Lover’s Knot: A soft and airy stitch seen a little differently
There is a stitch which I think is the most underestimated in crochet - the Lover’s Knot (also known as the Love Knot or Solomon’s Knot). It exists mainly in one form: a kind of mesh created by elongated loops.
If you search on Pinterest or Ravelry, you will find various designs worked in exactly this gentle, “butterfly”-like mesh. Just imagine, a whole stitch limited to one look!
I also used it this way in my earlier projects, combining it with knitting, but I kept thinking that this beautiful and simple stitch could do much more...
Just look how easy it is to make! It is just the large chain with a single crochet worked into chain’s back ridge (bump).
The size of the Lover’s Knot depends on how long you pull up a loop for a chain, so you can easily vary the size of your Lover’s Knots. I prefer mine to be as long (or longer) as my double crochet stitches.
You can also watch me making it in this reel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYH4wUCshyg/
In my crochet designs, I incorporate it into the fabric itself and treat it as chain spaces (so simple!). Its strands fill the space and look much airier and more delicate than regular chain spaces.
I have a series of designs published in this technique on Ravelry. They were released more than 10 years ago and feature an older pattern layout, but the instructions are still perfectly usable.
Today I reworked and republished one of these designs: the former Lavender Path has now turned into the Petal Path shawl.
Petal Path is a light and airy shawl inspired by rows of delicate white petals. This design explores an unusual use of Lover's Knots by incorporating them directly into the crocheted fabric, where they soften the spaces between stitches and create a gentle, filled-in lace texture.
★ The pattern has been professionally tech edited
★ Written out and charted
★ Language: English (US crochet terms)
★ Pages: 10
The updated pattern features two shawl options:
the original version worked in lace-weight yarn
and my newly worked sample in fingering-weight Mechita by Malabrigo
It also includes two edging options: the original lace edging and a simple plain one for a more casual look.
The original lace edging.
It continues the rhythm of the main stitch pattern, with V-sts that become bolder and picots in the last row to bring a more delicate and refined feel to the shawl.
The pattern also includes instructions for working the stitch pattern in plain rows:
For practicing the technique and swatching, or for making anything rectangular, such as a scarf or throw.
I hope this little update sparks some curiosity about this wonderful stitch and encourage to give Lover’s Knots another look. Happy crocheting!
