This snowflake lace is just beautiful.  MJ Stegeby designed it and wrote the pattern.  Thank you Mary Jo!

In order to make the pattern hexagonal rather than circular, there is a small second motif that goes between patterns in each corner.  See the photo below:

The pattern is a standard visual pattern. If you have any questions or get stuck, message me in the comments.

This is what the pattern looks all together with a small border. I love it!

I inherited some vintage embroidered pillowcases and decided to dress them up for my daughter’s room.  These beautiful designs practically cried for lace to be added to them.  Each of the pillowcases ended up with a variation of a pattern I’ve been experimenting with.  This is the final version.

Karenne’s Heritage Lace Edging Pattern:

Row 1:  Chain the length desired, connect to beginning of chain with sl st, do not turn.

Row 2:  Ch 5, dc, *ch2, skip 2 ch from previous row, dc*, repeat  across, sl to close row.

Row 3:  *(Ch 3, sc in next ch2 sp of previous row)– four times, ch 5, sc in next ch2 space of previous row* repeat across.

Row 4:  Sl 4 st to the top of the second ch3 lp of previous row, ch3, sc in next ch3 sp , ch2, tr in ch5 sp of previous row, (ch1, tr) 2 times, ch 2, tr (ch1, tr) 2 more times, all in the same ch5 sp.  Ch2, skip next ch3 sp, sc in next ch3 sp* repeat to end of row.  Sl to close.

Row 5:  Sl 1 to top of ch3 sp of previous row. Ch 6, counts as first tr and ch 3 sp, tr in the same ch3 sp. *Ch4, (sc, ch3, sc) in ch2 sp between tr’s from the previous row.  Ch 4, (tr, ch3, tr) in next ch3 sp* repeat around, sl to close.

Row 6: Ch 4, counts as first tr and ch1 sp, [(tr, ch1, tr) ch2, (tr, ch1,) 2x more, tr],  in chain 3 sp between tr’s of previous row.  *ch2, (sc, ch3, sc in the ch3 loop between sc’s from previous row), ch2, (tr, ch1) 2 times, tr, ch2, (tr, ch1) 2 times, tr in the next ch3 sp between tr’s, repeat from * to end, sl in top of first tr to close.

Row 7:  Ch3, counts as first dc and ch1 sp, dc in first ch1 sp between tr’s of previous row. Small “V” made.  Dc, ch1, dc in next ch1 sp.  Second small “V” made.  Tr, ch3, tr in ch2 sp between tr’s of previous row, large “V” made. Place small “V” in each of next two ch1 sp. Sc, ch3, sc in next ch3 sp* repeat to end. Sl in top of first dc to close.

Row 8:  Sc, ch3 in each small “V”, (sc, ch3, sc) in the top of each large “V”, (2sc, picot, 2sc) in each ch3 sp around.  Slip to close.

A few months ago, I was asked to make an altar cloth that was very dense, for a specific altar.  This is what I came up with.  It’s called “Snowflurry”, and it’s made lengthwise rather than in squares.

I like it.  It’s simple, and elegant, but one of the things I discovered after making this lace was that even though it was dense and beautiful, it tended to stretch more in one direction than in the other, making it difficult to keep blocked.  In order to help it keep its shape, I modified it, added extra stitching in a double row around just before the border.  The stay stitching helps!  However, I’ve learned an important lesson, block patterns are better than one piece patterns for altar lace.

Interesting lesson learned!

A little more than a year ago, a group of ladies in my area started taking crochet lessons from me, with the goal that they eventually wanted to make an altar cloth.  Most of these women had never crocheted before, or had just a few basics down, but not enough to follow a pattern.

We started with yarn.  There are four basic stitches in crochet.  “If you learn these four stitches, you can make almost anything!” I told them.  There are of course, fancier stitches, but most everything you make is a combination of chain, single crochet, double crochet or triple crochet.  There’s also a slip, that hardly counts as a stitch at all.  That’s it.  Four stitches.

The first pattern we tried was a traditional granny square:

We made a lot of granny squares, and put them together in afghans.  Some of the ladies got a little more creative with their granny squares, but the basic idea was the same.  Squares.  A basic granny square requires a chain stitch and a double crochet.  That’s it.  Not too hard.

