The Latte Lattice Car Mirror Charm is a light, airy hanging ornament made from three small lace diamonds. A cream diamond sits at the top, a mocha brown diamond in the middle, and a second cream diamond at the bottom. A doubled cream cord loops over your rear-view mirror.
Each diamond is a granny-style square turned on point. It starts with a small star of radiating double crochets, opens into a ring of chain spaces, and squares off into a filet-style mesh. A tidy single crochet round finishes the edge. The look is soft and boho, and the open mesh catches the light nicely when the charm sways.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished motif measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) per side, or about 3.2 in (8.1 cm) from point to point. The joined strip of three diamonds is about 9.5 in (24.1 cm) long. With the 6 in (15.2 cm) hanging loop, the charm measures about 15.5 in (39.4 cm) overall.
You’ll work each motif in 5 rounds and join motifs 2 and 3 to the one above as you go, during their final round. When all three are joined, you add a slip-stitch-reinforced chain cord to the top point.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.2 in (8.1 cm) wide x 9.5 in (24.1 cm) long for the strip, or 15.5 in (39.4 cm) including the loop
- Skill level: Easy / advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread (Super Fine / 1)
- Hook: 2.25 mm (B-1)
- Number of pieces: 3 motifs plus 1 hanging cord
- Layout: 1 column of 3 motifs, set on point and joined tip to tip
- Motif size: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) per side
- Size before edging: 2 in (5.1 cm) per side after Round 4
- Edging depth: 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per side, from Round 5
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized cotton thread. It gives crisp mesh, sharp corners, and good stitch definition, and it won’t fuzz or stretch much in a warm car. Avoid acrylic and very soft cotton because the mesh will sag over time.
Yarn:
– Cream: 10 g / about 30 m (32.8 yd) for Motifs 1 and 3 plus the cord
– Mocha brown: 5 g / about 15 m (16.4 yd) for Motif 2
These amounts include a generous margin. Each motif uses about 9 m of thread, and the cord uses about 4 m.
Tools:
– 2.25 mm (B-1) crochet hook
– Fine tapestry needle
– Small scissors
– Rust-proof pins and a foam blocking mat
– Spray bottle with water
– Optional: light spray starch
– Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sp(s): space(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- beg: beginning
- rep: repeat
- RS: right side
Special stitch: Corner join (cj). Work this in place of a plain corner when joining. In the corner ch-3 sp of the current motif, work sc, ch 1, then sl st into the matching corner ch-2 sp of the finished motif. Ch 1, then work sc back in the current motif’s corner sp. The ch 1 + ch 1 replaces the usual ch 2, so the stitch count doesn’t change.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge isn’t critical for a hanging charm. Still, your three motifs need to match, and the finished length depends on it.
Edging gauge: 8 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the edge in Round 5.
Before you start the full set, make Motif 1 and measure it at each checkpoint:
- After Round 1: about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across
- After Round 2: about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across
- After Round 3: about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) per side, with 4 clear corners
- After Round 4: 2 in (5.1 cm) per side
- After Round 5: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) per side
If your motif is too big by more than 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per side, go down one hook size to 2 mm. If it’s too small, go up to 2.5 mm. If only the corners look rounded, your tr stitches in Round 3 are too short. Pull up a slightly taller loop on each one.
Measure after a light steam or spray, because cotton thread relaxes a little once it’s dampened.
Motif Pattern (Make 3)
Work every round with the RS facing you. Don’t turn.
Round 1 (star center): Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as the first dc), then work 15 dc into the ring. Pull the ring tight and sl st in the top of the beg ch-3.
Count: 16 dc.
Pull the ring closed firmly so no hole shows in the middle. The 16 posts make the star-like center.
Round 2 (spoke ring): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). [Dc in next dc, ch 2] 15 times. Sl st in the 3rd ch of the beg ch-5.
Count: 16 dc and 16 ch-2 sps.
This is a spacing round, not a growth round. Every dc from Round 1 gets 1 dc, with an open ch-2 between each pair.
Round 3 (squaring round): Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 4 (counts as tr), then (ch 3, tr) in the same sp to make the first corner. Ch 2, then [dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] 3 times.
