This little lace letter M is a quick, personal accessory. It’s an open, airy initial in cornflower blue with a crisp rope-like outline, and it’s finished with three peach blossoms, sage-green leaves, and a gold keyring. Clip it to a tote, a backpack zipper, or a set of keys.
The look is soft and slightly vintage. Columns of small V-shaped clusters run down every stroke of the letter, and the solid single crochet border holds the shape. The flowers add a cheerful pop without hiding the lace.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished charm measures 4.2 in (10.7 cm) wide by 4.2 in (10.7 cm) tall, not counting the hardware.
The letter is one single piece, worked top-down. You make two small “peaks,” join them in one row to form the center dip, and then work the left leg, the center point, and the right leg down from that joined row. A single border round outlines everything. Last, you sew on the flowers and leaves and attach the keyring.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4.2 in × 4.2 in (10.7 cm × 10.7 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate (easy stitches, careful shaping)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted (#3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 letter, plus 3 flowers and 4 leaves sewn on
- Layout: single motif, no joining
- Size before border: 3.8 in × 3.8 in (9.7 cm × 9.7 cm), 19 stitches wide
- Border depth: 0.2 in (0.5 cm), 1 round of sc
Materials
Use a smooth, tightly plied cotton or cotton blend. Mercerized cotton gives the clearest V’s and a firm, durable edge, which matters on a charm that gets handled every day.
- Cornflower blue: 10 g, about 23 m (25 yd)
- Peach: 3 g, about 7 m (8 yd)
- Sage green: 2 g, about 5 m (5 yd)
- Yellow: 1 g, about 2 m (2 yd)
These quantities include a margin of about 25% for swatching and sewing tails.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) hook
– Tapestry needle
– 2–3 locking stitch markers
– Gold split ring, 1 in (2.5 cm)
– Short gold chain, about 1 in (2.5 cm), with 2 jump rings
– Two pairs of flat-nose pliers
– Rustproof pins and a blocking mat
– Optional: light spray starch
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog / sc3tog / sc5tog – single crochet 2, 3, or 5 stitches together
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitch – V-cluster (Vcl): worked over 3 sts. Yo, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Sk next st. Yo, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yo, draw through all 3 loops.
Because the piece is worked top-down, the two legs of each Vcl start apart in the row above and close at the bottom. When the letter hangs upright, each Vcl reads as a V pointing down.
Stitch counting: in lace rows, the turning ch-3 counts as a dc, and each ch-1 counts as 1 st. In sc rows, work 1 sc into every st, every ch-1 sp, and the top of every Vcl.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 5 sc and 5 sc rows = 1 in (2.5 cm). One tier (1 lace row + 1 sc row) = 0.6 in (1.5 cm).
Make one peak (Rows 1–4) first as your test piece. Check it at each stage:
- After Row 1: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide
- After Row 4: 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide and 1.2 in (3.0 cm) tall
- After Row 5 (join): 3.8 in (9.7 cm) wide and 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall
- Finished leg: 3.8 in (9.7 cm) from the top edge
- Center point: 2.6 in (6.6 cm) from the top edge
- After the border: 4.2 in × 4.2 in (10.7 cm × 10.7 cm)
If your peak is too big, switch to a 3.25 mm hook. If it’s too small, use a 3.75 mm hook. Change hooks rather than counts, because every count below is tied to the 19-stitch width.
Peaks (Make 2)
With blue, ch 6.
Row 1 (sc): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (5 sc)
The edge where Row 1 ends is the notch edge. All odd rows end there. Place a marker on that edge.
Row 2 (lace): Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 1, Vcl over next 3 sts, ch 1, dc in last st, turn. (5 sts: 2 dc, 2 ch, 1 Vcl)
Row 3 (sc increase): Ch 1, sc in each of first 4 sts, 3 sc in last st (notch edge), turn. (7 sc)
Row 4 (lace): Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 1, sk 1, sc in next st, ch 1, Vcl over next 3 sts, ch 1, dc in last st, turn. (7 sts)
This places the V over the outer 5 sts, so it lines up with the V below it.
Peak 1: Fasten off.
Peak 2: Do not fasten off. Continue with Row 5.
Row 5: Joining Row
Row 5 (sc): Ch 1. On Peak 2, sc in each of first 6 sts, then 3 sc in last st (9 sc). Ch 1.
Turn Peak 1 over so its notch edge sits next to your hook. This flip makes the two halves mirror images. On Peak 1, work 3 sc in the first st (its notch-edge st), then sc in each of the remaining 6 sts (9 sc). Turn.
Count: 9 + 1 ch + 9 = 19 sts
The ch-1 is the bottom of the center dip. The notch is 9 sts, or 1.8 in (4.6 cm), wide at the top and 1.4 in (3.6 cm) deep. Check that the joined row measures 3.8 in (9.7 cm).
Counting from the hook end, sts 1–5 are Leg A, sts 6–14 are the center, and sts 15–19 are Leg B.
Leg A
Row 6 (lace): Ch 3, ch 1, Vcl over next 3 sts, ch 1, dc in 5th st, turn. Leave the remaining sts unworked. (5 sts)
Row 7 (sc): Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (5 sc)
Rows 8–13: Repeat Rows 6–7 three more times. (5 sts each row)
Fasten off. Leg A has 4 tiers and adds 2.4 in (6.1 cm). The total height is now 3.8 in (9.7 cm).
