Red and Green Christmas Spiral Sun Placemat
Advanced
For experienced crocheters who enjoy complex shaping, fine detail, and ambitious construction
Single-Day Project
A satisfying project you can complete in a single afternoon or evening.
Handmade Gift
A beautiful keepsake — free forever. Read online or print at home.
About This Red and Green Christmas Spiral Sun Placemat
A bold swirl of red and green spinning out from the centre, framed by a ring of pointed sun-ray petals — this Christmas placemat (sousplat) is a real showstopper under a white dinner plate. It uses tapestry crochet to carry both colours at once, so the spiral is worked in, not sewn on.
About this design
The centre is a flat circle worked in continuous rounds while carrying red and green together; by shifting where you change colour each round, the two colours chase each other into a clean spiral. The border is a round of openwork pointed petals in red that frames the disc like rays of a sun or the points of a poinsettia.
Pro tips for a flawless finish
Keep both yarns under even tension and always carry the unused colour along the top of the previous round so it is hidden inside the stitches. Change to the next colour by pulling it through on the last yarn-over of the stitch before — that gives a crisp colour edge. Count stitches every round; the spiral only looks right if the circle stays perfectly flat.
Blocking & finishing
Weave in ends as you go to avoid a tangle on the back, then steam-block the disc flat and pin the petal points out evenly. A quick press with a damp cloth sets the spiral beautifully.
How to style it at home
Use it under a charger or white plate for Christmas dinner, or stack two or three as a festive centrepiece. The red-and-green reads ‘Christmas’ instantly without being loud.
Ready to make it?
The full written pattern — materials, round-by-round instructions, abbreviations, FAQ and troubleshooting — is all right here on this page, 100% free. Grab your hook, take your time, and enjoy every stitch. When you finish, you will have an heirloom-quality piece that looks like it came from a boutique.
Starting rounds — magic ring and first increases
Why You'll Love This Pattern 💛
It is fast, festive and uses simple single crochet — yet the tapestry spiral looks impressively advanced. A perfect last-minute Christmas table piece.
Shaping with increases — building the body
Switch Things Up 🎨
Make it in red + white for a peppermint look, or green + gold for an elegant, calmer festive mat.
Colour variations — personalise your make
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them 🔧
You added too many increases — each round should add exactly 12 stitches. Count at the end of every round and stop increasing once it starts to cone.
Too few increases. Make sure every round gains 12 stitches; if it still cups, go up a hook size.
Tension is uneven. Keep the non-working colour relaxed and lay it along the top of the previous round, not pulled tight across the back.
You swapped colours too late. Change on the final yarn-over of the stitch BEFORE the new colour should appear.
Assembly stage — pinning pieces before sewing
Materials Needed for Red and Green Christmas Spiral Sun Placemat
🪝Tools & Notions
Red, approx 70 g
Green, approx 60 g
(for continuous rounds)
— Gauge:
first 4 rounds = 9 cm across
— Finished Size:
~38 cm round
— Yarn Weight:
DK cotton
— Hook:
4.0 mm (US G/6)
— Terms:
US Crochet Terminology
— Cost:
FREE ✓
Crochet Abbreviations
Red and Green Christmas Spiral Sun Placemat — Full Pattern
🧶Pattern
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 Red and Green Christmas Spiral Sun Placemat — ready to gift or display
You Ask, We Answer ❓
It is very beginner-friendly in single crochet — you simply carry the colour you are not using and swap on the last pull-through. The only skill is keeping even tension so the carried yarn does not show.
Yes — two reds, or red and gold, give a subtler swirl. The method is identical; only the colour choice changes.
Not if you carry it along the top of the previous round and keep tension even. Working in the back loop can hide it even further.
At ~38 cm it sits nicely under a standard charger or a 27–30 cm dinner plate. Add increase rounds (continuing the pattern) for a bigger mat.
Yes, you may sell finished handmade pieces. Please credit Cozy Amigurumi as the designer; the pattern itself may not be resold or redistributed.