After our granny square afghans were completed, we started a new project with one size smaller yarn, and a modified granny square.  We discovered a need for NICU baby blankets to help preemie babies at the hospital.  This time, armed with baby yarn, we were making baby blanket granny squares. Almost the same pattern, just a little smaller.

We met at the park and made NICU baby blankets all summer.  When we were confident with that size thread… we started a new project.  Size ten thread lace squares:

The lace thread was a larger jump than going from yarn to baby yarn had been, but with a little practice, many of us are getting it.  We decided to start an altar cloth.  

It’s a work in progress!  So far, seven sisters are participating in the making of this lace.  We’re calling it the “Sister’s Lace”.  Each square is only six rows, not very much different than a granny square.  This is great practice for an altar cloth.  If you are looking for a pattern that is simple and elegant, this is a good one to try.

The secret is, if you can make granny squares, and have the will to practice, you can make lace.

Donna’s Deseret Rose Altar Cloth

This is an altar cloth made by Marla.  It was featured about a year ago, and has been completed.  It’s beautiful!  Marla originally saw a piece of lace that had no pattern and recreated the pattern from scratch.

She wrote up the pattern and when I asked her what made her think of making an altar cloth, she included this experience in her letter to me:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

DESERET ROSE ALTAR CLOTH PATTERN

(Remade & written up by Marla Nikirk – from an unknown vintage pattern)

Deseret Rose Motif:

Rnd 1: Foundation ring….Chain 9, slp.st. (slip stitch) in beginning stitch.

Chain 3 (counts as 1^st triple), 23 triple (triple crochet) in beginning ring. Slp.st. in 3^rd stitch of beginning chain 3. A ring of total of 24 triples.

Rnd 2: Chain 6, skip next triple and *single (single crochet) in top of next triple, chain 6,* repeat all the way around ending with a slp.st. in the first stitch of beginning chain 6 (a total of 12 chain-6 loops). Slp.st. in next 2 st’s. of beginning chain 6, single in the chain-6 loop.

Rnd 3: Chain 6, *single in next chain-6 loop of previous rnd., chain 6,* repeat all the way around ending with a slp.st. in the first stitch of beginning chain 6 (a total of 12 chain-6 loops). Slp. st. in next 2 st’s. of beginning chain 6, single in the chain-6 loop.

Rnd 4: Chain 8, *single in next chain-6 loop of previous rnd., chain 8,* repeat all the way around ending with a slp.st. in the first stitch of beginning chain 8 (a total of 12 chain-8 loops). Slp.st. in next 2 st’s. of beginning chain 8, single in the 4th stitch of the beginning chain 8.

Rnd 5: *Chain 6, single in the next stitch of the beg chain-8 loop. 13 Triple in the next chain-8 loop, single in the 4^th stitch of the next chain-8 loop.* Repeat all the way around ending with a slp.st. in the first stitch of the beginning chain-6 loop. Slp.st. in the next stitch of the beginning chain-6 loop, single in the beginning chain-6 loop.

Rnd 6: *Chain 6 (counts as 1^st triple & chain 3), triple in beginning chain-6 loop of previous rnd., chain 3, triple in same chain-6 loop, chain 3, triple in same chain-6 loop, chain 3, triple in same chain-6 loop. Total of 5 triples & 4 chain 3 spaces. Chain 4, single in top of 5^th triple of previous rnd. triple grouping, chain 4, skip next 2 triples and single in next triple, chain 4, single in the next chain-6 loop, chain 3*. Continue around ending with a slp.st. in the 4th stitch of beginning chain 6. Slp.st. in the next stitch and single in the chain-6 loop.

Rnd 7: *Chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, chain 7, single in the next chain 3 space, chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space. Chain 5, skip the next chain 4 space, 3 triples in the next chain 4 space, chain 5, skip the next chain 4 space, single in the next chain 3 space.* Continue on around ending with a slp.st. in the first stitch of the beginning chain 3. Cut and fasten off the thread and finish by sewing the tail in.

Rnd 7 at joins:

*Chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, (@ normal chain 7) chain 3, single in the chain-7 space of adjoining motif(s), chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space.

(@ normal chain 5) chain 2, single in the chain-5 space of adjoining motif, chain 2, skip the next chain 4 space. 3 triples in the next chain 4 space.

(@ normal chain 5) chain 2, single in the chain-5 space of adjoining motif, chain 2, single in the next chain 3 space.*

Chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, (@ normal chain 7) chain 3, single in the chain-7 space of adjoining motif(s), chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space.

