Snowflake Cushion – Throw pillow – Intermeshing – Double Filet Crochet- Interlocking crochet

Whilst looking for a project to use up the yarn left over from my “Peppermint Passion” Afghan, I found this lovely chart design called Snowflakes at http://free-filet-crocheting.wz.cz/61-80/61.htm.

I had initially intended just to work a sample of the chart, complying with the colour changes in design. However, after completing one pattern repeat…

I decided the design would make a great cushion/throw pillow but I wanted a different coloured background on each side; one side Peppermint with Bottle green snowflakes, and the other side Bottle green and Peppermint snowflakes. The chart required no tweaking. The design was very easy to follow and I think it turned out pretty well. As usual, choosing which side of the fabric was going to be side A was very difficult, as most intermeshed fabric is equally lovely on both sides.

Side A

Side B

My cushion measures 20” X 20” but this can be changed by increasing or decreasing the number of pattern repeats as required (I always work a swatch prior to starting any project).

To make my Cushion/Throw pillow:

Yarn Type: 4 ply Acrylic machine knitting yarn, left over from a previous project.
Needles: 3.00mm crochet hook.

Cushion/pillow pad 20” X 20” (firm over stuffed)

Method: For the front of the cushion/pillow, work a foundation row of 72 cells in colour A and 71 cells in colour B, and follow the chart for 5 repeats across then continue until work is 5 repeats high.

Finish all four edges; with colour A working through both filet layers ch1, work sc evenly around all four edges, working 2 sc in each filet cell and 4 sc in each corner. Join with a sl st in top of beginning ch, Fasten off.

For the back of the cushion/pillow, work in the same manner as for the front, reversing colour A and colour B.

Join sides; with front and back together and side A facing, with colour A and working through back and front ch1, work sc through each surrounding sc until three sides are joined together, then insert the pad and continue around to join fourth side; sl st in top of beginning ch, Fasten off and weave in ends.

I did not create an opening to remove the cover for cleaning. Both the yarn and pad are synthetic, making the whole thing machine washable.

Update 07-01-2015: As requested in the comments section of the Flower Motif post (https://grippingyarns.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/flower-motif-intermeshing-double-filet-crochet-interlocking-crochet/), I have written out the pattern for one snowflake motif. However, writing patterns in this way is very time-consuming, considerably moreso than actually creating the motif itself! This is not something that I would normally write for the blog, but I am making an exception in this case. After all, it was a request at Christmas.

Each filet layer is worked separately and meshed together (they are never connected, stitches of one layer are never trapped by the other. Stitches are worked wholly in front or behind the other layer). This sometimes requires inserting the hook through a cell of one layer to reach the next double crochet of the other layer. This double crochet is then drawn through to the back or front as required then worked as normal.

Abbreviations

dcif (double crochet worked in the front post)
dcib (double crochet worked in the back post)
ch (chain)
dc (double crochet)

Foundation Row Col B: Work a row of filet mesh consisting of 13 cells, place last loop on stitch holder and set aside
Foundation Row Col A:Work a row of filet mesh consisting of 14 cells

Place colour A layer on top of colour B layer, with working yarn of both pieces to the right (I usually hold the two layers together in the middle with a split ring stitch marker as this stops the pieces twisting)

Row 1 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc. *[ch1, dcif in next dc] 5 times, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] 6 times, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Row 1 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc. *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 4 times, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 5 times, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Turn work

Row 2 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, ch1, dcib in next dc, ch1, dcif in next dc, *[ch1,dcib in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcif in next dc, *[ch1,dcib in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcif in next dc, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Row 2 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice,*[ch1,dcib in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1,dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcif in next dc, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Turn work

Row 3 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, ch1, dcif in next dc, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Row 3 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc. ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Turn work

Row 4 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in next dc, ch1, dcif in next dc, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Row 4 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 6 times, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Turn work

Row 5 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] 3 times, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 5 times, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] 4 times, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Row 5 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 3 times, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] 4 times, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 4 times, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Turn work

Row 6 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] 11 times, ch1, dcib in next dc, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Row 6 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 11 times, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Turn work

Row 7 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 11 times, ch1, dcif in next dc, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Row 7 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 3 times, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] 4 times, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 4 times, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Turn work

Row 8 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 3 times, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] 5 times, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 4 times, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Row 8 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] 6 times, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Turn work

Row 9 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcif in next dc, ch1, dcib in next dc, ch1, dcif in next dc, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Row 9 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc. ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Turn work

Row 10 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcif in next dc, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcib in last dc.

Row 10 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] twice, ch1, dcif in next dc, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Turn work

Row 11 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc, ch1, dcif in next dc, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1,dcif in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1,dcif in next dc] 3 times, ch1, dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, ch1, dcif in last dc.

Row 11 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 4 times, *[ ch1, dcif in next dc] twice, *[ch1,dcib in next dc] 5 times, dcib in last dc.

Turn work

Row 12 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcib in next dc. *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 5 times, ch1, dcif in next dc, *[ch1, dcib in next dc] 6 times, dcib in last dc.

Row 12 Col B: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc. *[ch1, dcif in next dc] 11 times, dcif in last dc.

Turn work

Row 13 Col A: ch4 (counts as first dc, and ch-1 sp) dcif in next dc. *[ch1, dcif in next dc] 12 times, dcif in last dc. Fasten off.

