This tutorial demonstrates a repeating lace crochet stitch made with chain arches and double-crochet shell clusters, which are commonly used to create light decorative fabrics for projects such as shawls, blouses, blankets, scarves, and table runners. Crochet lace patterns often repeat only a few rows, making them easy to scale for many projects.

Below is a very detailed step-by-step written tutorial that follows the structure shown in Crochet with Nese.

---

Materials 🧶

• Yarn: cotton, bamboo, or acrylic yarn (light / medium weight)
• Crochet hook: 3–4 mm
• Scissors
• Yarn needle (to weave in ends)

---

Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)

Abbreviation	Meaning
ch	chain
sc	single crochet
dc	double crochet
sl st	slip stitch
sk	skip
sp	space

---

Pattern Multiple

Start with a foundation chain multiple of 6 + 2 extra chains.

Examples:

• 32 chains
• 38 chains
• 44 chains
• 50 chains

The number of chains determines the width of the project.

---

Step 1 — Make the Foundation Chain

1. Make a slip knot.
2. Insert hook into the loop.
3. Yarn over and pull through to create a chain stitch.
4. Continue making chains until you reach the desired length.
5. Add 2 additional turning chains.

---

Row 1 — Foundation Row

This row stabilizes the pattern.

1. Insert hook into the 2nd chain from the hook.
2. Yarn over and pull through.
3. Yarn over again and pull through both loops → 1 sc made.
4. Continue making 1 single crochet in each chain across the row.

You now have a solid base row of single crochet stitches.

Turn your work.

---

Row 2 — Creating Chain Arches

This row forms the open lace spaces.

1. Chain 4.
2. Skip 2 stitches.
3. Make 1 single crochet in the next stitch.
4. Chain 4 again.
5. Skip 2 stitches.
6. Make 1 single crochet in the next stitch.

Repeat across the row:

ch4 → skip 2 → sc

At the end of the row you will see evenly spaced chain loops.

Turn your work.

---

Row 3 — Shell Motif Row

This row forms the decorative fan/shell pattern.

1. Slip stitch into the first chain-4 loop.
2. Chain 3 (counts as first double crochet).
3. In the same chain loop crochet:

• 4 dc

4. Chain 2.
5. Crochet 5 more dc in the same chain loop.

You now have a large shell cluster:

(5 dc, ch2, 5 dc)

6. Move to the stitch between the loops.
7. Make 1 single crochet.
8. Move to the next chain loop and repeat:

(5 dc, ch2, 5 dc)

Continue across the row.

Turn your work.

---

Row 4 — Creating the Next Chain Arches

This row prepares the structure for the next shell row.

1. Chain 1.
2. Make 1 single crochet in each stitch across the shell.
3. When you reach the chain-2 space in the center of the shell, crochet:

• 1 sc
• ch4
• 1 sc

This creates a new chain loop above the shell center.

4. Continue making single crochet across the shell stitches.
5. Repeat the (sc, ch4, sc) in each shell center.

Turn your work.

---

Row 5 — Repeat Shell Row

1. Slip stitch into the chain-4 loop.
2. Chain 3.
3. In the same loop crochet:

• 4 dc
• ch2
• 5 dc

4. Make 1 sc in the stitch between shells.
5. Move to the next chain loop and repeat.

Continue across the row.

Turn work.

---

Repeat the Pattern

Repeat these rows:

• Row 4 (chain loop row)
• Row 5 (shell motif row)

As you repeat them, the shells align and form beautiful diamond-like lace shapes.

---

Continue Until Desired Length

Typical sizes:

Shawl

• 60–80 rows

Blouse panel

• crochet until the piece reaches body measurement

Scarf

• about 150–170 cm long

---

Optional Decorative Border

Border Row

1. Crochet single crochet around the edges.

Scallop Edge

Repeat along the edge:

• 5 dc in one stitch
• skip 2 stitches
• 1 sc in next stitch

This produces a soft scalloped lace border.

---

Finished Pattern

This crochet stitch produces a light open lace fabric with repeating shells and chain arches.

It is ideal for:

• Summer blouses
• Shawls
• Scarves
• Baby blankets
• Table runners

Crochet patterns often repeat small stitch sequences across rows, allowing the same design to be used for many different projects.

VIDEO: