This is an easy crochet pattern that works up quickly using treble crochet stitches, worsted weight yarn and a size J crochet hook. It requires only ten short rows of stitching. Then you add the simple crochet shells around the border to create a scalloped edge. Simple, beautiful, and fun to work up in a single color or an array of hues.

If you don't want to work with plarn but you do want to make a red, white and blue placemat, then try this cotton crochet pattern from Jessie At Home. This is an easy crochet pattern in that it's worked in single crochet stitches only, but you'll have to do some increasing and decreasing since this crochet pattern is made on the diagonal.

Placemats like these would make a fabulous addition to your outdoor picnic table, especially when celebrating holidays like Memorial Day and the 4th of July. They are made with plarn, an interesting material to upcycle for use in crocheting placemats. This free pattern also comes with instructions for complementary plarn coasters.

Note that it's not recommended to use these placemats for hot dishes, but they're ideal when serving sandwiches, salad, pickles, or other similar picnic fares. Best of all, plarn is easy to make (for free) using readily available materials. And of course, you could opt to use different plastic bag colors to make similar crochet placemats without the red, white, and blue theme.

This is another super simple crochet placemat pattern that a beginner could easily enjoy making. It uses single crochet stitches and three different colors to create stripes, so it offers great practice in changing colors and weaving in ends.

Here is an easy, basic crochet placemat that anyone could crochet. Even a beginner would have no trouble making this simple design. All that you need to know how to do is half double crochet in rows, adding a simple single crochet border to polish it off.

However, if you are more knowledgable about crochet and want to add a fancy border, this placemat comes with instructions to add a two-round edging consisting of hdc v-stitches and wide puff stitches.

This crochet designer points out that while the crochet octopus is particularly good for NICU preemies, it's also a good toy for other babies as well. It promotes motor development and sensory stimulation, which every baby benefits from.

Get the visual instructions here to whip up this rainbow wall hanging, will instantly fancy up a blanket wall. Each rainbow color ends up into a fringe after making a perfect arch. This is the whole beauty of this rainbow wall hanging. Crochet chunky yarn weight for this project.

This adorable crochet octopus pattern has a head that's a little bit reminiscent of the cute ghosts in Pac-Man. Even without the tentacles, it's a great toy. Of course, you want to add the tentacles if you're donating them to heal preemies in the NICU, because that's the part that calms them most.

This is a two-in-one crochet pattern. It includes the crochet octopus pattern. Plus a simple crochet beanie hat pattern. There are instructions for a preemie size and a newborn size hat. This pattern is for sale on Ravelry.