🌻 Introduction
Brighten your space with the Bright Morning Starburst Mat! This design is a captivating piece of circular crochet that transitions from a tight, solid center to a delicate, eight-pointed lacy edge. Using simple double crochet and chain spaces, you will create a beautiful sunburst effect that makes this mat perfect as a placemat, doily, or centerpiece.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Finished Size (approximate): 14 inches (35 cm) from point to point.
🧵 Materials & Gauge
✨ Materials Needed
- Yarn: Approximately 180-220 yards of DK Weight (Light Worsted/8-ply) cotton or cotton blend yarn. Cotton is essential for achieving the crisp stitch definition and flat lay required for placemats. (The sample image uses a cheerful, bright yellow.)
- Hook: Size G/6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Notions: Stitch marker, yarn needle for weaving in ends, and scissors.
📏 Gauge (Check Your Tension!)
- Rounds 1-4 should measure approximately 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
- Crucial Check: Your work must lie perfectly flat at all times. If it’s starting to bow (cup), you need to increase your hook size or add more increase stitches to the solid center rounds.
💡 Special Stitches & Abbreviations
📝 Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning | | Abbreviation | Meaning | | :—: | :— | :—: | :— | | ch | chain | | st(s) | stitch(es) | | sl st | slip stitch | | rep | repeat | | sc | single crochet | | inc | increase (work 2 sts into 1 st) | | dc | double crochet | | sk | skip | | tr | treble crochet | | ch-sp | chain space | | MR | Magic Ring | | Shell | Shell Stitch |
⭐ Special Stitches (Written Instructions)
- Shell: Work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all into the indicated stitch or space.
- Point Shell: Work (dc, ch 1, tr, ch 1, tr, ch 1, dc) all into the indicated space (Used on final round for height).
⭐ The Pattern: Bright Morning Starburst Mat
Note: The pattern is worked in joined rounds. The ch-3 at the beginning of DC rounds counts as the first dc.
Part 1: The Solid Center Disc
The final stitch count in the dense disc must be a multiple of 8 to set up the eight points.
Foundation: Start with a Magic Ring (MR).
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 15 dc into MR. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (16 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in the same st (inc made). 2 dc in each st around. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (32 dc)
Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in the next st (inc). Dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * 14 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (48 dc)
Round 4: Ch 3, dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st. Dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * 14 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (64 dc)
Round 5: Ch 3, dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Dc in the next 3 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * 14 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (80 dc)
Part 2: Transition to Lace & Point Foundation
This round establishes the 8 points and the lacy holes between them.
Round 6 (Lace Transition): Ch 3. Dc in the next 8 sts. Ch 3, sk 2 sts. Rep from * 7 more times. Dc in the last 7 sts. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (72 dc, 8 ch-3 sps)
Round 7 (Shell Setup): Sl st to the next st. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same st (Shell half). Sk 2 sts. [Side] Ch 2, sk 2 dc, sc in the next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sk 2 dc. Shell in the next dc (which should be the center of the 9-dc group from the previous round). Sk 2 dc. [Side] Ch 2, sk 2 dc, sc in the next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sk 2 dc. Rep from * 7 more times. Dc in the starting Shell half to complete the first Shell. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (8 Shells, 8 sc, 16 ch-2 sps)
Part 3: Defining the Star Points
Round 8: Sl st to the ch-1 sp of the first Shell. Ch 3, work (1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the same ch-1 sp (Shell in a Shell). [Arc] Ch 3, sc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk sc, sc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 3. Shell in the ch-1 sp of the next Shell. [Arc] Ch 3, sc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk sc, sc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 3. Rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (8 Shells, 16 sc, 24 ch-3 sps)
Round 9 (Closing the Sides): Sl st to the ch-1 sp of the first Shell. Ch 3, work (1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the same ch-1 sp (Shell in a Shell). [Larger Arc] Ch 3, sc in the first ch-3 sp, ch 5, sk 3 ch-3 sps, sc in the last ch-3 sp, ch 3. Shell in the ch-1 sp of the next Shell. [Larger Arc] Ch 3, sc in the first ch-3 sp, ch 5, sk 3 ch-3 sps, sc in the last ch-3 sp, ch 3. Rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (8 Shells, 16 sc, 16 ch-3 sps, 8 ch-5 sps)
Round 10 (Final Point Shaping): Sl st to the ch-1 sp of the first Shell. Work a (dc, ch 1, tr, ch 1, tr, ch 1, dc) Point Shell in the ch-1 sp of the Shell. [Final Side] Ch 4, sc in the ch-3 sp, ch 4, sc in the ch-5 sp, ch 4, sc in the ch-3 sp, ch 4. Work a Point Shell in the ch-1 sp of the next Shell. [Final Side] Ch 4, sc in the ch-3 sp, ch 4, sc in the ch-5 sp, ch 4, sc in the ch-3 sp, ch 4. Rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the first dc of the starting Point Shell to join. (8 Point Shells, 24 sc, 32 ch-4 sps)
Fasten off.
Video Tutorial:
✂️ Finishing & Blocking
🧺 Blocking is Mandatory!
- Wet Blocking: Due to the combination of tight center and open lace border, wet blocking is essential to make the mat lie perfectly flat and define the sharp points.
- Soak the mat thoroughly in cool water with a mild detergent.
- Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring!).
- Pin the mat out firmly onto a blocking board or towel. Ensure the eight outer points are pulled taut and even and the inner lacework is open.
- Allow the mat to dry completely (this may take 24+ hours for cotton) before unpinning.
✨ Conclusion
Weave in all your ends securely on the back of the work.
Congratulations on completing your stunning Bright Morning Starburst Mat! This piece is a beautiful testament to the elegance of crochet lacework. Enjoy the sunshine it brings to your home!
