Filet Crochet – The Basics 3

Practising filet crochet Type I

This is Part 3 of my Filet Crochet Basics tutorial.

This section offers a small sample to practise filet crochet. A chart with traditional crochet symbols and written instructions help to understand how to translate the filet grid. Part 3 specifically covers Type I filet crochet (3-stitch construction) also known as 4-dc mesh. If you haven’t read Part 2 yet start there to understand the way of counting stitches that I use. As a complete beginner, please start with Part 1.

For more information on Type II filet crochet (2-stitch construction), also known as 3-dc mesh, please see Part 4.

Type I – Filet crochet worked over 3 stitches / 3-stitch construction

Type l Filet crochet is probably the most commonly used. As already mentioned, it is also known as 4-dc mesh — just remember the different ways of counting.

Characteristics of the 3-stitch construction

The characteristics of this construction are:

• Basics
  • A filled square in the pattern grid is equal to 3 double crochets.
  • An open square in the pattern grid is equal to 1 double crochet and 2 chains
  • Each row ends with a closing double crochet.
  • The stitch count is a multiple of 3 stitches per square plus 1 closing stitch.
• Calculating the base chain
  • The required number of base chains is calculated by:
    • number of squares × 3 stitches per square + 1 stitch + turning chains
• Calculating the turning chains
  • At the beginning of each row, the first double crochet is replaced by turning chains:
    • If the row begins with a filled square, chain 3 to replace the first double crochet.
    • If the row begins with an open square, chain 5 to replace the first double crochet and the next open space.

Example of a 3-stitch construction

The filet pattern grid shown on Chart 5 has

• 7 squares in width
  • the stitch count is 7 x 3 +1 = 22 stitches
• 7 squares in height
  • the pattern is worked over 7 rows
• Since the first square in row 1 of the pattern grid is filled, the base chain needs 22 chains plus 3 more to replace the first double crochet.

In addition to the standard filet pattern grid, Chart 5 also shows the pattern displayed in classic crochet symbols. For better visualisation, the first filled square in row 1 is outlined in the diagram. Additionally, the first three squares in row 2 are outlined: one filled and two open squares.

How the sample in 3-stitch construction would read as written pattern

Abbreviations

• Abbreviations
  • dc — double crochet
  • ch(s) — chain((s)
  • st(s) — stitch(es)
  • sp(s) — space(s)
  • (  ) — repeat as many times as instructed

• Row 1
  • chain 22
  • chain another 3 (to replace the first dc) and dc in 5^th chain from hook
  • dc in next chain [3 dc are worked – this is equal to the first square in row 1, outlined in the diagram on Chart 5]
  • (1 dc in each of the next 3 chains) 6 times [3 dc for each of the remaining 6 squares in the grid]
  • dc in last chain[the closing stitch]
  • turn
• Stich count: 22 dc

Click here to continue with the written pattern

• Row 2
  • chain 3 (as first dc), dc in next 2 sts; [this is the first filled square of row 2, outlined in the diagram on Chart 5]
  • (dc in next st, ch2, skip 2 sts) 5 times [5 open squares in row 2]
  • dc in next 3 sts [the last filled square of row 2]
  • dc in last st (top of the starting ch 3) [the closing stitch]
  • turn
• Sticht count: 12 dc, 5 ch2-sps

• Row 3
  • chain 3 (as first dc),
  • dc in next 2 sts [first filled square]
  • (dc in next st, ch2, skip 2 sts) 2 times [two open squares]
  • dc in next st, 2 dc in ch2-sp; [one filled square]
  • (dc in next st, ch2, skip 2 sts) 2 times [two open squares]
  • 1 dc in each of the next 3 sts [last filled square];dc in last st [closing stitch]
  • turn
• Stitch count: 14 dc, 4 ch2-sps

• Row 4
  • chain 3 (as first dc)
  • dc in next 2 sts [first filled square]
  • dc in next st, ch2, skip 2 sts [one open square]
  • (dc in next 3 sts) 3 times [three filled squares]
  • dc in next st, ch2, skip 2 sts [one open square]
  • dc in next 3 sts [one filled square]
  • dc in last st [closing stitch]; turn
• Stitch count: 18 dc; 2 ch2-sps

• Row 5
  • repeat row 3

• Row 6
  • repeat row 2

• Row 7
  • chain 3 (as first dc)
  • dc in next 2 sts [first filled square]
  • (dc in next 3 sts) 6 times [six filled squares]
  • dc in last stitch [closing stitch]
  • fasten off
• Stitch count: 22 dc

Ready to continue?

Continue with Part 4 of the Filet Crochet Basics series or go right to Part 5.

To practise Type II filet crochet Part 4 will use the same filet crochet grid and also explains the technique using a chart with traditional crochet symbols and written instructions.

In Part 5, you’ll discover some helpful tips and tricks for adjusting stitch height suitable yarns and finishing your work. You’ll also find additional free filet grids to practise the techniques you already learned .