Discovering Short Row Crochet Lace

 

    Did you think that I had finished my Discovering Lace series? I have been putting this subject off because I am so confused! What I began thinking about was Bruges, Brussels and Belgium Lace. As with all things Lace the description of each of these traditional types of lace is very confusing for a crocheter. I have given up trying to sort out the technical differences. Instead, I decided to lump the general idea of tape lace together with short row crochet lace and leave some other crocheter to sort out all the confusion!

  

Irish Tape Lace

Let's see if you can follow my reasoning here! I began by looking at something that Robyn Chachula describes as Brussels or Belgium lace. What we are recreating here in crochet is a traditional type of Tape lace. The lengths of tape are joined together by needle formed sewn bars or Bobbin lace. (Expert lace makers: please feel free to correct me in the comments below!)

 

I am going to show you a series of designs which increase in complexity to lead us inevitably towards something which no longer belongs in the Brussels lace category. All of these designs are made using short rows. I hope you will be able to follow my thoughts here!

 

To make the 'tape' we begin with a column of Treble crochet (Dc-US) created in short rows with 5 Chain at the start of each row. These chain form loose picots along the edges of our 'tape'. 

As you can see from the Victorian era illustration above, our 'tape' needs to be flexible so that it can be bent to form a design.

My crochet tape naturally bends as I join one chain-loop to another, using slip-stitches and a join-as-you-go technique. Those chain loops become a recreation of the sewn bars from the original lace technique. In this example I have also made long flat X-stitches between the picot chain-loops. They add complexity to what might otherwise be a very plain design. The lace is usually made in strips or blocks, which are joined to create a fabric.

    This design uses a more interesting 'tape' made with two pairs of Treble (Dc-US), while the picots are simply joined with slip-stitches. In this case, its the tape, rather than the joining technique, which brings interest. So despite the simplicity of the design it makes an attractive fabric.

Here, the tape is varied by missing a Treble stitch in every other row. On it's own the Treble-stitch tape is really very dull but generations of crocheters have found endless ways to add interest.
 

     It is the next pattern that, I believe, shows a link between Brussels lace and a more complex short row technique. 

This design has an element in it that looks like the 'tape' from the Brussels lace but is actually made of partial motifs. If Brussels lace looks like a doodle then this one looks like a jigsaw. It is made using the same continuous short row technique and join as you go slip-stitches.

Each curving segment of the lace is actually a third of a circular motif. The lace is crocheted in short rows. Starting from the left, the first partial motif is crocheted from the bottom up in short rows. If you think of it as a circular motif you are actually starting from the centre! When the first motif is completed, without fastening off, you immediately begin to work the centre of the next motif. As you work the short rows you also join to the first segment using slip-stitches. And so, as you move along, the whole strip is built without ever once fastening off. The picots along the edge are there so that strips of lace can be joined to each other to create an entire fabric.

 

At first glance, this design looks like a piece of complex Brussels lace. Once again it has rows of treble stitches (Dc-US) which mimic the 'tape' lace. But look closer, It is actually made of large and small partial motifs. One entire side of the lace is made first and then the entire piece is turned 180o. Now exactly the same design is repeated, joining with slip stitches as the work progresses. So once again we make the entire piece without ever fastening off.

 

These teardrop shapes have the same kind of construction but they form a more complex lace strip. The design begins with a partial motif, which is then extended to form something more like a slice of pie. 

 

This variation uses half motifs, joined with in a looser, more linear construction. While strips can be joined to create a fabric, I've seen similar designs used to create a lacy scarf.

 

I chose my final design for it's simplicity, but also because it is neither Brussels lace or made of partial motifs! But it fits here because it is short row crochet. The repetitive pattern forms a long strip which could be used as it is. I have used crochet thread for all the samples here. Made with a lofty wool you would create a different effect entirely.

 

Quite possibly there is no connection what so ever between the Tape lace and the partial motif patterns! In any case, I hope you enjoyed this quick overview of short row lace. 

Perhaps you would like to try these designs yourself? There are just a small handful of each in Robyn Chachula's Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia. Otherwise your best bet would be to do an image search. There are a number of images on Pinterest as well as tutorials on YouTube, try ElenaRugal for instance. I have found the Brussels lace more frequently referred to as Bruges Crochet. If you can suggests other sources, please do!

 

fastening off...