Hairpin Lace Crochet

A presentation on a Victorian form of crochet

Copyright 2009 by Crochet Renee’

What is Hairpin Lace crochet?

• Hairpin lace crochet was also once known as Maltese or Portuguese crochet

• Dubbed Hairpin lace because Victorian ladies actually used hairpins as a frame to crochet around

• Please note the following instructions are for right-handed folks; lefties switch directions where given!

How do you do it?To create a single crochet strip, first tie a slip knot…

Then place the loop on the right hand side of the forks with the knot centered between the forks

What’s Next?Rotate the frame clockwise. Insert hook into the loop that is on the frame, yarn over… …and pull up a loop…

Rotate the frame, insert hook into the loop that was just made, yarn over…

Pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops…

Continue to rotate the frame, working single crochets down the center of the strip for the desired number of loops

When the strip has the desired number of loops, cut the yarn end and pull through to finish the strip.

Very carefully slide the strip off of the frame onto a flat surface, taking care to not allow the strip to twist.

When you have made the desired number of strips, it’s time to join them together!

To form a cable join, pick up two strips…

Hold the strips as shown, with your index finger in between the strips, keeping them separated.

Insert hook into the first loop of the front strip…

Then insert hook into the first loop of the back strip and pull it through the first loop of the front strip.

Continue pulling loops through the loop on your hook, alternating loops on each strip until you reach the last loop of both strips…

Pull up a loop from the tail of the strip that would be next in the alternating sequence, yarn over, pull the end through to finish.

You now have two strips joined together. What else…?

• There are many ways the strips can be joined; you are only limited by your imagination! Home décor, wearables, tote bags and other accessories…all can be made using this technique. The sky is the limit! Refer to the references page for links where you can find patterns using this technique.

How many different strips can I make?

Hairpin Lace strips can be worked in single, half-double and double crochet to achieve different effects.

Ways of joining are also varied; the cable join that is shown can be varied by joining in groups of 2 loops or more, or by using another yarn to slip stitch or single crochet strips together. Fancier joins can be created by varying how many loops are clustered together.

Other helpful hints…

Some people find it helpful to use a “lifeline” to keep the loops all facing the same direction until they are joined.

When creating long strips, it is helpful to place stitch markers on the prongs of the loom at regular intervals to count loops more easily.

Once the strips are created, wind them around a piece of cardboard and use a chip clip to hold them in place until you are ready to join.

• REFERENCEs

• http://www.bellaonline.org/articles/art5290.asp

• http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/hairpin_lace.php

• http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=73

• For more copies of this presentation: www.crochetrenee.com