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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.
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| Diamonds & Dots Filet Chart |
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.
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| Diamond Sage Wrap by Jill Wright |
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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