(Tr, ch 3, tr) in the next ch-2 sp for the corner. Ch 2, then [dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] 3 times. Rep from * 2 more times. Sl st in the top of the beg ch-4.
Count: 8 tr + 12 dc = 20 sts, 4 corner ch-3 sps, and 16 ch-2 sps (4 per side).*
The 16 spaces from Round 2 are used up as 4 corner spaces plus 12 side spaces. The taller tr pushes the corners out, which turns the circle into a square.
Round 4 (mesh round): Sl st in the next ch, then sl st into the corner ch-3 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then (ch 3, dc) in the same corner sp. Ch 2, then [dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] 4 times.
(Dc, ch 3, dc) in the next corner ch-3 sp. Ch 2, then [dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] 4 times. Rep from * 2 more times. Sl st in the top of the beg ch-3.
Count: 24 dc, 4 corner ch-3 sps, and 20 ch-2 sps.*
Each side now has 6 dc (2 corner dc + 4 side dc) and 5 ch-2 sps. This is the second ring of open mesh boxes. The motif should measure 2 in (5.1 cm) per side.
Round 5 (outline round): Ch 1. Sc in the same st as the join. This is the first dc of a corner pair.
(Sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner ch-3 sp. Sc in the next dc, then [2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next dc] 5 times. Rep from * 3 more times, leaving out the very last sc of the final repeat. That last st was already worked at the start of the round. Sl st in the first sc. Fasten off.
Count: 24 sc (1 per existing dc) + 40 sc (2 in each of the 20 ch-2 sps) + 8 sc (2 per corner) = 72 sc, plus 4 corner ch-2 sps.*
Per side: 1 corner sc + 6 sc over the dc + 10 sc over the spaces + 1 corner sc = 18 sc. This total already includes the 2 corner sc for that side.
Weave in the beginning tail now. Pull it through the magic ring again to lock it closed.
Make All Pieces
- Cream: 2 motifs (Motif 1 and Motif 3)
- Mocha brown: 1 motif (Motif 2)
- Cream: 1 hanging cord, added last
Make Motif 1 completely, through Round 5. Work Motifs 2 and 3 through Round 4, then join each one during its Round 5.
Layout (top to bottom, all motifs on point):
|| cord loop (cream)
/\
/C \ Motif 1 – cream
\ /
\/
/\
/B \ Motif 2 – mocha brown
\ /
\/
/\
/C \ Motif 3 – cream
\ /
\/
To keep the joins in line, label the corners of every motif A, B, C and D in working order. Corner A is the first corner of Round 5. Corner A is always the top point and Corner C is always the bottom point. That way the joins sit on exactly opposite corners and the strip hangs straight.
Joining
Method: Join as you go, at the corner tips only, during Round 5.
Motif 2 to Motif 1: Work Round 5 of Motif 2 as written, but use a corner join (cj) at its Corner A. Join it into the ch-2 sp at Corner C (the bottom point) of Motif 1. Work the other three corners as normal.
Motif 3 to Motif 2: Work Round 5 of Motif 3 the same way. Join Corner A of Motif 3 into Corner C of Motif 2.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Only one ch-2 corner sp is joined to one ch-3 corner sp at each join. No side stitches are joined. Each motif keeps its full 18 sc per side and 72 sc total, because the cj’s ch 1 + ch 1 replaces the ch 2. You never add stitches at a seam.
Tension: Keep the joining sl st snug but not tight. If it’s too loose, the diamonds twist and tilt. If it’s too tight, the points pull into a pinch. When you hold the strip up, the tips should just meet with no visible gap.
Size checkpoint: Hold the three joined motifs up by the top point and measure. The strip should be about 3 x 3.2 in = 9.5 in (24.1 cm) long and 3.2 in (8.1 cm) wide.
Border
Since the motifs only touch at their points, there’s no wraparound border. A continuous border would close the open V-shapes between the diamonds and change the silhouette. Round 5 of each motif is that motif’s border, and the cord finishes the top.
