This little letter “I” is worked in soft peach filet mesh: rows of open squares that make it light, crisp and easy to read. A smooth, corded edge frames the letter shape, and a small cluster of coral, white and sage flowers sits on the lower left edge.
The palette is gentle and springlike: peach for the letter, coral and white for the flowers, cream and yellow for the centers, and sage green for the leaves. A gold split ring and short chain make it a keychain or bag charm. It also makes a sweet initial gift.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished letter measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide by 4 in (10.2 cm) tall, not counting the key ring.
You’ll work the letter flat in rows from the bottom serif up, narrow it for the stem, and widen it again for the top serif. Then you’ll add a two-round border, block the letter and sew on the flowers.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Sport / fine (#2) cotton
- Hook: 2.5 mm
- Number of pieces: 1 letter, plus 4 flower/bud appliqués and 4 leaves
- Layout: Single letter, flowers on the lower left of the stem
- Mesh grid: 8 meshes wide at the serifs, 4 meshes wide on the stem, 14 rows tall
- Size before border: 2 in (5.1 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized sport-weight cotton. It shows the mesh clearly and keeps its shape on a keychain. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns.
- Peach (letter): 6 g, about 19 m
- Coral (large flower, small flower, bud): 3 g, about 9 m
- White (white flower): 2 g, about 6 m
- Sage green (leaves): 2 g, about 6 m
- Cream (coral flower centers): 1 g, about 3 m
- Yellow (white flower center): 1 g, about 3 m
All quantities include a small safety margin.
Tools:
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
- Blocking board and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle
- 1 in (2.5 cm) gold split key ring with a short chain and jump ring
- Flat-nose pliers
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rev sc – reverse single crochet
- RS – right side
Mesh: One mesh is (ch 1, dc in next dc). Each mesh is 2 sts wide: one ch-1 sp plus one dc.
Reverse single crochet (rev sc): Work from left to right (right-handed). Insert the hook into the next st to the right, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through both loops. This makes the corded edge.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 4 meshes and 4 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) square, so each mesh is 0.25 in (0.6 cm). Border: 8 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
The letter is small, so the letter itself is your test piece. Measure at each checkpoint:
- After Row 2: 2 in (5.1 cm) wide x 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall
- After Row 12: the stem is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and the whole piece is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall
- After Row 14: 2 in (5.1 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- After the border: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm)
Too big: go down to a 2.25 mm hook, or make your chains tighter. Too small: go up to a 2.75 mm hook. Tall, narrow meshes usually mean the dc are loose and the ch-1 spaces are tight. Try to make every square truly square.
The Letter (Peach)
Bottom Serif
Foundation: Ch 20.
Row 1 (RS): Dc in 6th ch from hook. The 5 skipped chs count as the first dc plus a ch-1 sp. *Ch 1, sk next ch, dc in next ch; repeat from * 6 more times. (8 meshes: 9 dc columns and 8 ch-1 sps, 17 sts wide)
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), turn. Dc in next dc. *Ch 1, dc in next dc; repeat from * 5 more times. Ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in the 4th of the 5 skipped beginning chs. (8 meshes)
Checkpoint: 2 in (5.1 cm) x 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Stem
Row 3: Turn. Sl st in first dc, then in next ch-1 sp, next dc, next ch-1 sp and next dc. You are now on the 3rd dc column. Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Dc in next dc. *Ch 1, dc in next dc; repeat from * 2 more times. Leave the last 2 meshes unworked. (4 meshes, 5 dc columns)
You now have 2 unworked meshes on each side of the stem. This forms the ledge of the bottom serif.
Rows 4–12: Ch 4, turn. Dc in next dc. *Ch 1, dc in next dc; repeat from * once more. Ch 1, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-4. (4 meshes in each row)
At the end of Row 12, the yarn is at the left edge. Don’t fasten off.
