If you’re looking for a set that is easy to customize for outdoor summer eating, you’re going to love the Al Fresco Picnic Set! This crochet pattern makes a coordinating set including a napkin/cutlery roll and a mason jar cozy made in mercerized cotton yarn. Both are perfect for adding a handmade touch to summer cookouts, barbecues, and picnics. This pattern was originally published in three parts as the twelfth Weekend Mystery Crochet Along with Underground Crafter.
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We have officially entered barbecue/picnic/summer outing weather in the United States. The apartment complex I recently moved into has outdoor tables and grills, and I wanted to make something cute in case we decide to make or have lunch or dinner out there.
The result was this convertible set. The napkin doubles as a cutlery roll. The canning jar/cup cozy keeps your hands dry from the inevitable “sweating” that happens on cups in the heat.
I used Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn (available at Lion Brand | LoveCrafts | Amazon) for my version. It’s mercerized and has a nice sheen that holds up well with washing.
If you make your own Al Fresco Picnic Set, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Bluesky as @UndergroundCrafter, Facebook as @UndergroundCrafter, or on Instagram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Al Fresco Picnic Set
Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter
This napkin/cutlery roll and mason jar cozy make a perfect set for summer cookouts, barbecues, and picnics. Use the same color combination and striping sequence for each set, or make each set different so each guest has a unique pair. Originally published in 3 parts as the twelfth Weekend Mystery Crochet Along with Underground Crafter.
Finished Sizes
- Napkin/Cutlery Roll: 13.25” (33.5 cm) square.
- Mason Jar Cozy: 2.5” (6.5 cm) wide x 9.25” (23.5 cm) long.
Materials Needed for 1 Set/1 Person
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn (available at Lion Brand | LoveCrafts | Amazon) (100% mercerized cotton, 3.5 oz/100 g/186 yd/170 m) – 1 skein each in 113B Red (CA), 100 White (CB), and 110 Navy (CC), or approximately 100 yd (91.5 m) in each of 3 medium weight mercerized cotton yarns.
- US Size 7/4.5 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Stitch marker (optional).
- Yarn needle.
- I used the Ctcwsh ergonomic crochet hook set with stitch markers and yarn needles for my version.
- 2 star-shaped sew-through buttons. I used 2 from a Stars Buttons Value Pack.
Gauge
- 18 sts = 4” (10 cm) across in pattern for grit stitch (Row 2 in pattern). Exact gauge is not critical for this pattern.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- BL – back loop only – Fiber Flux has a helpful video tutorial demonstrating how to identify the back loop here.
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- CC – Color C
- ch – chain
- rep – repeat
- RS – right (front) side
- sc – single crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- WS – wrong (back) side
- yo – yarn over
- * Repeat instructions after asterisks as indicated.
- [] – Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- Ch 1 at start of rows DOES NOT count as a stitch.
- For this pattern, you will change color in the last yarn over of the final stitch of the row. When possible, you should also crochet over your yarn tails. The video below demonstrates how to change colors in the last yarn over of a single crochet and crochet over your yarn tails.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating how to change colors in single crochet and crochet over yarn tails, watch it on YouTube.
- There are many ways to crochet into chain spaces. For this pattern, I used the second method shown in the video below.
- If you can’t see the video above demonstrating how to crochet into chain spaces, watch it on YouTube.
- This pattern uses a stitch combination called the grit stitch. To adjust the size, you can use any multiple of 2 ch, +3 for your foundation chain.
Pattern Instructions
Napkin/Cutlery Roll
- With CA, ch 61.
- Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, sc in next ch, *skip 1 st, 2 sc in next ch; rep from * across to last ch, sc in next ch. (60 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, *skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * across to last st, sc in next st.
- Rep Row 2 until piece measures approximately 4.5” (11.5 cm), changing to CB in last yo of final st (see Pattern Notes). Fasten off CA.
- Row 3: (RS) Turn, ch 1, scBL in first st, *skip 1 st, 2 scBL in next st; rep from * across to last st, scBL in next st.
- Rep Row 2 until CB section measures approximately 4.5” (11.5 cm)/piece measures approximately 9” (23 cm), ending on a WS row and changing to CC in last yo of final st. Fasten off CB.
- Row 4: (RS) Turn, ch 8 (as button loop), sc in first st, *skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * across to last st, sc in next st.
- Row 5: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, *skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * across to last st, sc in next st, skip ch-8 sp.
- Rep Row 2 until CC section measures approximately 4.5” (11.5 cm)/piece measures approximately 13.5” (34.5 cm). Fasten off CC.
- With yarn needle, weave in ends on WS.
- Fold the piece along Row 3. You may find this next step easier if you position cutlery along the side that does not have the button loop.
- Roll in thirds towards the button loop as shown below.
- Select a button that fits through the button loop. Using a stitch marker or scrap yarn, mark the position where the button should be attached.
- Thread yarn needle with yarn. Sew button into marked position. Secure by weaving in ends on inside (WS) of napkin. Your roll can now close with the cutlery inside. Once the cutlery is removed, it opens out into a napkin.
Mason Jar Cozy
- With CC, ch 13.
- Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, sc in next ch, *skip 1 st, 2 sc in next ch; rep from * across to last ch, sc in next ch. (12 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, *skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * across to last st, sc in next st.
- Row 3: Rep Row 2 once.
- Row 4: Rep Row 2, changing to CB in last yo of final st (see Pattern Notes). Fasten off CC.
- Rows 5-7: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
- Row 8: Rep Row 2, changing to CA in last yo of final st. Fasten off CB.
- Rows 9-11: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
- Row 12: Rep Row 2, changing to CC in last yo of final st. Fasten off CA.
- Rep Row 2, changing color at the end of every fourth Row in the established color sequence (CC, CB, CA) until piece measures approximately 9” (23 cm), ending by changing to the next color in the sequence and fastening off the previous color.
- Next Row: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, [skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st] twice, ch 10, skip 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st. (10 sts + ch-10 sp/button loop)
- Next Row: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, [skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st] twice, sc in each of next 10 ch, [skip 1 st, 2 sc in next st] twice, sc in next st. (20 sts including button loop)
- With yarn needle, weave in ends.
- Position a button that fits through the button loop at the center within the first stripe on the opposite edge to the button loop. Thread yarn needle with yarn. Sew button into marked position. Secure by weaving in ends on inside.
- Wrap it around your mason jar or cup and close with the button.
