The Frosted Lattice Table Runner is an all-white lace runner made from small four-point motifs. The motifs touch only at their tips, so the finished piece looks like an airy trellis with tiny diamond windows between the motifs. Each long edge forms a soft zigzag, and three full tassels hang from each short end.
The runner is worked in one color, a crisp white mercerized cotton thread. This gives it the frosty, wintry look shown on a marble table among gold ornaments and pine. Because it is all one color, the texture does the work: open rings, double crochet fans, chain arches and neat pointed tips.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished runner measures 14 in (35.6 cm) wide by 45.5 in (115.6 cm) long including the border. Each end has a 5 in (12.7 cm) tassel fringe.
Construction is simple and repetitive. You make one complete motif. Then you make 29 more and join each one to its neighbors with join-as-you-go on the last round, connecting only at the tips. A two-round edging follows the zigzag outline, and six tassels finish the ends.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 14 in x 45.5 in (35.6 cm x 115.6 cm), not counting tassels
- Length with tassels: about 56.5 in (143.5 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread (light fingering)
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 30 identical motifs plus 6 tassels
- Layout: 3 motifs wide x 10 motifs long
- Motif size: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point, after blocking
- Size before border: 13.5 in x 45 in (34.3 cm x 114.3 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Yarn: Choose a smooth, tightly plied, mercerized cotton thread in size 3, about 137 m per 50 g. Mercerized cotton gives the stitches crisp edges and blocks well. Avoid fuzzy or very soft cotton, which blurs the lace.
- White: about 165 g / 450 m (four 50 g balls)
- Motifs: about 99 g / 270 m
- Border: about 16 g / 45 m
- Tassels: about 26 g / 72 m
These amounts include a margin of about 15%. That covers a test motif, tension differences and fuller tassels.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle for thread
- Sharp scissors
- Stiff card 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall for winding tassels
- Blocking mats and rustproof pins
- Spray bottle
- Measuring tape
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- rnd – round
- [ ] – repeat the instructions in brackets as directed
Special stitch: Point join. Use this on a tip that touches a motif you’ve already finished. Work sc in the ch-5 loop of the working motif, ch 2, then sl st into the matching ch-5 point loop of the finished motif. Ch 2 and sc again in the working loop. The two ch-2 chains take the place of the ch-5.
Point: one of the four tips of a motif, made of (sc, ch 5, sc) on the last round. A side is the fan-shaped edge running from one point to the next.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one complete test motif first and block it before you start the full set. Everything else in the runner depends on this one measurement.
Motif gauge: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point after blocking.
Checkpoints while working the test motif, measured slightly stretched:
- After Rnd 1: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across
- After Rnd 2: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
- After Rnd 3: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across
- After Rnd 4: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across, point to point
- After Rnd 5 and blocking: 4.5 in (11.4 cm), point to point
Border gauge: 7.5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) measured along the curved edge.
If your motif is too big: go down to a 2.0 mm hook. If it’s only slightly large, tighten the ch-3 and ch-4 arches.
If your motif is too small: go up to a 2.5 mm hook, or loosen your chains.
A difference of 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per motif adds up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) over the length of the runner. Aim to get within that.
Motif Pattern
Make 30. Motif 1 is worked completely. All the others are joined on Rnd 5 (see Joining).
Rnd 1 (center ring): Ch 6 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 15 dc into the ring and sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (16 dc)
Rnd 2 (spaced dc): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Work [dc in next dc, ch 1] 15 times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (16 dc, 16 ch-1 sps)
Rnd 3 (fan bases and point loops): Sl st into the first ch-1 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 2 dc in the same sp, then 3 dc in the next sp. Ch 7, sk the next 2 ch-1 sps. Work 3 dc in each of the next 2 ch-1 sps, ch 7, sk the next 2 ch-1 sps; rep from * 2 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (24 dc in 4 groups of 6, 4 ch-7 loops)*
Each ch-7 loop becomes a point. Each group of 6 dc becomes a fan.
Rnd 4 (fans): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), [dc in next dc, ch 1] 4 times, dc in next dc. This makes the first fan (6 dc, 5 ch-1 sps). In the ch-7 loop, work (3 sc, ch 5, 3 sc). [Dc in next dc, ch 1] 5 times, dc in next dc, then (3 sc, ch 5, 3 sc) in the next ch-7 loop; rep from * 2 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (24 dc, 20 ch-1 sps, 24 sc, 4 ch-5 loops)*
Rnd 5 (arches and points): Sl st into the first ch-1 sp of the fan. Ch 1, sc in the same sp, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp] 4 times. Ch 4, sk the last dc and the 3 sc, then work (sc, ch 5, sc) in the ch-5 loop. Ch 4, sk 3 sc and the first dc of the next fan.