Checkpoint: the stem is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide, and the piece is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
Right-Hand Extension Chain
Pull up a long loop and remove the hook so the work doesn’t unravel. Cut an 8 in (20.3 cm) length of peach. Join it with a sl st in the top of the turning ch-4 at the right-hand end of Row 12. Ch 4 and fasten off, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail. This chain will become the base of the right overhang. Put the working loop back on the hook.
Top Serif
Row 13: Ch 7, turn. Dc in 6th ch from hook, ch 1, sk next ch, dc in the last dc of Row 12 (at the base of the ch-7). This adds 2 meshes on the left. *Ch 1, dc in next dc; repeat from * 2 more times. Ch 1, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-4. That’s 4 meshes across the stem.
Continue onto the extension chain: ch 1, sk first ch, dc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch, dc in last ch. This adds 2 meshes on the right. (8 meshes, 9 dc columns)
Row 14: Ch 4, turn. Dc in next dc. *Ch 1, dc in next dc; repeat from * 5 more times. Ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in the 4th of the 5 skipped chs at the start of Row 13. (8 meshes, 17 sts across)
Fasten off and weave in all ends, including the extension tail.
Checkpoint: 2 in (5.1 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm). The letter has 72 open meshes: 16 in each serif and 40 in the stem.
Border
The edge has two rounds: sc to square it up, then rev sc for the raised cord.
Border math. Each mesh is 2 sts wide, and each dc row is about as tall as 2 sc. So:
- Along the top and bottom edges, work 1 sc in each st or ch.
- Along the side edges, work 2 sc around each row-end post.
- On the ledges and undersides, work 2 sc per mesh.
That gives about 8 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm) everywhere, which matches the border gauge, so the edge lies flat.
Corner rule: The side counts below do not include corners. Each of the 8 outer corners gets 1 extra corner sc, worked in the same end st as the last sc of the side before it. The 4 inner corners (where the stem meets a serif) get no extra stitch. Skip into the inner corner and go straight on.
Round 1 (RS): With RS facing, join peach with sc in the first foundation ch at the bottom left corner. This is the corner sc. Then work these sections in order:
- Bottom edge: sc in the same ch and in each foundation ch across: 17 sc. Add 1 corner sc in the last ch.
- Right side of bottom serif: 2 sc around each of 2 row-end posts: 4 sc. Add 1 corner sc in the top of the end column.
- Right lower ledge: 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts (the same end column, ch-1 sp, dc, ch-1 sp): 4 sc. Skip the stem’s base dc (inner corner).
- Right side of stem: 2 sc around each of 10 row-end posts: 20 sc. Inner corner, no extra.
- Right overhang underside: 1 sc in each of the 4 extension chs: 4 sc. Add 1 corner sc in the last ch.
- Right side of top serif: 2 sc around each of 2 posts: 4 sc. Add 1 corner sc.
- Top edge: 1 sc in each st across Row 14: 17 sc. Add 1 corner sc.
- Left side of top serif: 4 sc. Add 1 corner sc.
- Left overhang underside: 4 sc evenly along the free loops of the ch-7. Inner corner, no extra.
- Left side of stem: 20 sc. Inner corner, no extra.
- Left lower ledge: 4 sc. Add 1 corner sc.
- Left side of bottom serif: 4 sc.
Sl st to the first sc to join. The bottom left corner sc was already worked at the start.
Round 1 total: (17 + 4 + 4 + 20 + 4 + 4) x 2 = 106 side sc, plus 8 corner sc = 114 sc.
Round 2: Ch 1. Rev sc in each sc around: 114 rev sc. Sl st to the first st and fasten off. Weave in the ends.
Checkpoint: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm). The stem is now 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide.
Flowers and Leaves
Large Coral Flower (about 1.25 in / 3.2 cm)
- Rnd 1 (cream): Magic ring, ch 1, 5 sc in ring. Sl st to join. (5 sc) Fasten off.
