Filet Crochet to Wear: Beginner-friendly patterns for filet crochet clothes - Softcover

Willis, Lauren

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1446310647 ISBN 13: 9781446310649

Publisher: David & Charles, 2024

Synopsis

If you thought filet crochet was just for doilies, think again – this collection of designs is a fresh new look at this traditional crochet technique.

Learn to filet crochet with this collection of 15 crochet patterns for filet crochet garments including sweaters, tanks, tee shirts and cardigans. Filet crochet only uses two stitches in a grid formation – chain stitch and double crochet (if you're American), treble if you're in the UK.

This stitch combination creates a mesh-like fabric which is great for showing different motifs and patterns. Filet crochet was traditionally worked using perlé cotton thread and used to create delicate home décor projects like placemats, coasters and tablecloths as well as curtains.

This fun collection takes it to another level by working it in thicker yarn and shows how impactful it can be when it's used for garments. There will be a wide range of motifs from abstract chevrons through to recognisable motifs for hearts, honeycomb and even Christmas trees, so you can make fun fashion pieces without worrying about complicated colourwork techniques.

The designs featured in this collection include sweaters and cardigans for the cooler months as well as lighter pieces including a tank top and tee shirts for warmer weather.

Author and crochet designer Lauren Willis, explains everything you need to know about how to work in filet crochet, including how to follow a chart to work the motifs, the stitches required and other tips and tricks.

The 15 project patterns are written in US crochet terminology but there is information about the equivalent UK terms, and other technical information such as yarn weights and hook sizes.

The size grading for all of the featured projects ranges from small adult (tween) up to another 10 sizes so the patterns are very size inclusive. Why not make filet crochet fashion for all the family.

About this title

About the Author

Lauren Willis is a crochet designer and technical editor specialising in garment design. She is committed to creating size inclusive patterns for all and is a filet crochet addict. Find her on Instagram where she posts as @manatee_squares.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Having been a craft dabbler my whole life, I finally turned fully to crochet in my early thirties. I tried knitting but I made too many mistakes and found it impossible to fix them. I dipped my toes in the cross-stitch pool, but those teeny tiny details weren’t for me. I even tried the most aggressive of the yarn crafts, needle felting, but I just couldn’t get those facial features right! I settled on crochet when I managed to make my first ever blanket (a corner-to-corner chunky make that has since been donated to the dogs) and by the spring of 2020 I was a competent beginner. When lockdown began and my dog grooming business was shut down for a while, I embraced the hook as a way to keep my hands busy.

As much as I enjoy making quick projects, I really love the meditative process of working away on something big and repetitive while watching the television or listening to a podcast in the garden. As soon as I started on my first filet project, I knew it was perfect for me. It needed just enough of my attention that I didn’t quickly become bored with it, but not so much attention that I couldn’t focus on my box set. I didn’t even mind being on sleeve island!

It started with the Time After Time and Festive Firs sweaters. Creating cute little icons within crochet was a revelation to me, and they’re still two of my all-time favourite makes. I then began experimenting with texture, combining twisted and touchable stitches with filet in repeating, geometric patterns.

Fast forward a couple of years and a lot of patterns, and here we are enjoying filet crochet together. I hope you find plenty to keep you busy within these pages and that these patterns bring you as much joy as they do me.

Edition details

• Publisher: David & Charles
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1446310647
• ISBN 13: 9781446310649
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112