Learning to Crochet Poor Man's Lace

I love making my own crochet designs. A good way to start is to modify a very simple pattern, like a scarf. This allows you to play with stitches without worrying about increasing, decreasing or sewing separate pieces together.

Try experimenting with poor man's lace. This technique is very simple but incredibly versatile. Poor man's lace creates spaces in the crocheted fabric that you can use to make patterns and words. To make a space, simply chain one, skip a stitch, and continue stitching. When stitching over a space, insert your hook into the space to yarn over. Wider spaces can be formed by chaining two or three and skipping a corresponding number of stitches.

Make sure that the edge of each row is strong. Wait at least until the third stitch to begin the lace stitches and stop the lace stitches at least two stitches before the end of the row.

Try this Hope Scarf pattern to familiarize yourself with poor man's lace. Then break out some graph paper and make your own designs. Use the lace design to write your name or a favorite phrase. Or make patterns out of the spaces: checks, stripes, diamonds, or whatever you like.

Hope Scarf

You will need: 1 skein of worsted-weight yarn, any color, and a 900mm N hook.

Pml: ch 1, skip a stitch, dc in next stitch.

Ch 20.

Row 1: In 3^rd stitch from hook, dc. Dc across. Ch 2 and turn.

Row 2-?: Repeat row 1 until your scarf is almost half as long as you'd like.

Hope Row 1: 2dc, pml 7 times, dc. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 2: Repeat H Row 1.

H Row 3: 6dc, 2pml, dc to end. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 4: 8dc, 2pml, dc to end. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 5-6: Repeat H Row 1.

H Row 7-8: dc across. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 9-10: 4dc, 5pml, dc across. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 11-12: 2dc, 2pml, 6dc, 2pml, 1dc. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 13-14: Repeat H Row 9.

H Row 15-16: dc across. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 17-18: 2dc, 7pml, 1dc. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 19: 2dc, 1pml, 4dc, 1pml, dc across. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 20: 8dc, 1pml, 4dc, 1pml, 1dc. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 21: 4dc, 2pml, dc across. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 22-23: dc across. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 24-25: 2dc, 7pml, 1dc. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 26-27: 2dc. 2pml, 2dc, 1pml, 2dc, 2pml, 1dc. Ch 2 and turn.

H Row 28: 2dc, 2pml, 6dc, 1pml, 1dc.Ch 2 and turn.

Finishing rows: dc across. Ch 2 and turn. Repeat until desired length is reached.

Finish off and weave in ends.

Sources: personal experience.