You may be seeing many crochet patterns offered in chart or grid form only, no written instructions. Don’t be intimidated! There are many reasons for this. One being many people have difficulty reading written crochet patterns. But, that’s not the only reason.

Some crochet techniques like Filet Crochet or Filet Lace is presented in chart form because a written out pattern would seem quite daunting to follow. To make it more universal a chart can be followed by more people as long as you have the magic Key.

The magic to following any chart is to study the “Key”. The Key tells you what the open (blank spaces) and filled squares (x’s) mean as well as how they work together. I’ve supplied an example below for you to follow in doing the Dragonfly pattern.

Filet charts come in “a grid of x’s and spaces” laid out to form a design. Some of those designs can be quite intricate and challenging. No one knows for sure who did the earliest designs, some as early as the 1800’s, but I do know there are plenty of patterns out there you will want to do once you master your skill in chart reading.

DRAGONFLY INSTRUCTIONS

Work from bottom to top, and right to left following Chart and Key.

Hook size: #7/1.50mm, Cotton thread #10 (or hook and thread/yarn desired for practicing)

Foundation chain: Ch 36, turn (chain row not shown on chart).

Row 1 RS: Dc in 9th ch from hook (counts as dc, ch 2 for beginning open square), (ch 2, skip 2 chs, dc in next ch) 7 times, dc in next 3 chs, (ch 2, skip 2 chs, dc in next ch), turn. (9 open squares, 1 filled square)

Row 2 WS: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2, now and throughout), skip ch-2 space, dc in next dc (first beginning open square), ch 2, skip 2 dc, dc in next dc, 2 dc in ch-2 space, dc in next dc, (ch 2, skip ch-2 space, dc in next dc) 7 times, turn. (9 open squares, 1 filled square)

Rows 3-10: Continue to follow Chart and Key. Fasten off.

Now you are ready to crochet Filet Lace and below are some lovely patterns you can do.