How to Read Filet Crochet Charts
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Recently a coworker emailed me with a crochet question that had been baffling her. What is filet crochet? She had searched the term in the Crochet Me Shop and found a bulky weight scarf, a sportweight tank, and a stunning wool shawl. And while she appreciated the beauty of each crochet pattern, she could not decipher what they all had in common.
The words "filet crochet" bring to mind table runners, lace edgings, and other home décor items worked in thread. In fact, my first filet project was an off-white-thread dresser scarf for my mother. But while filet crochet has most often been worked in thread, the technique can be worked in any weight. Filet crochet is a technique in which "solid" shapes and designs are created with double crochet stitches and surrounded by square mesh. Most filet crochet patterns are illustrated with a chart where the shape or design is represented with gray or filled-in squares, and the mesh is represented with unfilled white squares. A gray square is worked by crocheting three double crochet stitches, while a white square is worked by crocheting a single double crochet and two chain stitches. If a white square is positioned on the chart above another white square, double crochet in the double crochet, chain two, and skip the next two chains. If it is positioned above a gray square, double crochet in the next double crochet, chain two, and skip the next two double crochet stitches.
If a gray square is positioned on the chart above another gray square, simply double crochet in the next three double crochet stitches. If it is positioned above a white square, double crochet in the next double crochet, then work two double crochet stitches in the chain-two space of the white square. The darker line, sometimes a colored line, indicates the pattern repeat. Filet crochet charts invite creativity. A delicate-thread edging can easily be transformed into a bold scarf when the chart is worked instead in a bulky-weight yarn. Crochet the Diamonds & Dots filet chart (pictured above) in your choice of yarn or thread. Are you making a bookmark, a scarf, or a wrap? When you're done, upload your pictures in the Crochet Me member photo gallery. I would love to see what you create. Continue your filet crochet exploration and download a fabulous filet crochet pattern from the Crochet Me Shop. Expand your view of filet crochet and create works of art with more than just thread. Best wishes,
P.S. Have you knitted a filet crochet project? Leave a comment and share your experience with us? |
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