What are check marks?
A Check mark or Fancy Mesh or Lacet is a combination of stitches used in filet crochet. It lends a lacy and delicate finish to a project. The figure below shows a schematic representation of a filet crochet pattern.
The different elements that make up this pattern are:
- Checkmarks
- Double Meshes
- Solid Blocks
- Open blocks
Note: All stitch terms used are European.
1. Checkmarks: The Schematic representation of the Check mark or lacet is followed by the stitches used in words – followed by the representation of stitches in a crochet chart.
1 tr, 3 ch, skip 2 ch, 1 dc into the next ch, 3 ch skip next 2 ch, 1 tr into the next tr
2. Double Mesh: Double meshes are usually worked directly above the checkmarks. The abbreviation for Double Mesh is dm
1 tr on the tr below, 5 ch, skip the check mark, 1 tr on the next tr.
Notice that this combination of stitches takes up 2 mesh spaces.
3. Solid Blocks:
This scheme is sometimes used to represent a solid block. Most schemes use a darkened square (as shown in Filet Crochet Part I) to represent a solid block. But sometimes, in a pattern, these blocks appear consecutively. It is then a bit confusing to count the number of blocks to be worked – this is the solution.
4. Open Blocks:
This is just the ordinary open mesh
Now for a row by row analysis of the pattern are given above.
1. Patterns are always worked from the bottom right over the required number of foundation chains.
2. Here is how you calculate the number of foundation chains required = (Number of blocks x 3) + 1
3. Don’t forget to count a double mesh or a Check mark as 2 blocks each.
Row 1 has 12 blocks –
2 open blocks = 2
2 solid blocks = 2
2 checkmarks = 4
2 Double meshes = 4
Total = 12 Blocks
So 12 x 3 = 36 + 1 = 37 foundation chains and 3 turning chains = 40 chains are made.
Row1:
The pattern is read from right to left.
Open block, solid block, (double mesh, check mark) 2 times, solid block, open block.
4. Remember, you always work 3 chains instead of the first tr of the row - It does not matter whether the block is solid or open.
Row:2
The pattern is read from left to right. You turn your work when row 1 is completed so you still work from right to left. This is what the 2 rows together look like.
Row 3 to 22: repeat row 1 and row 2.
This pattern can be worked to any required length.
Tags: crochet pattern, crocheting, filet crochet