*Sc in the next ch-1 sp, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp] 4 times, ch 4, sk 3 sc, (sc, ch 5, sc) in the ch-5 loop, ch 4, sk 3 sc and 1 dc; rep from * 2 more times. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off.
Rnd 5 count: 28 sc (20 fan sc + 8 point sc), 16 ch-3 arches, 8 ch-4 sps and 4 ch-5 point loops.
Per-side check: Each side runs from point to point. Starting at the point sc, it is: point sc, ch-4 sp, 5 fan sc with 4 ch-3 arches between them, ch-4 sp, point sc. The border later works 27 sc into this side.
Turn the motif so the four points face up, down, left and right. The fans then sit on the diagonals and give the motif its rounded four-point outline.
Make All Pieces
- White motifs: 30 (Motif 1 complete, Motifs 2–30 joined as you go)
- White tassels: 6 (made after the border)
Layout grid (points facing up/down/left/right):
Row 1: [ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
Row 2: [ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
Row 3: [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
Row 4: [10] [11] [12]
Row 5: [13] [14] [15]
Row 6: [16] [17] [18]
Row 7: [19] [20] [21]
Row 8: [22] [23] [24]
Row 9: [25] [26] [27]
Row 10: [28] [29] [30]
Joining
Method: Join as you go on Rnd 5, at the points only. The fans stay free, which creates the diamond openings between motifs.
Stitch-to-stitch logic:
- Each left point joins to the right point of the motif to its left.
- Each top point joins to the bottom point of the motif above.
- Work Rnd 5 as written. When you reach a point that touches a finished motif, replace (sc, ch 5, sc) with a Point join.
Order of joins:
- Motif 2: join its left point to Motif 1’s right point.
- Motif 3: join its left point to Motif 2’s right point.
- Motif 4: join its top point to Motif 1’s bottom point.
- Motif 5: join its top point to Motif 2’s bottom point, and its left point to Motif 4’s right point.
- Continue the same way row by row. A motif never has more than two joins.
Join totals: 20 side-to-side joins (2 per row x 10 rows) plus 27 top-to-bottom joins (3 per column gap x 9 gaps) = 47 joins.
Tension advice: Keep the ch-2 chains in each Point join the same size as your normal chains. If they’re tight, the runner puckers at the tips. If they’re loose, the motifs sag apart and the diamond openings stretch. Lay the work flat after every row to check.
Size checkpoint: After Row 3, the piece should measure 13.5 in x 13.5 in (34.3 cm x 34.3 cm). The finished, unbordered runner should measure 13.5 in x 45 in (34.3 cm x 114.3 cm) when pinned flat.
Border
The border follows the zigzag outline. Only exposed sides and exposed points get stitches. Joined points are not worked, and nothing is added at the seams.
Border gauge: 7.5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm), so 27 sc fill a curved side of about 3.6 in (9.1 cm). The straight-line distance between two points is about 3.2 in (8.1 cm), and the fan’s curve makes up the difference.
How to work each part:
- Exposed side (27 sc): Sc in the point sc, 4 sc in the ch-4 sp, then sc in the fan sc and 3 sc in each ch-3 arch across (5 + 12 = 17 sc), 4 sc in the ch-4 sp, and sc in the point sc.
- Count: 1 + 4 + 17 + 4 + 1 = 27 sc. The 2 point sc are already included, so don’t add them again.
- Exposed point: Work (2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc) in the ch-5 loop. That’s 4 sc + 1 ch-3 loop.
- Valley at a joined point: Go straight from the last point sc of one motif to the first point sc of the next. Add no stitches.
Rnd 1: Join the thread with sc in the point sc just after Motif 3’s top point. Work around the outline as follows, then sl st to the first sc.
- Right long edge (Motifs 3, 6 … 30): For each motif, work its upper-right side (27), right point (4 sc + ch-3) and lower-right side (27).
- Per motif: 54 + 4 = 58 sc.
- 10 motifs x 58 = 580 sc and 10 ch-3 loops.
- Bottom end: Motif 30’s bottom point, Motif 30’s lower-left side, Motif 29’s lower-right side, Motif 29’s bottom point, Motif 29’s lower-left side, Motif 28’s lower-right side, Motif 28’s bottom point.