 

 

Nordic Motif – Intermeshing – Double Filet Crochet- Interlocking crochet

Still experimenting with charts using the technique of Intermeshing – Double Filet. I’ve been trying my hand at motifs and this is my first effort. I used a small part of a rather old knitting chart for a Nordic sweater. The original chart had lots of individual motifs, put together to give an overall Nordic design. I chose this motif as a starting point because it looked easy. I intend to try most of the motifs in the original knitting design chart and I’m sure I’ll use some of them for a future project I have whirling around in my mind.

Note that I deliberately made the tension very loose in this sample motif as it made it a lot easier to work out where the chart required tweaking(in this instance I increased the number of cells). When I finally use the motif in a project, I will adjust the tension.

 

To make my sample motif:

Yarn Type: 4 ply Acrylic machine knitting yarn, left over from a previous project.

Needles:  3.75mm crochet hook.

Method:  Work a foundation row of 26 cells in colour A and 25 cells in colour B, and follow the chart.

 

 

 

Abstract – Geometric Design – Intermeshing – Double Filet crochet – Interlocking crochet

 

I’ve been experimenting with charts and abstract/geometric designs using the technique of intermeshing –double filet crochet. I found some very nice charts at http://free-filet-crocheting.wz.cz/ and have been working on revising them for use with the intermeshing technique. This design is my first attempt. Not bad!

It was quite easy to follow this chart/design, although some chart designs do not replicate precisely. I’ve found that sometimes a chart will call for 4 cells or 4 rows, but in order to keep the design true you may need to work 5 cells or 5 rows. However, it is quite obvious what is required and when. Most design charts for filet crochet, with some tweaking, can be used for intermeshing. Experimentation is the key. Success comes with experience. The more you experiment with it, the more you’ll learn. I have lots of leftover yarn that I use to try out designs and make mistakes. I’m always willing to try something, and if it doesn’t work then unravel it and try again. It usually turns out right in the end!

I think this would be a great design for a throw cushion/pillow. My sample measures 10”X 9.5” but this could be increased by using DK or Aran yarn and a larger hook.

 

To make my sample:

Yarn Type: 4 ply Acrylic machine knitting yarn, left over from a previous project.

Needles:  3.75mm crochet hook.

Method:  Work a foundation row of 33 cells in colour A and 32 cells in colour B, and follow the chart at      http://free-filet-crocheting.wz.cz/21-40/40.htm.     I added one cell at each side of the design.

 

“Sample” Afghan – Intermeshing – Double Filet – Interlocking Crochet

Intermeshing – Double Filet Crochet (AKA Interlocking crochet)

Having crocheted a sample of every design from Tanis Galik’s book “Interlocking Crochet”, I was left with an awful lot of swatches which took up a lot of space. I had unravelled quite a few of them to reuse the yarn, and was unravelling a particularly nice design when I had the idea to put together the swatches I had left (granny square style) to make an Afghan. My only problem was that the swatches were not of equal size, so I added plain double filet to each swatch to make them uniform in size before sewing them together. When they were all sewn together, I crocheted plain double filet around the whole piece to bring it all together.

Colours used are brown and beige.

The Afghan which measures 31” X 57” has turned out to be really nice; much better than I had expected.

The yarn used 4 Ply Acrylic for machine knitting and size 3.00mm crochet hook.

 

“Serendipity” (Honeycomb) – Intermeshing – Double Filet – Interlocking Crochet

Intermeshing – Double Filet Crochet (AKA Interlocking crochet)

I had a vague memory of a design I used many years ago, during my table mat phase, based on a diamond shape (which I quite like). Whilst trying to work out this old design from memory, something went quite wrong and this little honeycomb design popped out instead; I think it’s quite nice.

This is just a sample; it’s size limited by the scrap yarn I had available.  I don’t know what I’m going to do with the design yet!!

The yarn used is 4 Ply Acrylic for machine knitting and size 3.75mm crochet hook.

 

My “Peppermint Passion” Afghan – Intermeshing – Double Filet – Interlocking Crochet

 

Intermeshing – Double Filet Crochet (AKA Interlocking crochet)

Intermeshing is the technique of making two Filet Crochet Mesh Fabrics at the same time, so that that although they are structurally separate, they are permanently “intermeshed” with each other; the resulting fabric is stretchy and a little thicker than normal crochet. It is also possible to intermesh more than two Filet Mesh Fabrics.

I learned to intermesh double filet as a child, the technique was used to make table mats and I very soon became bored with it. Recently I decided to give intermeshing another try however, I found that the technique had been renamed “Interlocking Crochet” and the only designs I could find were in a book of the same name by Tanis Galik http://www.interlockingcrochet.com/ I bought the book and crocheted a sample of every design; it’s a very good book and I would recommend it to all beginners. I then came across a wonderful design by Kyle Calderhead http://gallery.bridgesmathart.org/exhibitions/2012-bridges-conference/kcalderhead which inspired me to try to create my own designs; I now find creating the design to be the most interesting part of any project.

This is my first design using the technique of Intermeshing – Double Filet and I am quite pleased with the Afghan which measures 35” X 64”.

The yarn used is 4 Ply Acrylic for machine knitting and size 3.75mm crochet hook. The colours used are “Peppermint” and “Bottle Green”.