Filet crochet is the lacy grid you see on old doilies, curtains, and table runners, with pictures like hearts, flowers, or letters showing up in solid squares. It looks fancy, but it only uses two stitches you probably already know: chain and double crochet.
The real skill is reading the chart. Instead of written rows, filet patterns give you a grid of filled and empty squares. This guide explains how that grid turns into stitches, how to count your starting chain, which way to read each row, and the mistakes that trip up most beginners.
What You’ll Need
- Smooth cotton yarn in a light color, light (#3) or medium (#4) weight for practice
- A hook that suits the yarn, such as 4 mm (G) or 5 mm (H)
- Stitch markers
- A printed chart and a ruler or sticky note to track rows
- Yarn needle
- Pins and a blocking mat
Traditional filet is made with fine crochet thread and a tiny steel hook. That’s lovely later on, but for learning, thicker cotton lets you see every stitch.
The Two Squares: Blocks and Spaces
Every filet chart is made of just two kinds of squares.
| Chart square | Name | How to make it (US terms) |
|---|---|---|
| Filled square | Block (solid mesh) | 3 double crochet worked across (plus the shared dc on the edge) |
| Empty square | Space (open mesh) | Chain 2, skip 2, then 1 double crochet |
Here is the important part. Neighboring squares share a double crochet post. Each square is 3 stitches wide, plus one extra double crochet at the very end of the row to close the last square.
So a row of 10 squares has 10 × 3 + 1 = 31 stitches across.
How to Read a Filet Chart
Step 1: Start at the bottom. Row 1 is the bottom row of the chart.
Step 2: Read Row 1 from right to left if you are right-handed (left to right if you are left-handed). That is the direction your stitches go.
Step 3: Read Row 2 in the opposite direction, because you turn your work at the end of each row.
Step 4: Keep switching direction every row as you move up the chart.
Many charts number rows along the side, with odd numbers on one edge and even numbers on the other. The number tells you where the row begins.
Tip: Lay a ruler or sticky note just above the row you’re working on. It hides the rows you haven’t reached and makes it much easier to keep your place.
How Many Chains to Start?
This is where most beginners get stuck. Use the number of squares in the bottom row, and check whether Row 1 starts with a block or a space.
| First square of Row 1 | Chain this many | First stitch goes |
|---|---|---|
| Block | (squares × 3) + 3 | dc in 4th ch from hook |
| Space | (squares × 3) + 5 | dc in 8th ch from hook |
Example: A chart is 10 squares wide and starts with a block. Chain (10 × 3) + 3 = 33. Double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook. The skipped chains count as your first double crochet.
Always check the pattern notes too. Some designers use a slightly different start, and theirs is the one to follow.
Working Row 1
Once your first stitch is in place, work across the chart square by square.
Step 1: For a block, work 1 double crochet in each of the next 3 chains (if it is your first block, the skipped chains plus the dc you just made already count as the start of it, so work 2 more dc to finish 4 posts).
Step 2: For a space, chain 2, skip the next 2 chains, and double crochet in the next chain.
Step 3: Keep going until every square in Row 1 is done. Count your posts: you should have one more post than squares.
Working the Next Rows
At the start of each new row, turn your work.
- If the row starts with a block: chain 3 (counts as the first dc).
- If the row starts with a space: chain 5 (counts as 1 dc plus ch 2), skip the next 2 stitches, and dc in the next dc.
Then follow the chart, using these four combinations:
| Square below | Chart says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Block | Block | dc in each of the next 3 dc |
| Space | Block | 2 dc in the ch-2 space, then dc in the next dc |
| Block | Space | ch 2, skip 2 dc, dc in the next dc |
| Space | Space | ch 2, dc in the next dc |
At the end of each row, make your last double crochet into the top of the turning chain from the row below (the 3rd chain of a ch 3, or the 3rd chain of a ch 5).
A Practice Plan
- Make a plain mesh swatch: 10 spaces wide, 6 rows tall. This teaches you the rhythm.
- Then try a swatch that is all blocks, so you can see how the posts line up.
- Finally, draw a simple 10 x 10 grid with a small heart in the middle and work it.
When you’re ready for a real chart, Maria Merlino shares a free Frog Filet Crochet Chart on Ravelry. It is written for size 10 crochet thread and a 1.15 mm hook, so try it after you’ve practiced with thicker cotton. For more background and project ideas, Yarnspirations has a free guide to filet crochet patterns and guides.
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
- Counting the starting chain wrong. Your grid ends up one square short. Use the (squares × 3) formula and mark every 10th chain with a stitch marker.
- Reading every row from the same side. The picture comes out jumbled. Remember to switch direction each row.
- Missing the last stitch of the row. The edge slants in. Always end with a dc in the top of the turning chain.
- Uneven spaces. If some meshes look squashed, you may be working the ch 2 tighter than your dc. Relax your chains a little.
- Losing your place on the chart. Use a ruler or sticky note and tick off each row with a pencil when you finish it.
- Using dark or fuzzy yarn. The picture disappears. Choose a smooth, light cotton.
Tips
- Count posts, not squares, at the end of each row. Posts should equal squares plus 1.
- Block your finished piece. Filet really comes alive when it is pinned flat and squared up.
- Squares in filet are a bit taller than wide, so pictures look slightly stretched. This is normal.
- Enlarge charts on a copier or your phone so the squares are easy to see.
- You can make your own charts on graph paper. Color in the squares you want solid, and leave the rest empty.
FAQ
Is filet crochet hard for beginners?
Not really. If you can chain and double crochet, you can do filet. The challenge is keeping track of the chart, not the stitches. Start with a small chart and a ruler to mark your row, and it gets easier quickly.
What yarn is best for filet crochet?
Smooth cotton shows the pattern best. Traditional filet uses fine crochet thread and steel hooks. For learning, light or medium cotton yarn with a 4 mm to 5 mm hook is easier to see and fix.
Which direction do you read a filet chart?
Start at the bottom row. Read Row 1 from right to left if you are right-handed, then switch direction every row. Left-handed crocheters usually start from the left.
Grab some light cotton and work a small grid of spaces tonight, and you’ll be ready for your first filet picture by the weekend.
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