- 4 sides x 27 = 108, plus 3 points x 4 = 12.
- 120 sc and 3 ch-3 loops.
- Left long edge (Motifs 28, 25 … 1): For each motif, work its lower-left side, left point and upper-left side.
- 10 motifs x 58 = 580 sc and 10 ch-3 loops.
- Top end: Mirror the bottom end, using Motif 1’s top point, Motif 1’s upper-right side, Motif 2’s two upper sides and top point, Motif 3’s upper-left side and Motif 3’s top point.
- 120 sc and 3 ch-3 loops.
Rnd 1 total: 580 + 120 + 580 + 120 = 1,400 sc and 26 ch-3 point loops.
Rnd 2 (trim round): Work a sl st in each sc. In each ch-3 loop, work (sl st, ch 3, sl st). Sl st to the first sl st and fasten off.
- Count: (1,400 sl st, one per existing sc) + (52 sl st added, 2 per point loop x 26) = 1,452 sl st and 26 ch-3 picots.
Why the math works: Every exposed side is the same 27-stitch unit, and every exposed point is the same 4-stitch unit.
- A long edge has 10 motifs, each with 2 exposed sides and 1 point.
- A short end has 3 motifs but only 4 exposed sides. Each corner motif’s outer side was already counted in a long edge, so it isn’t counted twice.
- No stitches are added at seams, so the outline stays flat and the border adds only 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each edge.
- Finished size: 13.5 + 0.5 = 14 in (35.6 cm) wide, and 45 + 0.5 = 45.5 in (115.6 cm) long.
Tassels
- Wind the thread 40 times around the 5.5 in (14.0 cm) card.
- Slide a 12 in (30.5 cm) tie under the top loops and knot it tightly.
- Cut the bottom loops.
- Wrap a second strand 6 times around the bundle, 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top, to form the neck. Knot it and bury the ends inside the tassel.
- Make 6 tassels.
- Pass the top tie through the ch-3 picot at the bottom point of Motifs 28, 29 and 30, and at the top point of Motifs 1, 2 and 3. Knot it so the tassel hangs 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the point.
- Trim the tassels evenly to 5 in (12.7 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all thread ends along the stitches, never across the open diamonds.
- Soak the runner in cool water for 10 minutes. Press out the water in a towel. Don’t wring it.
- Pin it to the mats at 14 in x 45.5 in (35.6 cm x 115.6 cm).
- Pin every exposed point first, keeping each one sharp.
- Pin the center of each fan curve so the arches open evenly.
- Check that the diamond openings are all the same size and the columns are straight.
- Leave it to dry completely, at least 24 hours.
- Unpin it, then mist the tassels and comb them straight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- All 30 motifs measure 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point
- All 47 joins are in place, with no loose or missed points
- Each motif has 5 arches per fan and 4 sharp points
- Border Rnd 1 has 1,400 sc and 26 point loops
- Border Rnd 2 has 1,452 sl st and 26 picots
- The runner measures 14 in x 45.5 in (35.6 cm x 115.6 cm)
- All 6 tassels are 5 in (12.7 cm) long and hang evenly
- No ends are visible inside the openings
Troubleshooting
The motif cups or ruffles: Your Rnd 3 or Rnd 4 chains are too long. Tighten them, or go down a hook size.
The points are blunt: Pin them harder when blocking, and check that the ch-5 loop wasn’t worked too tightly.
The runner is shorter than 45 in (114.3 cm): Your motifs are small. Change hook before you make more motifs. Blocking can’t add much length to cotton.
The edges wave after the border: You’ve probably added stitches at the valleys. Count one side: it should have exactly 27 sc.
The diamond openings are uneven: Check the ch-2 chains in your joins. Redo any that are clearly tighter or looser than the rest.
The tassels splay out: Wrap the neck tighter and steam the tassels lightly.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and dry flat, re-pinning the points if needed. Don’t tumble dry. Store the runner rolled rather than folded, so the lace doesn’t crease.
Final Notes
Every measurement in this runner builds from one motif:
- One motif is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) point to point.
- Three across make 13.5 in (34.3 cm), and ten down make 45 in (114.3 cm).
- Two border rounds bring it to 14 in x 45.5 in (35.6 cm x 115.6 cm).
- The 5 in (12.7 cm) tassels take the overall length to about 56.5 in (143.5 cm).
If your test motif hits gauge and each border side counts 27 sc, the rest falls into place.
Happy crocheting!