Using Filet Crochet Alphabet Letters to Make Beautiful Crochet Names For Wedding Gifts – 2 Different Versions

Crochet can be such a versatile skill if you are creative enough. Did you know you can crochet names to give as wedding gifts? I have wanted to crochet a name doily for so long, and recently had an opportunity to do it. Keep reading to learn how to filet crochet alphabet letters. Pictured below is my second one, my last name.

Many years ago, my aunt, the one who taught me to crochet, gifted me a name doily with my last name on it. I loved it so much. But the marriage was not good, and I ended up getting divorced. While I was thrilled with the divorce, it kind of put a damper on my displaying the name doily. I wanted a new one, but I didn’t want to ask her to make me one, I wanted to make my own. Problem was, I didn’t know how.

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Beginner’s Guide

So, I asked her to teach me! Turns out, there’s a book! I know I have mentioned this book before, but I am going to mention it again today. You can purchase this book here, and for just a couple bucks, I HIGHLY recommend it. Especially if you plan to learn this type of vintage filet crochet alphabet. The book is pictured below and is a digital download. You simply purchase it, then print it out. Easy Peasy!

Now I know not everyone is as crazy about crochet wedding name doilies as I am, but surely just about anyone would love to receive such an heirloom type gift, especially as a wedding gift.

The Leisure Arts book above details not only how to crochet the filet crochet alphabet, but it gives you the formula you need to determine how many crochet chain stitches to start your project. This particular project is crocheted from the bottom to the top. However, keep in mind that some doilies are crocheted from one side to the other. Obviously, since this one is crocheted bottom to top, the number of starting chains is going to vary by the length of the name.

The photo above is the first several rows of the name doily I crocheted for myself using my last name. It is slightly different than the instructions given in the book, though, because I wanted to try and add a little flair to it. That being said, you will notice later on that the pictures of the final product show a couple differences. Thats right… I had to take out 3 of the 4 rows pictured above and redo them. Thats ok, though. It’s all part of the learning process.

What you will also notice if you look closely enough to the photo above is that the “grid” is entirely made up of double crochet stitches and chain stitches. The double crochet stitch and chain stitches are the main filet crochet stitches used when creating these types of projects!

It is important to note however, that I was able to add a little flair to my project with a little trial and error. I didn’t think it was too bad considering the one I crocheted for myself was only the second time I ever worked with the filet crochet alphabet!

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What you need

Filet crochet can be done using regular yarn if you are making a blanket, for example, but for a crochet wedding name such as this, you will want to use crochet thread. Now there are several different sizes of crochet thread, just like with yarn, but the “standard” size I believe is a size 10. Also, like yarn, crochet thread comes in tons of different colors.

The first name I made was done with the natural antique color, and the second one was done with a minty green color, although it’s not very visible in the photos. You can even get crochet thread with sparkles in it!

The hardest part of this type of filet crochet, in my opinion, is the tiny hook it requires. Obviously, you aren’t crocheting thread with a regular crochet hook. There are so many tiny size crochet hooks, but the only ones I have EVER heard my aunt say she has used are the 7, 8, and 10. My only tiny crochet hook is an 8, and its bent!

Filet Crochet Names

Ok, all that being said, let’s talk about how to filet crochet alphabet letters and actually making the crochet names. The piece is made over a series of empty and filled blocks, a grid type format. The filled blocks are what create the design, or in this case, create the letters to spell the crochet name. For the sake of this particular pattern, each block is 3 crochet stitches. I have seen that number vary with different projects.

Plot Your Letters

To start this project, you want to map out your name on some graph paper. Graph paper is relatively cheap, too. I got a book with 80 something sheets and the dollar store for maybe two bucks. The photo below is where I plotted the first name I crocheted. As you can see, I did make some mistakes on this as well.

The formula that is provided in the Leisure Arts book gives you the exact number of chains needed to make sure that your name is perfectly centered in the piece. If you don’t have the book, you could figure out how many chain stitches you would need with some thought, though.

The font that I plotted also came from the book, but in reality, you can “draw” any font you want on your graph paper!

Don’t Want to (or know how) Plot Your Letters?

I can help you out! I now offer my services to you for letter plotting and starting chain calculations! Simply purchase my listing and I will plot it out and mail (or email) it to you. Easy Peasy! Click below!

Start Crocheting

Once you have your name plotted and your chains calculated, it’s time to begin. Essentially you are recreating the blocks on your graph paper with the crochet thread. Like I mentioned above, most of the filet crochet stitches are double crochet and chain stitches so even a beginner can learn filet crochet!

For this piece an empty block would be a double crochet and 2 chain stitches. A filled block would simply be 3 double crochets.

The Crochet Names Border

Pictured below is one of my completed projects including the border that I put around it. The instruction book does include patterns for a few different borders, but I could not for the life of me make sense of them. So, I went back to my aunt and asked her what she did for a border. The pattern used below is her pattern.

Here is a video about filet crochet from a fellow crocheter!

Upon completion of my first filet crochet project, I had it professionally framed at Hobby Lobby to give to my friends who are getting married in less than a month. Pictured below is the result (still wrapped in plastic). I am happy with it. I cannot wait to have the one I crocheted for myself framed now!

If all of this seems too overwhelming, I can also make one for you! I have an Etsy listing for that as well. Click below!

Crochet One for me please!

Alternative Method

When I create the filet crochet alphabet letter doilies, I crochet then from the bottom to the top. But this is not the only method to crocheting them. Another method is to start from the left side and work your way across to the right side.

Personally, I have only ever done bottom to top on the filet crochet wedding names, but I may give the side-to-side method a try soon.

Update

I have finally started on a side-to-side version of the crochet name doily. I am working on my granddaughter’s name, Amara. Please see the attached photos below. So far, I only have the first letter completed and I cannot say which method I prefer.

The final product, minus a border is pictured below. I am happy with it. I cannot say that one method is easier or more difficult than the other method. I think it will come down to personal preference and I think for me that will probably be the bottom to top method. I cannot really give a definitive reason, though.

Free Printable Graph Paper

Update #2

I learn more and more about crochet every day. That is why I come back to these popular posts and update what I have learned. Recently at a craft fair a lady was interested in purchasing a filet crochet piece from me. The problem was she needed it in less than a week and the last name was 9 letters. I told her there was no way I could do the name she wanted in a week (I work 2 jobs, have the crochet business, this blog, a family, etc). She also did not want to spend the amount of money I would have charged her for that many letters. So, she came up with a new idea.

An idea that I am in love with and an idea that gave me more ideas! Instead of the long name, she would do initials separated by a heart.

The photo above is my plotting of the letters. I spaced them 2 blocks because I wasn’t sure if I was going to do them as one piece or 3 different pieces.

I ended up doing one piece and it measures about 8×12. (it doesn’t have the border yet in the above photo). Overall, I am very happy with it! Stay tuned for the next update. I am hoping to do something different with the date for my son’s upcoming wedding next month!

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