I have been hooked on playing with Bruges Lace as of late, and wanted to share this skill.
Bruges Lace is a crochet technique that essentially has you crocheting a ribbon, a narrow strip, and attaching it to itself to create a simple lace that looks much more involved. The patterns often have a high row count, but that is because the rows are only a few stitches each, in some cases only 5 stitches.
As you can see in this photo the “ribbon” is only a few stitches, and then there is a long turning chain. This long chain is used as a joining point when working the “ribbon” back on itself. This approach lends itself to any design that you can draw in a continuous line.
When you have a “turn” in your line you need to work longer and join multiple long loops together to form a “bend” in the ribbon.
I encourage you to give it a try, and to get you started I have a free cowl pattern.
Spiral Bruges Cowl
Work a ribbon, and then join on one side to spiral around and create this fast and eye catching cowl. The ends of the ribbon are highlighted with simple shells to finish this highlight.
Finished Size
31″ circumference, 12″ Tall (79 cm circumference, 9 cm tall)
Gauge
5 sts (the width of ribbon, not counting ch-5 loop)= 1 1/2″ (4cm), 6 rows =4″ (10cm)
Materials
* Lisa Souza Yarns Max medium weight 50% Bombyx Silk/50% Merino Wool yarn (219 yrd/3.5oz)
* K/10 ½ /6.5mm crochet hook
Row 1: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sk next ch, 5 dc in next ch, sk next ch, sc in last ch, turn chain over to work in unused loops of beg chain.
Row 2: Ch 5, dc in unused loops of first st, dc in next ch, ch 1, sk next st, dc in next ch, dc in unused loops of last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 5, dc in next 2 dc sts, ch 1, dc in last 2 dc sts, turn.
Row 4-50: Rep Row 3.
Row 51: Ch 2, sl st to ch-5 loop of Row 2, sl st, dc in next 2 dc sts, ch 1, dc in last 2 dc sts, turn.
Row 52: Ch 5, dc in next 2 dc sts, ch 1, dc in last 2 dc sts, turn.
Row 53: Ch 2, sl st to next adjacent ch-5 loop, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc sts, ch 1, dc in last 2 dc sts, turn.
Row 54: Ch 5, dc in next 2 dc sts, ch 1, dc in last 2 dc sts, turn.
Row 55-248: Rep Rows 53 & 54 ninety seven times.
Row 249: Ch 2, sl st in next adjacent ch-5 loop, ch 2, sc in first dc, 5 dc in ch-1 sp, sc in last dc, fasten off. Weave in ends, block.