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Creating the Basic Strip

Although there are many ways to create a hairpin lace strip (also referred to as braid), most hairpin lace patterns call for the basic strip. Where projects usually differ is in the methods used to join the strips (see Hairpin Lace Tutorial Home Page for some joining techniques). The basic strip is made on the loom by working single crochet stitches through the front thread of the uppermost loop on the loom.

Positioning the Strips for Joining

Joining hairpin lace strips is a crochet activity, not a "finishing" activity, and you can hold the work in your normal crochet position as you join. It is a portable activity that can be done on your lap once you get comfortable with your joining technique and it is where the real creativity in hairpin lace comes into play.

Twisting the Loops

When working the hairpin lace loops for joining, you may notice that they have a natural little twist. When inserting the crochet hook into a hairpin lace loop for joining or edging, be aware that the direction used to insert the crochet hook into the loop will have a profound effect on the appearance of the finished fabric.

Joining Strips with a Cable Join

A very simple way to join strips that requires no extra yarn is with a cable join - this method entails slip stitching the loops of two strip through each other. Our tutorial below shows one loop from each strip used in the cable join, however this could be varied to incorporate groups of loops to achieve an entirely different fabric. (see Working Groups of Loops). To review crochet stitches: Crochet Tutorial

Edging Strip with Fringe

Whether you join 2 or 200 hairpin lace strips to create a fabric, you will be left with 2 outer edges. Just as there are a multitude of ways to join hairpin lace strips, there are a multitude of ways to edge the strips. Probably the simplest way to edge a Hairpin Lace Fabric is to just leave it alone!

Edging the Strip with Single Crochet

Whether you join 2 or 200 hairpin lace strips to create a fabric, you will be left with 2 outer edges. Just as there are a multitude of ways to join hairpin lace strips, there are a multitude of ways to edge the strips. A very simple way to edge hairpin lace strips is with a single crochet stitch. Our tutorial below shows a single crochet stitch edging on one untwisted loop of the strip, however this could be varied to incorporate twisted loops or groups of loops to achieve an entirely different fabric (see Twisting the Loops and Working Groups of Loops).

Edging Strips with a Cable Stitch

Whether you join 2 or 200 hairpin lace strips to create a fabric, you will be left with 2 outer edges. Just as there are a multitude of ways to join hairpin lace strips, there are a multitude of ways to edge the strips. A very simple way to edge strips that requires no extra yarn is with a cable join - this method entails slip stitching the loops of the strip through each other. Our tutorial below shows a cable edging done one loop at a time, however this could be varied to incorporate groups of loops to achieve an entirely different fabric. (see Working Groups of Loops).

Guide Lines

Unless you take precautions, your hairpin lace strips can get hopelessly tangled and twisted once you remove them from the loom. It is helpful to have some means to keep them secure and portable while you store them for joining. It can also be very confusing when joining the strips to identify the front and back loops of the threads and to identify which loops belong to which strip. This is where guide lines are life-savers: they will save you hours of time and the frustration of having to redo your work. Another side-benefit of guide lines is that they mark the beginning and ending sides of your strip so that you do not need to perform the extra task of marking them.

Measuring Gauge

Most hairpin lace patterns will specify the gauge that your strip should be crocheted at. By following the gauge, you ensure that you will acheive a similar fabric drape and size to the garment pictured in the pattern, as well as use the same amount of yarn as the pattern indicates. Keep changing the size of your crochet hook until you acheive the gauge that the pattern calls for.

Managing Long Strips as You Work

Typically, you will be working strips in a project that are longer than one loom-full. You can accomplish these long hairpin lace strips by removing a portion of the strip from the loom and continuing to work the strip until the loom becomes full once again. The length of strip that you remove from your loom must be secured somehow or it will get in your way - in addition - unless you have guide lines this dangling edge of your hairpin lace strip can become hopelessly tangled upon itself. You may find that removing a portion of the hairpin strip from the loom is not the most pleasurable part of the work and feels like an administration task. That is why many folks prefer a loom with long prongs that can hold the maximum number of loops at a time.

When Your Strips Are Not the Same Length

For a typical garment or blanket, your hairpin lace strip will have hundreds upon hundreds of loops. Few people enjoy keeping count of how many loops they have worked on the loom. A technique that many find easier is to determine the target length of the strip and then to work about an inch more strip than required. In this way, it is only necessary to keep track of the total length of the strip and remove the strip from the loom once the adjusted length has been attained. Near the end of joining 2 strips together, it will be very apparent which strip is too long and must be made shorter. That is why it is best practice to start joining strips from the starting edge of the strips: it is easy to unravel loops to even up strips from the tie-off edge of the strips. Working in this way requires little effort with precise results.

Joining More Than 1 Strip to Create a Fabric

A typical garment or blanket will require more than one strip to be joined to form the fabric. When joining more than 2 strips, you need to be aware of the diagonal structure of hairpin lace fabric: it can become exaggerated when joined if precautions are not taken. In order to prevent fabric distortion, you need to alternate the braid order when picking up the first loop.

Classic Hairpin Lace Hats on StitchDiva.com

Hairpin Lace Hat Patterns - This collection of three hats are classics, interpreted for crochet and updated for the discerning modern gal. For any season, any mood, and any outfit, there is a hat in this collection that will fit the bill.