You’ve been crocheting for a while now and you feel like your skills have gotten to the point where you need a new challenge. You are fairly competent in making sweaters, blankets, bibs, scarves, and you’ve even tried hats. But you’re looking for something a little more difficult. You’re ready to learn how to filet crochet. But what is it? And how is it done?
Keep reading and you’ll learn how to filet crochet and exactly what is it. And you’ll also learn a little bit about crocheting in general, where it came from and a bit more about how to do it.
When learning to crochet, the first thing you should know about is choosing a crochet hook. Crochet hooks come in many sizes, ranging from 3.5 to .75 millimeters, or 00 to 14 in American sizing. These smaller hooks are used for very fine crochet work. They come in both aluminum and plastic. You should choose the size and type of crochet hook based on the type of project you’re working on, how big you want your loops to be, etc.
So what exactly is “crocheting?” How is it done? Crochet is a process of creating fabric (creating a sweater or blanket or bib or shawl, etc.) from yarn or thread. The word “crochet” comes from the French word croc or croche, meaning “hook.” Crocheting is similar to knitting in that you’re making a fabric out of yarn, but instead of using two needles to make the fabric, you are pulling loops of yarn through other loops. Crochet also differs from knitting in that only one loop is actively being used at a time. Crocheted fabric is begun by placing a slip knot loop on the crochet hook, pulling another loop through the first loop, and repeating this process again and again in order to create a chain of the desired length. The chain is either turned and worked on in rows, or joined at the beginning of the row with a slip stitch and worked in rounds.
Filet crochet is a technique used in crochet that can have stunning results. It is fairly simple and can be learned by anyone who knows how to crochet (or anyone that just wants to learn!) Filet crochet patters are made up of open and solid meshes. It is unique in that it usually uses only two types of stitches: the chain stitch and the double crochet stitch. These two stitches together create a grid-like fabric with a square mesh. Patterns can be formed by filling in parts of the mesh with double crochet stitches. Filet crochet is usually worked on in rows, but can also be done in the round.
It is often worked on from a graph or a symbol diagram. The patterns are created by combining solid and open meshes, usually working the design in solid meshes and the background in open meshes. Filet crochet may also be worked with half-double crochet or treble crochet. Fine thread or very fine yarn is usually preferred in items such as doilies, tablecloths, coasters and placemats. Many cross-stitch patterns can be easily converted to filet crochet by filling in the design region with solid blocks and crocheting an open mesh in the areas with no pattern. Filet crochet looks best if blocked before use to highlight the design.
Here are a few tips on how to read the charts on the patterns:
• The blank square on the chart equals open mesh
• The “x” on the chart equals solid mesh
• The long divided space on the chart (that looks like a valley between two hills) equals fancy mesh
• The box without a bottom on the chart equals long mesh