Tuesday, October 14, 2008

My Favorite Things Banner - Filet Crochet Heart Theme Pattern to Personalize


To the finished banner, add theme buttons, charms or appliques, sewn on within the area of each heart to personalize the banner to reflect your favorite things. This could also make a great gift for someone that you know well. It could be fun to find sew-on items in the themes that would fit that person. An occupation, interests, hobbies, favorite sports, favorite animals, pets. Another idea would be to add just a few theme buttons or appliques to the banner and let the other person share the fun of deciding what else to add. Novelty buttons, charms and appliques are found in the craft sections of many stores and can also be found online. Home-Sew has some interesting choices in their online store and print catalog. I found the dragonfly in the craft section of Wal-Mart.


The following instructions are written in US American English crochet pattern terms. If you are used to British English crochet patterns terms, the translation for the American English dc (double crochet) is a British English tr (treble) and the translation for the American English sc (single crochet) is a British English dc (double crochet).

In US American English crochet pattern terms:
Banner Tabs (make 3): These banner tabs will be sewn on, along the top edge, when the filet crochet piece is finished.
Note: You will turn at the end of each row.
Starting Chain: Leaving a length to weave in later, chain 8.
Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in each chain across. (7 sc)
Row 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each of next 6 sc. (7 dc)
Row 3 - 7: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in ea dc across (7 dc)
Row 8: ch 1, to turn. sc in ea dc across. (7 sc)
End off, leaving a length for sewing the tab to the filet crochet piece.
When Banner Piece is Completed From Chart:
Finishing, Sewing on Tabs: Position the three tabs along the top of the piece and mark the spots to sew on, using sewing pins or some sort of marker. The example at the top of this page can give you an idea for possible placement of the tabs (your tab placement doesn't have to be exactly like the example). Fold the first tab in half, with the wrong sides held together and sew the two bottom edges of the tab in place along the top of the filet crochet piece, using a large-eye sewing needle and the lengths that you left at the beginning and end when crocheting the tab. Leave the sides of the tabs open. On the back of the banner, weave in leftover ends of the lengths to secure, weaving back and forth under some of the stitches several times, so that the ends will not unravel with use. Repeat this process of sewing on with the other two tabs.

A wooden dowel can be inserted through the three tabs. Craft dowels can be found at hobby and craft stores, such as A.C. Moore, Michaels Arts and Crafts or Jo-Ann Stores.

Crocheting the Banner:
In this design, the hearts will look closest to the dimensions shown on the chart, if you work the chart in 3-dc mesh. If you work the chart in 4-dc mesh, the hearts will look wider than they appear on the chart image, while remaining the same height as shown on the chart.

On the chart, the white squares indicate open mesh and the black squares indicate solid mesh.

Materials: Use thread size or yarn weight of your choice. For instance, size 10 crochet thread with a US size 7 or 8 steel hook, for a smaller banner or worsted weight yarn with a US size H hook, for a larger banner (worsted weight yarn option is about 21 inches wide x 20 inches tall, when made in 3-dc mesh).

For a 3-dc mesh, chain 74 for a starting chain and begin with a double crochet made in the 5th chain from the hook, to begin the first (bottom right) solid mesh of the chart. On this chart, the first row is all solid mesh, so the second and all additional solid mesh of the first row are made by making a double crochet in each chain of the starting chain. Continue to follow the chart for placement of each open mesh and solid mesh across each row; the first row on the chart was followed right to left and the next row will be followed left to right. Continue following the chart in this manner.

Solid Mesh - On the chart, for 3-dc mesh, if the first mesh of the row is a solid mesh being made over a solid mesh of the previous row, directions = ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each of next 2 dc. Any other solid mesh in the row = if made over a solid mesh, then dc in ea of next 2 dc or if made over an open mesh = dc in next chain-1 space, dc in next dc.

In this design, the first mesh of every row is a solid mesh.

Open Mesh - On the chart, for 3-dc mesh, for any open mesh in the row, directions = if made over a solid mesh, then chain 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc or if made over an open mesh, directions = chain 1, skip next chain-1 space, dc in next dc.

If you opt to work the chart in 4-dc mesh:
For a 4-dc mesh, chain 109 for a starting chain and begin with a double crochet made in the 5th chain from the hook, to begin the first (bottom right) solid mesh of the chart. On this chart, the first row is all solid mesh, so the second and all additional solid mesh of the first row are made by making a double crochet in each chain of the starting chain. Continue to follow the chart for placement of each open mesh and solid mesh across each row; the first row on the chart was followed right to left and the next row will be followed left to right. Continue following the chart in this manner. Basics of 4-dc Mesh Filet Crochet

Once a person is familiar with the basics of filet crochet, row by row written instructions are not needed for each new chart.