Continue on around using the join counts *-* as required for attaching to adjacent motifs. If there are not adjoining motifs to connect to use the stitch counts for the regular Rnd 7 chains. End with a slp.st. in the first stitch of the beginning chain 3. Cut and fasten off the thread and finish by sewing the tail in.

Deseret Rose Motif Cloth Edging:

Rnd 1: Start with a single in one of the outer chain-7 loops along the straight side.

Down the side: *Chain 3, single in the same chain-7 loop, chain 8, single in chain 5 space, chain 8 (skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space, chain 4. Triple in the joined chain-7 loops (between 2 joined motifs) chain 3, triple in the same joined chain-7 loops. Chain 4, single in next chain 5 space, chain 8, (skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space, chain 8, single in next chain-7 loop.* Repeat down the straight side to the first open chain-7 loop of the corner motif.

Around the corner: Chain 3, single in same chain-7 loop, chain 8, single in the next chain 5 space, chain 8 (skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space, chain 8. Single in the next chain-7 loop, chain 3, single in the same chain-7 loop, chain 8. Single in the next chain 5 space, chain 8, (skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space, chain 8, single in the last open chain-7 loop of the corner motif.

Across the scalloped end: *Chain 3, single in the same chain-7 loop, chain 8. Single in the next chain 5 space, chain 8,(skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space. Chain 4, triple in the joined chain-7 loops (between 2 joined motifs) chain 3, triple in the same joined chain-7 loops. Chain 4, single in next chain 5 space, chain 8, (skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space. Chain 4, triple in the joined chain-7 loops (between 2 joined motifs) chain 3, triple in the same joined chain-7 loops. Chain 4, single in next chain 5 space, chain 8, (skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space. Chain 8, single in the next chain-7 loop, chain 3, single in same chain-7 loop. Chain 8, single in the next chain 5 space, chain 8 (skip over the 3 triples of the previous round) single in next chain 5 space, chain 8. Single in the next chain-7 loop.* Repeat across the scalloped end to the first open chain-7 loop of the next corner motif.

Continue around the corner motif as before and around the cloth as directed. When you get all the way around to where your first started, slp.st. in the first stitch of the beginning chain 3, single in the beginning chain-3 loop.

Rnd 2:

Down the side: *Chain 4, single in the same chain-3 loop, chain 6, single in the same chain-3 loop, chain 4, single in the same chain-3 loop. Chain 6, single in the next chain 8 space, 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 4 space. Chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, chain 4, single in the same chain 3 space, chain 3, single in the next chain 4 space. 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 8 space, chain 6, single in the next chain-3 loop.* Repeat down the straight side to the first open chain-3 loop of the corner motif.

Around the corner: Chain 4, single in same chain-3 loop, chain 6, single in the same chain-3 loop, chain 4, single in the same chain-3 loop. Chain 6, single in the next chain 8 space, 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 8 space. Chain 6, single in the next chain-3 loop, chain 4, single in same chain-3 loop, chain 6, single in the same chain-3 loop, chain 4, single in the same chain-3 loop. Chain 6, single in the next chain 8 space, 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 8 space. Chain 6, single in the last open chain-3 loop of the corner motif.

Across the scalloped end: *Chain 4, single in the same chain-3 loop, chain 6, single in the same chain-3 loop, chain 4, single in the same chain-3 loop. Chain 6, single in the next chain 8 space, 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 4 space. Chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, chain 4, single in the same chain 3 space, chain 3, single in the next chain 4 space. 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 4 space. Chain 3, single in the next chain 3 space, chain 4, single in the same chain 3 space, chain 3, single in the next chain 4 space. 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 8 space, chain 6, single in the next chain-3 loop. Chain 4, single in same chain-3 loop, chain 6, single in the same chain-3 loop, chain 4, single in the same chain-3 loop. Chain 6, single in the next chain 8 space, 13 triple in the next chain 8 space, single in the next chain 8 space. Chain 6, single in the next chain-3 loop. Repeat across the scalloped end to the first open chain-3 loop of the next corner motif.

Continue around the corner motif as before and around the cloth as directed. When you get all the way around to where your first started, slp.st. in the beginning chain-3 loop.

Cut and fasten off the thread and finish by sewing the tail in.