Lip Balm holder
I made this for my daughter as a quick way to explain filet crochet, thread crochet and crocheting in the round to a friend I designed a chart for.
There are a lot of methods for doing filet crochet, and Google will find lots of them, but the chart I designed was for a 3 stitch mesh, which means that an open block is 1 dc, chain, 1 dc, and a closed block is 3 dc, the last dc of the previous block is the first dc of the first one.
So this pattern is going to be written for beginners.
You will need a size 7 hook. Gauge can vary though, and these are pretty quick, if the first one doesn't fit after you get the first few rows done, switch hook sizes, it's it's too loose, go to a smaller hook which will have a higher number, if it's too tight, switch to a larger hook. You want it snug so it will stay in place, but not so snug you can't change it out.
Size 10 crochet cotton, also called bed spread weight, it's a very common size, and comes in lots of great colors and colorways.
a keyring or ball chain if you're going to put it on a key ring, you can also just make a strap long enough to go around your neck.
A needle to weave in ends.
Rnd 1:Start by chaining 2, in the first chain, single crochet 8 times, slipstitch to join.
Rnd 2: Chain 1, then 2 single crochets (sc) in the same stitch, I've found for myself for single crochet rows, a tight chain 1 which doesn't count as the first sc, followed by a single crochet in the same stitch looks neater then chaining 1 and counting it as the first sc, or just sc after my slipstitch to join, however, all methods work for some crocheters, so do what you're comfortable with. 2 scs in each stitch around , slipstitch to join. (16 stitches)
Rnd 3: chain 1, sc in each stitch around, slipstitch to join.
Rnd 4: repeat round 3.
Starting the filet:
Rnd 5: Chain 3, the first 2 chains count as the first double crochet (dc), skip one stitch, dc in next stitch (open mesh made), dc in next 2 stitches, (closed mesh made), ch 1, skip a stitch, dc in next 3 stitches, ch 1, skip a stitch, dc in next 3 stitches, ch 1, skip a stitch, dc in next 2 stitches, slipstitch to the second chain in first 3 chain row to close.
Row 6: Chain 2 for first dc, dc in next 2 stitches (closed mesh made), ch 1, skip a stitch, dc in next 3 stitches, ch 1, skip a stitch, dc in next 3 stitches, ch 1, skip a stitch, dc in next 3 stitches, ch 1, skip stitch, slipstitch to 2nd chain made.
Rnd 7: repeat round 5
Rnd 8: Repeat round 6
Rnd 9: repeat round 5
Rnd 10: Repeat round 6
Rnd 11: repeat round 5
Rnd 12: Repeat round 6
Rnd 13: chain 1, sc in each stitch around, slipstitch to join
Loop: chain 10, slipstitch to start of chain, if you want to reinforce it, slipstitch around the 10 chains.
Break off and finish, weaving ends in.
In international crochet symbols, this is how the body of the holder is made if it helps to see it. Working from the bottom up.
Most filet crochet patterns are done on grids, so one like this would be shown like this
The white squares indictate open meshes, and the black one show the closed meshes.
In my scan of the completed lipbalm container, I wrapped a piece of duct tape around the lip balm tube so the holder would show better.