- Rnd 2 (coral): Join in any sc. Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around. Sl st to join. (10 sc)
- Rnd 3: *(Hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc) in next sc, sl st in next sc; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 petals)
- Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.
White Flower (about 1 in / 2.5 cm)
- Rnd 1 (yellow): Magic ring, ch 1, 5 sc in ring. Sl st to join. (5 sc) Fasten off.
- Rnd 2 (white): Join in any sc. *(Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st) in same sc, move to next sc; repeat from * around. (5 petals)
- Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.
Small Coral Flower (about 0.75 in / 1.9 cm)
- Rnd 1 (cream): Magic ring, ch 1, 5 sc in ring. Sl st to join. (5 sc) Fasten off.
- Rnd 2 (coral): Join in any sc. *(Sl st, ch 1, 2 hdc, ch 1, sl st) in same sc, move to next sc; repeat from * around. (5 petals)
- Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.
Coral Bud (about 0.5 in / 1.3 cm)
- Magic ring, ch 2, 4 dc in ring. Pull the ring closed tight so the stitches cup into a bud. Sl st to top of ch-2.
- Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.
Leaves (make 4, sage green, about 0.75 in / 1.9 cm)
- Ch 7. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, work: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, then 3 sc in the last ch.
- Rotate and work along the other side of the chain: hdc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st.
- Sl st into the skipped tip ch to make a point. (13 sts plus the tip)
- Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.
Final Blocking
- Lightly spray the bordered letter until it is damp, not dripping.
- Lay it RS up on the blocking board and line up the bottom edge with a grid line.
- Pin the 8 outer corners to 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
- Pin each side of the stem at its midpoint so the stem is straight and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide.
- Square up any meshes that lean by nudging the dc posts upright with a pin.
- Lightly spray and pat the flowers and leaves flat, opening the petals.
- Let everything dry completely before you unpin, at least 6 hours.
Assembly:
- Tuck the 4 leaves behind the lower left of the stem, sticking out past the edge.
- From top to bottom, place the bud (with one leaf above it), the large coral flower, then the white flower below and to the left of it. Place the small coral flower to the right of the white flower, just above the bottom serif.
- Whipstitch each piece through the mesh posts using its tail, working on the back so no stitches show.
- Open the jump ring and thread it through the center 2 rev sc at the top. Attach the chain and split ring, then close the jump ring.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Letter measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm)
- [ ] Each serif is 8 meshes wide and 2 rows tall
- [ ] The stem is 4 meshes wide and 10 rows tall, centered with 2 meshes of overhang on each side
- [ ] Round 1 has 114 sc and Round 2 has 114 rev sc
- [ ] Corners are crisp and inner corners lie flat
- [ ] All ends are woven in, including the extension-chain tail
- [ ] Flowers are sewn securely, and no stitches show on the front
- [ ] The jump ring is fully closed and centered at the top
Troubleshooting
Meshes are taller than they are wide: Shorten your dc by pulling the first loop up less, or keep the dc loose and work the ch-1 a little looser.
The stem is off-center: In Row 3, count the sl sts again. You need to finish on the 3rd dc column, with 2 meshes left unworked on each side.
The right overhang droops: The extension chain was too loose. Make it again with snug chains, and keep the join in the turning ch-4 top.
The border ruffles: You added extra sc at the inner corners, or worked more than 2 sc per row end. Undo it and follow the counts exactly.
The border pulls in: Make sure each outer corner has its extra sc, and try a hook 0.25 mm larger for the border only.
Petals curl: Block the flowers on their own, and pin each petal open while they dry.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and dry flat with the letter pinned to shape. Take the metal ring off before washing to avoid tarnish marks.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple:
- Each mesh is 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
- 8 meshes by 14 rows gives 2 in (5.1 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
- The two-round border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge, for a finished size of 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm).
If your gauge is right at Row 2, every later checkpoint should fall into place. Add your flowers last, and enjoy your little monogram.
Happy crocheting!