Patreon for filet lace creators: net construction, darning fill, lacet bars, and the Apple Tax in 2026

2026 guide · KeepTier

Filet lace — the technique of working a geometric knotted or crocheted net as a ground and then filling selected squares with darning stitches or lacet bars to form the pattern — sustains Patreon subscriptions across two distinct craft communities: needlemade filet lace workers who knot a foundation net by hand using a mesh stick and shuttle, and filet crochet workers who construct the net using chain stitches and double crochets. Both communities need the same documentation layer: thread count per square calculations, pattern chart reading conventions specific to their technique, and the blocking and framing protocols that determine whether the finished lacework lies flat and the pattern squares read as correctly proportioned.

Who subscribes to filet lace Patreons

Needlemade filet lace subscribers: lacemakers working in the historical tradition of knotted filet net — the mesh stick determines the square size (the stick diameter equals the mesh opening), and each knot joins four net threads at the mesh intersection to form the net ground. The knot sequence (overhand mesh knot or weaver's knot at each junction) must be consistent for the net to lie flat and for the squares to maintain uniform size. Subscribers need: mesh stick diameter selection per thread count (size 12 perle cotton typically worked on a 4–5mm mesh stick producing approximately 5–6 squares per inch; size 20 at 3mm stick producing 7–8 squares per inch; size 40 at 2mm stick for fine reproduction filet), shuttle threading technique for continuous working without joins in the foundation net, and the specific knot sequence notation that ensures consistent square size across the full net. Darning stitch filling: a needle and matching thread are woven through the net threads of each filled square in a pattern of over-and-under passes; the number of horizontal passes per square (typically 4–6 passes for size 12 perle) determines the density of the fill. iOS 62–74%.

Filet crochet pattern designers: crocheters who design or adapt pattern charts for filet crochet — the net squares are formed by double crochets and chain stitches (open square = 2 chain + 1 dc at each corner; filled square = 4 dc in a row with no chains). Pattern chart conventions: a grid where each open cell represents an open mesh square and each filled cell represents a filled mesh square; the chart is worked from bottom right to top left on right-side rows and from bottom left to top right on wrong-side rows for flat work. Thread count specification: the number of squares per inch for a given crochet thread and hook size must be documented as a gauge swatch because filet crochet gauge varies significantly between crocheters for the same thread count — a designer working size 10 crochet thread with a steel hook 7 (1.65mm) produces approximately 5–6 squares per inch, while another crocheter using the same materials at different tension produces 4–5 squares per inch, which changes the finished dimensions of any named pattern. iOS 65–78%.

Filet lace framing and display subscribers: lacemakers who have completed filet lacework and need documentation for blocking, mounting, and display. Filet lace blocking requires soaking the piece in water, pinning to a blocking board at the correct overall dimensions (slightly larger than the finished dimensions to allow the net to open fully), and allowing to dry completely before removing pins — the specific pinning density (one pin per net square perimeter at the border, every 2–3 squares in the interior) determines whether the net squares remain square or distort into rectangles. Linen or cotton mounting backing for display: the lace is tacked to a linen backing with fine cotton thread at every border knot intersection, and the mounted piece is framed behind UV-protective glass. iOS 60–72%.

Apple Tax impact: filet lace audiences

Filet lace creator audiences: Instagram filet lace photography (finished pieces, detail shots of pattern areas, in-progress net construction): 68–80% iOS. Pinterest filet lace pattern pins and historical reference boards: 65–78% iOS. YouTube filet lace technique tutorials: 55–68% iOS.

Revenue impact from November 2026: at $100/month with 68% iOS: $100 × 0.68 × 0.30 = $20.40/month ($244.80/year). At $200/month with 74% iOS: $200 × 0.74 × 0.30 = $44.40/month ($532.80/year). At $350/month with 78% iOS: $350 × 0.78 × 0.30 = $81.90/month ($982.80/year).

KeepTier for filet lace creators

KeepTier provides a web checkout page outside Apple's IAP system. New patron subscriptions through a KeepTier page are Stripe web transactions — no 30% Apple fee. A filet lace creator at $200/month with 74% iOS preserves $44.40/month ($532.80/year) from November 2026. See keeptier.com and the Apple Tax Calculator.