Solid Mesh - On the chart, for 4-dc mesh, if the first mesh of the row is a solid mesh being made over a solid mesh of the previous row, directions = ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each of next 3 dc or if the first mesh of the row is a solid mesh that is being made over an open mesh, then directions = ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in chain-2 space, dc in next dc. Any other solid mesh in the row = if made over a solid mesh, then dc in ea of next 3 dc or if made over an open mesh = 2 dc in next chain-2 space, dc in next dc.

Open Mesh - On the chart, for 4-dc mesh, if the first mesh of a row is an open mesh being made over a solid mesh, directions = ch 5 (counts as first dc and a chain-2), skip next 2 dc, dc in next dc or if the first mesh of a row is an open mesh being made over an open mesh, directions = ch 5 (counts as first dc and a chain-2), skip next chain-2 space, dc in next dc. Any other open mesh in the row, directions = if made over a solid mesh, then chain 2, skip next 2 dc, dc in next dc or if made over an open mesh, directions = chain 2, skip next chain-2 space, dc in next dc.

If you show on the Internet your own photo of a banner that you made using my pattern, please kindly include a link to this pattern page so that anyone who may want the pattern, can find this site and print the pattern out for themselves. Thank you. I appreciate that.

This is a copyrighted pattern. After seeing many copyright violations of my patterns over the years, I have learned the hard way that the following terms of use are necessary for those who are acting upon untrue myths, instead of facts, about copyrights or who don't realize the damage that copyright violations do to designers. Be aware that patterns that a designer chooses to place on the Internet as free patterns are protected by the same copyright laws as patterns that are purchased. Being on the Internet does not make it public domain! This pattern is free for your personal, non-commercial use only, meaning that you can make items using it for yourself or for gifts but that you may not sell items made using my design without my express written permission in legal paperwork form and payment of a fee for that commercial use of my design. Of course, per copyright law, the pattern (including the chart) is not to be reprinted on another web site or elsewhere and cannot be given to others as reproduced copies (which would be illegal, pirated copies). Instead, please give the link to this page so that anyone who wants the pattern may come to this site for themselves. Thank you. I appreciate it. If you wish to use any of my patterns on another web site, blog or in print publications, please email me to discuss a fee and exchange legal paperwork for that use.

7 comments:

ErinLindsey said...

Hi Sandi!!!

I like your new "home"!

I might have to try this pattern with the hearts for Valentine's Day.

Sandi Marshall said...

Hi Erin!

I'm glad that you like my new "home" on the Web.

Come to think of it, this banner would make a great Valentine's Day decoration or gift, wouldn't it. Along with being a great "anytime" gift. Thanks for posting!

Sandi

Laura de Argentina said...

i love this design!!!. i design filet crochet for myself too and i have been wondering how to put the charts in some PC format (i do it with graph paper). Which program do you use, if i mind ask?
congrats for a nice job!!!

Sandi Marshall said...

Laura, thanks for your comment. To answer your question, I've been using a filet crochet chart program from Sand Castle Designs for years now. I draw my designs freehand within that program, by clicking on each square of the blank graph to fill the squares in for the solid mesh ... or sometimes by holding down the mouse button to draw continuous lines, which fills in squares within the graph. There's an erase tool (can erase one square at a time) so I can change the look until I'm satisfied with my new design. The Sand Castle Designs web site is http://www.crochetdesigns.com

Sandi

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandi, I am looking at your new blog thanks to "The Daily crocheter" I had no idea you had moved. Things have been so crazy at my place lately that I haven't been checking in to the About.com site. I have always done 3-dc filet and love it. When I tried to do 4-dc filet I was constantly finding myself switching unconsciously going back to 3-dc filet. Is there an easy way to convert 4-dc filet patterns to 3-dc filet patterns?
Janet

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandi, I'm glad I found you! I was first introduced to your work on about.com. I have just started doing needlework again and many of your articles are really helpful to me. I tried finding you everywhere so that I could Thank You for the concise yet explicit articles on crocheting and knitting. Now today, I tripped up and found you doing a google image search on filet crochet. Once again, My Thanks. Much Success to You-Ms Williams

Unknown said...

i absolutely love this pattern but i cant read the graphs for the life of me. does any1 have a link to a written pattern for this? my bathroom needs this so bad lol