table Runner — Free Crochet Pattern
A row of pretty cream lace doilies, each crowned with a raised red poinsettia on a green star — this Poinsettia Doily Chain Table Runner brings that classic Christmas-morning warmth to the table. You make five round cream doilies, join them in a gently overlapping line, and top each one with a layered 3D poinsettia and a set of forest-green points peeking out behind.
Each doily is a satisfying evening’s work, and because they are made one at a time you always have a finishable goal in sight. The poinsettias are simple pointed-petal motifs stacked in two layers for that full, dimensional bloom.
Starting rounds — magic ring and first increases
Why You'll Love This Pattern 💛
Making one doily at a time keeps the project feeling light and portable — slip one in your bag and work it anywhere. The stacked two-layer poinsettia gives a real 3D bloom that photographs beautifully and lifts the whole runner. The doily base is a classic you will reuse forever — plain, it is a coaster; chained, it is a runner; one giant one is a centrepiece mat.
Shaping with increases — building the body
Switch Things Up 🎨
Swap the red poinsettias for white Christmas roses with gold centres for an elegant ivory-and-gold version. Use three doilies for a short runner or seven for a long table — it scales perfectly. Work the doilies in soft sage and top with white flowers for a year-round look.
Colour variations — personalise your make
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them 🔧
This is almost always tension or a missed stitch in the increase rounds. Count after R2 and R3, and block firmly — doilies are designed to be blocked open.
Work them at a slightly firmer tension than the doily and steam them flat. A light spray starch helps them hold their shape.
Overlap the doilies slightly and join along two or three points where they touch, rather than at a single point, for a stronger, flatter seam.
Sew the green star and both petal layers with the centre pinned in place first, checking it is centred before you stitch all the way around.
Assembly stage — pinning pieces before sewing
Materials Needed for Poinsettia Doily Chain Table Runner — Free Crochet Pattern
🧶YARN
DK cotton, approximately 180g, for the five lace doilies.
DK cotton, approximately 60g, for the poinsettias.
DK cotton, approximately 40g, for the star points behind each flower.
a small amount, for the bobble flower centres.
🪝TOOLS & NOTIONS
4mm.
— Gauge:
one doily = ~20 cm across
— Finished Size:
~90 x 22 cm (36 x 9 in)
— Yarn Weight:
DK Cotton
— Hook:
4mm
— Terms:
US Crochet Terminology
— Cost:
FREE ✓
Crochet Abbreviations
Poinsettia Doily Chain Table Runner — Free Crochet Pattern — Full Pattern
🧶LACE DOILY (cream, make 5)
🧶GREEN STAR (forest green, make 5)
🧶POINSETTIA (deep red, make 5, two petal layers each)
🧶ASSEMBLY
Assembly & Finishing Tips
💡 Weaving in ends
Use a tapestry needle to weave each tail back and forth through at least 5–6 stitches in different directions. A tiny dot of washable glue on the final stitch before trimming adds extra security for toys used by children.
💡 Sewing pieces together
Pin each piece firmly to the body before sewing. Use mattress stitch for the most invisible join — insert the needle under the same yarn bar on alternating pieces and pull firmly. Knot securely at start and end, weave both tails deep into the body.
💡 Positioning safety eyes
Take time here — eye spacing determines the character's entire personality. Closer eyes look more intense; further apart looks more friendly and playful. Pin both positions and step back before snapping the backs on permanently. Once snapped, eyes cannot be moved without damaging the fabric.
💡 Blocking
Not required for amigurumi, but lightly steam-blocking any warped pieces will relax the fibres. Hold a steam iron a few centimetres away — never let it touch the stuffing or safety eyes directly.
💡 Care instructions
Handwash in cool water with mild detergent, press gently to remove excess water, lay flat to dry. Many acrylic yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle in a laundry bag — always check your yarn label.
⚠️ Important Notes
- Use stitch markers at the start of every round — don't rely on memory to count.
- Work with consistent tension throughout. Gauge swatch before starting if in doubt.
- Fasten off leaving long tails for sewing — at least 30cm for each piece you'll need to attach.
- Pin and check positioning of all pieces before sewing any of them permanently.
Beginner's Guide to Amigurumi 🌱
Amigurumi (Japanese: ami = knitted/crocheted + nuigurumi = stuffed toy) is the craft of making small crocheted characters. You start with a magic ring, work in continuous spiral rounds of single crochet, and shape the piece through increases and decreases — no seams, no joins, no turning.
The magic ring creates a closable centre with no hole. Wrap yarn around two fingers, insert the hook, yarn over and pull through. Work your first round into this ring, then pull the tail to close tight. Practise a few times — it becomes effortless quickly.
The invisible decrease — insert your hook through the front loop only of the first stitch, then the front loop only of the second stitch. Yarn over, pull through both loops, then yarn over again and pull through the remaining two. Working through front loops only makes the decrease blend into the fabric instead of leaving a bump.
Tension matters most. Amigurumi needs tight, firm tension so stuffing can't show through. If you can see white fiberfill peeking between your stitches, go down one hook size. The fabric should feel dense and firm — like a tightly woven canvas, not a loose net.
The finished Poinsettia Doily Chain Table Runner — Free Crochet Pattern — ready to gift or display
You Ask, We Answer ❓
Yes! The stacked poinsettia makes a lovely standalone appliqué for hats, bags, gift toppers, or a brooch — just add a pin back. The doily is equally useful alone as a coaster or candle mat.
Yes — you are welcome to sell finished handmade pieces you crochet from this pattern. Please credit Cozy Amigurumi as the pattern source when you share them online.
Please do — blocking is the single biggest difference between a piece that looks homemade and one that looks like an heirloom. Wet or steam block, pin to shape, and let it dry completely.
You can, but cotton blocks crisper and shows the lace detail far better. If you use acrylic, choose a firm one and steam block gently rather than wet block.
This pattern repeats in simple units, so just add or remove motifs/blocks until it fits your table. Keep the count even for a symmetrical look.
