Charts of Delta crochet patterns will remind you of Filet Crochet. This very interesting combination of stitches will really make you sweat at least in the beginning.

Differences between Filet and Delta Crochet

Filet Crochet	Delta Crochet
Filet crochet is a combination of chains dc and tr. There are variations that use d.tr. But it is not very popular.	Delta Crochet is a combination of chains, d.tr and puff stitches.
Filet crochet is a series of open and solid meshes called blocks.	Delta crochet is a series of alternating upward and downward pointing triangular meshes and puff stitches and puff stitch blossoms.
No. of starting chains = No. of blocks x 3 +1	No. of starting chains = No. of upward pointing triangles x 5 + 1
Projects are mostly rectangular or square or have cutwork like edges.	Projects are mostly hexagons and sometimes round.

Similarities

• It is easier to work both styles of crochet from charts rather than written directions once you get the hang of it.
• In both cases odd rows are read from right to left and even rows are read from left to right.
• Reading from charts while easier in the long run can be pretty confusing in the beginning.
• This is especially true in the case of Delta because of the irregular shape of the row or round.
• Just as in the case of filet crochet, an even working tension is essential in Delta crochet too.

Here is a link to a wonderful Delta Crochet tutorial. http://www.hassdesign.com/DeltaCrochetTechniques/

Stitch Descriptions:

Double Treble (d.tr) – yarn over hook twice, insert hook into the required space, (yarn over hook, draw loop through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.

A puff Stitch: Leaving the last loop of each on hook, 2, 3, or 4(as required by the pattern) d.tr into the same space, yarn over hook, pull loop through all the loops on hook.

The first 3 Delta mesh charts in the Tutorial (- Basic Delta Mesh, Delta Mesh Corner and Delta Mesh with Puffs) are pretty straight forward. A lot of patience is required to understand the next chart. First on, the red chains represent the turning chains. Remember, odd rows are read from right to left and even rows are read from left to right – but you always work from right to left. Row 1 is just plain mesh – nothing difficult about that.

Now, row 2 is a different matter.

1. Read from left to right.
2. The 4 chains in red are turning chains,
3. A d.tr into the upward pointing triangle of the previous row, 4 ch, a d.tr into the same space as the previous stitch (an upward pointing triangle and a downward triangle formed)
4. Next, an upward pointing triangle – skip 4 chains and 1 d.tr into the top of the d.tr in the previous row.
5. Next step is the puff stitch blossom. One half of it is worked in this row and the rest in the next row.
6. Follow instructions as given for pictures 1, 2, and 3. Notice the instructions don’t explain how to work the last d.tr in picture 3. All you have to do is work the d.tr in the same space as the 2nd petal of the puff stitch blossom after working the 3rd petal as per directions given.
7. Skip 4 chains, 1 d.tr into the top of d.tr in row below, 4 chains, 1 d.tr into the same space, skip 4 chains, 1 d.tr into the next chain, turn.
8. It is a good idea to shade each triangle in the chart as you complete it at least in the beginning to avoid confusion.

After row 2, row 3 is a piece of cake.

1. 4 turning chains (shown in red), 1 d.tr into the same sp as the last puff stitch, 4 chains, 1 d. tr into the same space,
2. 4 d.tr puff stitch into the chain at the top of the 2nd puff stitch in previous row as explained in Pictures 2 and 5 of the tutorial,(4 chains, puff stitch) twice into the same space (puff stitch blossom complete).
3. 1 d.tr into the same space as the tip of the1st puff stitch, 4 chains 1 d.tr into the same space as the previous stitch, skip 4 chains 1 d.tr into the top of the d.tr in the row below.

Have Fun exploring this new technique

Tags: crochet, crochet pattern, crochet style, delta crochet, filet crochet