🌟 Introduction
Capture the elegance of vintage ceramics with the Porcelain Lace Square! This exquisite motif features a solid, star-like center that branches out to four delicate open circles, which anchor a final, intricate lace border. It’s a wonderful project for perfecting your lace tension and joining skills, resulting in a beautiful square that can be multiplied to create stunning throws, scarves, or decorative runners.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Requires precision in shaping and joining rounds)
Finished Size (approximate): 7 inches x 7 inches (18 cm x 18 cm) square, when using thread.
🧵 Materials & Gauge
✨ Materials Needed
- Yarn/Thread: Approximately 50-70 yards of Size 10 Cotton Thread (Lace Weight/Fingering). Using fine cotton thread is key to achieving the crisp detail and open lacework seen in the image. (The sample is a clean white.)
- Hook: Steel Crochet Hook Size 7 (1.65 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge. (Check your thread label for the best fit.)
- Notions: Stitch markers (for corners), small sharp scissors, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and T-pins for blocking.
📏 Gauge (Crucial for Sizing!)
- Rounds 1-4 (Central Circle) should measure approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) in diameter.
- Crucial Check: Your motif must lay perfectly flat as you progress, especially when squaring the circle. If it begins to curl, go up a half size on your hook; if it ruffles, go down a size.
💡 Special Stitches & Abbreviations
📝 Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning | | Abbreviation | Meaning | | :—: | :— | :—: | :— | | ch | chain | | st(s) | stitch(es) | | sl st | slip stitch | | rep | repeat | | sc | single crochet| | dc | double crochet | | tr | treble crochet| | ch-sp | chain space | | MR | Magic Ring | | sk | skip | | V-st | V-Stitch | | Picot | Picot Stitch |
⭐ Special Stitches (Written Instructions)
- Picot: Ch 3, sl st back into the first chain.
- V-st (V-Stitch): Work (dc, ch 2, dc) all into the indicated stitch or space.
💎 The Pattern: Porcelain Lace Square
Note: The pattern is worked in joined rounds. The ch-3 at the beginning of DC rounds counts as the first dc. The pattern is based on a 4-corner repeat.
Part 1: The Central Starburst
Foundation: Start with a Magic Ring (MR).
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 15 dc into MR. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (16 dc)
Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1). Dc in the next st, ch 1. Rep from * 14 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the starting ch-4 to join. (16 dc, 16 ch-1 sps)
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in the same ch-1 sp. 2 dc in the next dc, 2 dc in the next ch-1 sp. Rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (48 dc)
Round 4 (Starburst Points): Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc, ch 2). Sk 2 sts. Dc in the next st. [Arc] Ch 2, sk 2 sts. Dc in the next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts. Rep from * 15 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the starting ch-5 to join. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 sps)
Part 2: Squaring and Open Circles
Round 5 (Setting Corners): Ch 1, sc in the same st. Sc in the ch-2 sp. [Corner] (Sc in the next dc, ch 5) 2 times, sc in the next dc. Sc in the next ch-2 sp, sc in the next dc, sc in the next ch-2 sp, sc in the next dc. Rep from * around, ending with 2 corner repeats. Sl st to the first sc to join. (4 ch-5 sps for circles, 4 corner ch-5 chains)
Round 6 (The Open Circles): Sl st into the corner ch-5 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp. Ch 3, 3 dc in the next ch-5 sp. Ch 7 (to form the large side loop/circle). 3 dc in the next ch-5 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in the next ch-5 sp. Rep from * 3 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (8 3-dc groups, 4 ch-3 sps, 4 ch-7 sps)
Round 7 (Solidifying the Shape): Sl st to the ch-3 sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, dc) in the ch-3 sp (V-st). Ch 1, 7 sc in the ch-7 sp (the large circle). Ch 1. V-st in the next ch-3 sp. Rep from * 3 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (4 V-sts, 4 7-sc groups, 8 ch-1 sps)
Part 3: The Final Lace Edging
Round 8 (Arc Mesh): Sl st into the ch-2 sp of the V-st. Ch 1, sc in the sp. [Corner] Ch 3, sc in the next ch-1 sp. Ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in the next sc (center of 7-sc group). Ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in the next ch-1 sp. Ch 3. Sc in the ch-2 sp of the next V-st. Rep from * 3 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Round 9 (Scalloped Border): Ch 1, sc in the same st. Ch 3, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp. Ch 3, sc in the next sc. Ch 3, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp. Ch 3. [Corner] Sc in the next sc (the center corner). Ch 3, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp. Ch 3, sc in the next sc. Ch 3, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp. Ch 3. Rep from * 3 more times, omitting the last sc on the final rep. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Round 10 (Final Picot Edge): Ch 1, sc in the same st. [Shell Edging] (Ch 3, Picot, ch 3, sc in the center dc of the 5-dc group). Ch 3, sc in the next sc. Ch 3, sc in the center dc of the 5-dc group. Rep [Shell Edging] 2 more times. Ch 3, sc in the next sc (corner). Rep from * 3 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Fasten off.
Video Tutorial:
✂️ Finishing & Blocking
🧺 Blocking is Mandatory!
- Wet Blocking: For any lace square, wet blocking is absolutely mandatory to open the lacework and ensure the motif maintains a crisp, flat, and perfect square shape.
- Soak the motif thoroughly in cool water, using a small amount of liquid starch for extra crispness if desired.
- Gently squeeze out excess water.
- Pin the square out firmly onto a blocking board or foam mat, ensuring the four corners are pulled taut and symmetrical to form perfect 90-degree angles. Pin out the circular arches to open them up.
- Allow the motif to dry completely before unpinning.
✨ Conclusion
Weave in all your ends securely on the back of the work.
Congratulations! You have created the stunning Porcelain Lace Square, a beautiful building block for any lace project!