Border gauge: 8 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Edging count per side: Each side of each motif gets exactly 18 sc, including its 2 corner sc. Each of the 12 outer edges in the strip (4 per motif x 3 motifs) is the edge of a single motif. So the count per edge is 1 motif x 18 sc = 18 sc. Nothing is added at the joins.
Why the math works: Round 4 has 6 dc and 5 ch-2 sps per side. One sc per dc gives 6, two sc per space gives 10, and one corner sc at each end gives 2, for 18 in total. 18 sc ÷ 8 sc per in = 2.25 in (5.7 cm). That matches the 2 in (5.1 cm) Round 4 size plus about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) of edging on each side. The 2 sc per space is enough to cover the chains without cupping, and the ch-2 at each corner keeps the points sharp.
Hanging cord (cream):
- With the RS facing you, join cream with a sl st in the Corner A ch-2 sp of Motif 1.
- Ch 120, which measures about 12 in (30.5 cm) unstretched.
- Sl st into the same Corner A sp to close the loop.
- Turn the work. Sl st into the back bump of each of the 120 ch, all the way around the loop, then sl st into Corner A again.
Count: 120 ch + 120 sl st. - Fasten off and weave in the end through the Round 5 stitches.
The cord folds into a doubled loop about 6 in (15.2 cm) long. The slip-stitch layer firms it up and gives it the slightly twisted, rope-like look.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all the remaining ends along the Round 5 sc, inside a motif of the same color.
- Lay the strip flat on a blocking mat, RS up, with all three motifs on point in a straight vertical line.
- Spray it evenly with water until it’s damp but not dripping.
- Pin each corner point so every side measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Add one pin at the middle of each side.
- Open each mesh space with a fingertip so the dc posts stand straight.
- Check that the strip measures 9.5 in (24.1 cm) from the top point to the bottom point.
- If you like, mist it lightly with starch for extra crispness. That’s helpful in a car, where the charm moves constantly.
- Let it dry completely before you take the pins out. Leave the cord unpinned and straight beside the strip.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every motif has 72 sc in Round 5, with 18 sc per side.
- All three motifs measure 2.25 in (5.7 cm) per side, within 0.125 in (0.3 cm).
- The color order is cream, mocha brown, cream, from top to bottom.
- Joins are only at Corner A to Corner C, so the strip hangs straight.
- The magic-ring centers are pulled fully closed.
- The corners are sharp and the mesh spaces are open and even.
- The cord loop is about 6 in (15.2 cm) long and firmly attached.
- All ends are woven in invisibly, with no knots showing.
Troubleshooting
The motif looks round, not square. Your Round 3 corners are too short. Make each tr taller, and check that you worked (tr, ch 3, tr) in the corner sps.
The edges ruffle in Round 5. Your sc stitches are too loose. Go down one hook size for Round 5 only.
The edges cup or pull in. You probably worked 1 sc into some ch-2 sps. Recount: you need 2 sc in every space and 18 sc per side.
The strip hangs crooked. One join is on the wrong corner. Make sure you join Corner A to the bottom point (Corner C) of the motif above.
There’s a hole in the center. Tighten the magic ring tail before weaving it in, then pass the tail through the ring a second time.
One motif is bigger than the others. Your tension changed between colors. Remake that motif with a hook 0.25 mm smaller or larger, or block it a little harder.
The cord stretches over time. Add a second row of sl st into the front loops of the first sl st row.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and re-pin it flat to dry. Keep it out of the dryer and away from long periods in strong direct sun, which can fade the mocha brown.
Final Notes
The whole charm follows one measurement chain. Round 1 is 0.6 in (1.5 cm), Round 2 is 1.1 in (2.8 cm), Round 3 is 1.5 in (3.8 cm), Round 4 is 2 in (5.1 cm), and Round 5 is 2.25 in (5.7 cm) per side. Each diamond is about 3.2 in (8.1 cm) from point to point. Three diamonds make a strip of about 9.5 in (24.1 cm), and the 6 in (15.2 cm) cord brings it to about 15.5 in (39.4 cm) overall.
If your first motif hits 18 sc per side and 2.25 in (5.7 cm), everything after it will fall into place. Make the cream motifs and the mocha motif with the same hook and tension, keep the joins on opposite corners, and block them square.
Happy crocheting!