Sample #1

Sample #2

Sample #3

Bruges Crochet is a technique that dates back at least until the early 1900's --- I'm not a lace historian, just a life-long pattern collector. There are patterns in my collection of this vintage that are made with Bruges Crochet, a rather simple technique of combining a simple, flexible crocheted braid into interesting shapes. In crochet patterns, the braid is usually done first and manipulated into shape by following rows.

The patterns I have worked up combining tatting with Bruges Crochet have been done in two different ways: My first attempt was to crochet the braid first, and then add the tatting. Then I worked the tatting first and added a Bruges Crochet braid as a second row. Working the tatting first I found easier. The braid, characterized by the chain-5 loops on either side, can be varied. The more traditional 'look' is the one done with all double-crochet stitches. But a braid made with crocheted shells (3ds, ch2, 3dc [shell made], ch5, turn, - repeated for the length required, shell into shell of previous) is an interesting alternative. the traditional braid is 3 or 4dc, ch5, turn for the desired length.

Crochet a Traditional Braid (see above), with 20 CH5 loops on either side of the braid, joining ends together either by sewing or a crocheted slipstitch (ss).

The tatting in these samples (#2 and #3) is identical. Only the Bruges Crochet surrounds are different -- the more traditional dc braid forms the outer row of one while the shell braid (described above) frames the other.