Center Point
Row 6: With the same side facing as Leg A, join blue in the 6th st. Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 1, Vcl over next 3 sts, ch 1, sc in next st (the ch-1 of the dip), ch 1, Vcl over next 3 sts, ch 1, dc in 14th st, turn. (9 sts)
Row 7 (shaping): Ch 1, sc3tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc3tog, turn. (5 sts: 1 + 3 + 1)
Row 8 (lace): Ch 3, ch 1, Vcl over next 3 sts, ch 1, dc in last st, turn. (5 sts)
Row 9: Ch 1, sc5tog. (1 st)
Fasten off. The point sits 2.6 in (6.6 cm) below the top edge. Each side narrows by 2 sts per tier, so its slope runs parallel to the notch above.
Leg B
Row 6: Join blue in the 15th st. Work Rows 6–13 as for Leg A over sts 15–19. (5 sts every row)
Do not fasten off. Go straight on to the border.
The gap between the legs is 9 sts, or 1.8 in (4.6 cm), wide at the bottom.
Border
Border gauge: same as the body, 5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Rules for the border round:
– Work 1 sc per stitch.
– Work 1 sc per sc-row end and 2 sc per lace-row end.
– At each outer corner, work 3 sc in the corner st.
– At the two inner gap corners, work the last sc of one edge and the first sc of the next edge together as a sc2tog (1 st fewer at each corner).
Round 1: Ch 1. Work around the letter, starting at the bottom of Leg B. Join with a sl st to the first sc.
| Segment | Count |
|---|---|
| Leg B bottom (5 sts: 3 + 3 + 3) | 9 |
| Leg B outer side (rows 13–1) | 19 |
| Peak B top (3 + 3 + 3) | 9 |
| Notch side B (rows 1–4) | 6 |
| Notch bottom (in ch-1 sp) | 1 |
| Notch side A (rows 4–1) | 6 |
| Peak A top | 9 |
| Leg A outer side | 19 |
| Leg A bottom | 9 |
| Leg A inner side | 12 |
| Center side | 6 |
| Center point (3 sc in st) | 3 |
| Center side | 6 |
| Leg B inner side | 12 |
| Two gap-corner sc2togs | –2 |
| Total | 124 sc |
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: Each outer side covers 7 sc rows (7 sc) and 6 lace rows (12 sc), for 19 sc. That is exactly the 3.8 in (9.7 cm) height at gauge. The inner leg sides cover 4 sc rows and 4 lace rows, for 12 sc, which matches 2.4 in (6.1 cm). The 3-sc corners keep the square ends flat. The single border sc on each side adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm), so the finished letter is 4.2 in × 4.2 in (10.7 cm × 10.7 cm).
Flowers (Make 3, Peach)
Round 1: Make a magic ring, then work 5 sc into the ring. Sl st to the first sc. (5 sc)
Round 2: *(Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st) in next sc; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 petals)
Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Each flower measures about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) across.
Center: With yellow, work one French knot (wrap the needle twice) in the center of each flower.
Leaves (Make 4, Sage)
Ch 7. Working from the 2nd ch from the hook: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc (6 sts). Ch 1 to turn around the base. Working into the free loops of the same chains: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st (6 sts). Sl st into the tip.
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Each leaf is about 1 in (2.5 cm) long.
Assembly
Pin everything first, then sew with matching tails using small, hidden stitches that go through the border and lace bars.
- Flower 1: on the top-left outer corner of Peak A, with one leaf pointing up and out and one pointing down and out
- Flower 2: on the outer edge of Leg B, about 2 in (5.1 cm) from the top, with one leaf pointing down and out
- Flower 3: at the bottom of Leg A, with one leaf pointing toward the gap
Hardware: Use pliers to open a jump ring and pass it through the border sc at the notch bottom. Hook on the chain and close the ring. Add the split ring to the other end of the chain with the second jump ring.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the letter until it’s damp, not wet.
- Pin it to 4.2 in × 4.2 in (10.7 cm × 10.7 cm), placing pins at all 9 outer corners first.
- Pin the notch and the center point so they stay sharp.
- Gently open each Vcl cell with a pin tip.
- If you want, mist with light spray starch for a crisper charm.
- Let it dry completely before you remove the pins.
Block before sewing on the flowers so they stay plump.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Joining row is 19 sts and 3.8 in (9.7 cm) wide
- [ ] Each leg is 5 sts wide with 6 aligned V’s
- [ ] Center point ends in 1 st, 2.6 in (6.6 cm) from the top
- [ ] Border total is 124 sc
- [ ] Finished size is 4.2 in × 4.2 in (10.7 cm × 10.7 cm)
- [ ] Flowers and leaves are secure, with no loose loops
- [ ] Jump rings are fully closed
Troubleshooting
- The V’s lean or don’t line up: check that the sk 1 in Row 4 is at the notch edge.
- The notch looks shallow: you may have missed a 3-sc increase in Row 3 or Row 5.
- The edges ripple: you added too many sc along the row ends. Stick to 1 sc per sc-row end and 2 per lace-row end.
- The gap corners pucker or gape: redo the sc2tog at those corners with slightly looser tension.
- The charm feels floppy: go down 0.25 mm in hook size, or starch lightly.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the water in a towel, and reshape it flat to dry. Remove the metal hardware before washing so it doesn’t tarnish.
Final Notes
The whole design follows one measurement chain:
- 5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm)
- Each peak starts 1 in (2.5 cm) wide
- The joining row is 3.8 in (9.7 cm)
- The legs finish at 3.8 in (9.7 cm) tall
- One border round brings the letter to 4.2 in × 4.2 in (10.7 cm × 10.7 cm)
If each checkpoint matches, the letter will block square and the flowers will sit just right.
Happy crocheting!