Skill level: Intermediate

Size: Placemat: 16½ in (42 cm) diameter

Yield: 2 skeins of Barroco Maxcolor 4/6 (400 g / 14.1 oz) in color 3402 (Red – Círculo) make 4 pieces.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used: 

follow: follow, rw/rnd: row/round, cont: continue, chart: chart or charts, st: stitch, sts.: stitches, rep: repeat or repetitions, FO: fasten off, work: work or working, x: time or times, fin: finishing, ch: chain, sl st: slip stitch, sc: single crochet, dc: double crochet, pattern st: pattern stitch inc: dc increase (2 double crochets in the same stitch) hdc: half double crochet, dc2tog: double crochets closed together, sl st blo: slip stitch in back loop.

Gauge: A 4 in (10 cm) square made in dc stitches, using Barroco Maxcolor 4/6 yarn and a E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook = 16 sts x 8 rows.

Instructions – Placemat: Using Barroco Maxcolor 4/6 yarn in Red – Círculo and a E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook, begin with a magic ring. Rnd 1: Ch 3, work 12 dc, join with a sl st. Rnd 2: Ch 3, 1 dc in the same st, 12 dc inc, join with a sl st. Continue following chart 1, working in rounds until round 10. Rnd 11: Ch 3, 1 dc in the same st, ch 1, skip 1 st, *dc2tog in the same st, ch 1, skip 1 st*; rep from * to * around, join with sl st,fasten off. Rnd 12: Join Encanto yarn in Gold and use a C/2 (2.5 mm) crochet hook. Ch 3, dc2tog in the same st, ch 3, skip 1 st, *dc3tog in the same st, ch 3, skip 1 st*; rep from * to * around, join with sl st, fasten off. Rnd 13: Join Barroco Maxcolor 4/6 yarn in Red – Círculo and use a E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, *skip 1 st, 3 dc in the same sp, skip 1 st, 2 dc in the same sp, skip 1 st, 2 dc in the same sp, skip 1 st, 2 dc in the same sp, skip 1 st, 3 dc in the same sp, skip 1 st, 3 dc in the same sp*; rep from * to * around, join with sl st. Continue following chart 1, working in rnds and changing colors as indicated. Fasten off. Make 4 pieces. 

Slip Stitch Embroidery: Follow chart 2. Using Encanto yarn in Gold, work between Rnd 16 and Rnd 17 of chart 1, inserting the hook in the back loop only of the base st. Hold the yarn on the back side of the piece, insert the hook between the sts of the base rnd, yarn over from the back and pull it up to the front, leaving a loop on the hook. Insert the hook into the next base st, yarn over and pull up to the front again, then pull the same yarn through the loop on the hook, forming a new loop. Work this way all around the rnd, Fasten off. Work the same way on all 4 pieces. 

Napkin Holder: Using Barroco Maxcolor 4/6 yarn in Military Green, leave a 2.75 in (7 cm) tail and ch 51. Starting from the 2nd ch from the hook, work 1 sl st in each ch across. Fasten off, leaving a 2.75 in (7 cm) tail. Make a second cord the same way using Barroco Maxcolor 4/6 yarn in Red – Círculo. Fasten off. 

Napkin Holder Assembly: Place the two cords side by side and tie a Figure Eight Knot, following the assembly diagram for the napkin holder. Twist the cords and cross them again, one over the other. Pass the bottom tail through the upper loop and gently tighten the knot, adjusting the bow in the center of the cord. Sew the ends together to form a circular shape. Make 4 napkin holders.

Designer: Alcilene Leão