What is the structural difference between a filled block and an open mesh square in filet crochet?

A filled block in filet crochet is three double crochets worked consecutively, occupying the same horizontal space as an open mesh square. An open mesh square replaces the middle double crochet with a two-chain space: work one double crochet, chain two, skip two stitches (or the two chains of the previous mesh), work one double crochet. Both filled blocks and mesh squares are exactly the same visual width in the grid; the difference is that the filled block has solid thread filling the square and the mesh square is an open space. This structural equivalence is what makes filet crochet chart-readable: every square on the design grid is exactly one grid unit, whether filled or open, so counting squares on the chart translates directly to counting stitch groups in the work.

How does thread weight affect the finished scale of a filet crochet piece?

Thread weight determines how large each grid square is in the finished piece. Size 80 linen thread produces squares approximately 2–3 mm wide — suitable for fine heirloom lace insertions and edgings. Size 10 mercerized cotton thread produces squares approximately 5–7 mm wide — appropriate for doilies, table runners, and decorative panels. Size 3 cotton thread produces squares approximately 8–12 mm wide — suitable for curtain panels, tote bag panels, and large wall hangings. A 20-square by 30-square motif on size 80 thread produces a finished piece approximately 4 cm × 6 cm; the same 20 × 30 motif on size 3 thread produces a finished piece approximately 16 cm × 24 cm. Thread weight selection is the single most important decision for filet crochet because it commits the project to a specific finished size before the first stitch is made.

What is the Apple Tax on filet crochet and thread crochet Patreon audiences from November 2026?

Instagram filet crochet and thread lace accounts run 73–87% iOS; Pinterest crochet pattern and lace boards run 76–89% iOS; YouTube crochet tutorial channels run 62–75% iOS. Apple Tax deductions on Patreon iOS subscriptions from November 1, 2026: at $100/month with 75% iOS, $22.50/month ($270/year); at $200/month with 78% iOS, $46.80/month ($561.60/year); at $350/month with 81% iOS, $85.05/month ($1,020.60/year). Web-only billing at Patreon or KeepTier keeps all transactions outside Apple's in-app purchase system.

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Patreon for filet crochet creators: grid structure, chart reading, thread weight, and the Apple Tax on iOS-heavy crochet audiences from November 2026

Filet crochet structure: filled blocks and open mesh squares on a shared grid

Filet crochet builds a flat fabric from a grid of filled blocks and open mesh squares. A filled block is three consecutive double crochets occupying one grid unit. An open mesh square is one double crochet, a two-chain space, and one double crochet — the chain space leaves the grid unit open. Both filled and mesh squares occupy identical horizontal space, which is what makes filet crochet directly chart-readable: every square on a design grid (pixel art, cross-stitch chart, or custom filet design) corresponds to exactly one stitch group in the work, whether filled or open. The foundation chain for a filet panel is calculated as: (number of grid columns × 3) + 1 for the turning chain.

Each row of filet crochet is worked from right to left (or left to right for the return row), reading the chart row by row from bottom to top. At each grid position, the crocheter either works three double crochets into the previous filled block stitches (to create or continue a filled block) or works one double crochet, chains two, and skips two (to create or continue a mesh square). Transitioning from a mesh to a filled block requires working three double crochets where the chart shows a filled square — including one dc into the chain-2 space of the previous mesh.

Chart reading and selvedge shaping

Filet crochet charts are read as pixel grids: a filled square on the chart means work a filled block; an empty square means work an open mesh. Charts are read from the bottom-right corner for right-handed crocheters. The foundation row corresponds to the bottom row of the chart; each subsequent row adds one row of grid squares upward. For charts with diagonal or curved edges — letters, florals, Art Nouveau motifs — the selvedge must be shaped using increases (working double crochets over the turning chain to extend the edge outward) or decreases (slip stitching across the first grid unit before beginning the working row to move the edge inward).

Thread weight determines the finished scale. Size 80 linen thread produces squares approximately 2–3 mm — fine heirloom lace insertions. Size 10 mercerized cotton produces squares 5–7 mm — doilies and table runners. Size 3 cotton produces squares 8–12 mm — curtain panels and large wall hangings. A 20 × 30 motif grid produces approximately 4 cm × 6 cm on size 80 thread and approximately 16 cm × 24 cm on size 3 thread. Blocking is essential to filet crochet: unblocked filet is wavy and distorted; pinned and dampened, then dried flat on a blocking board, it opens to a crisp, flat grid with regular square openings.

Apple Tax on filet crochet Patreon audiences from November 2026

Instagram filet crochet and thread lace accounts show 73–87% iOS; Pinterest crochet pattern and lace boards show 76–89% iOS; YouTube crochet tutorial channels show 62–75% iOS. From November 1, 2026, Apple deducts 30% from every Patreon subscription renewal made through the iOS app. At $100/month with 75% iOS, that is $22.50/month ($270/year) deducted. At $200/month with 78% iOS, $46.80/month ($561.60/year). At $350/month with 81% iOS, $85.05/month ($1,020.60/year). KeepTier operates entirely on web-only billing — no iOS app, no Apple Tax, same subscription features.

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