How to Get Started with Lace Crochet

Crochet patterns are either written out or diagramed out. An example of a written pattern might say something like this:

Chain 6, sl st into first ch sp to form ring. 1st round: Ch 3, 2 dc into formed circle. *Ch 3, 3 dc into formed circle. ** Repeat from (*) to (**) two more times. Sl st to top of first ch 3 made. Row 1 completed.

Looks like a foreign language, doesn't it?

It's easier than you think, once you get used to the lingo. This written pattern is telling you to chain 6, then make a slip stitch into the first chain made to form a circle. Then you're going to chain 3 (counts as first double crochet) and then make two double crochet stitches into the formed circle. Then chain three. Next you'll do three double crochet stitches into the formed circle and chain three. You'll repeat this so you'll have a total of four clustered stitches into the formed circle.

See how much more complicated that is when it's written out in full?

The other alternative is reading the stitches on a charted diagram. I'm not sure yet how to add them to this lens, but if you've looked at a crochet book, you'll understand what I mean. Charted patterns are created with symbols. Each type of stitch has a particular symbol attached to it as meaning. The pattern is then drawn on the page.

Both pattern types have their advantages. The symbols help when you're more of a visual learner. Sometimes I'll do fine with written instructions but then run into a snag. At times like this, a diagram is very helpful. I've sometimes drawn my own diagram to make sense of a written pattern.

A hand-made Turkish carpet made it's way to my home many years ago. It was said at the time there were mistakes purposefully woven into the carpet because, they believed, only God or Allah makes perfect creations.

I wouldn't recommend purposefully making a mistake in your thread crochet doily. The mistake will be too obvious. Even if you get every single stitch correct, and in order, there will likely always be a slight difference in your tension.

If I make (and, more importantly find), a mistake in a piece I'm working on, I will likely tear my work out until I reach the mistake. Then I carefully pick up where I was before the mistake was made, and carry on again from there.

Is it frustrating? Sometimes. But I know I would never be able to stand working on a piece that I know has a mistake in it. Even if it worked out that the mistake was not visible to the overall pattern, I would still know it in my being.

When you make a mistake? Rip it out.Start again. Resume your contemplative meditative state. And enjoy.

Bruges lace crochet is a particular style of crochet native to the Belgian town of Bruges. I find it very cool that a town can have it's own particular style of lace crochet. Historically, the original Bruges lace was created using bobbins, similar to tatting.

The technique is a little different in that it involves crocheting together crocheted ribbons. You can Click Here to check out some excellent illustrations for Bruges Lace Crochet.

Bruges lace crochet lends itself well to the creation of free-form designs, but there are also patterns available. The Spring issue of Interweave Crochet magazine has a pattern for a Bruges lace crochet scarf.