This is a lacy teardrop charm made to hang from your rear-view mirror. A round sunburst sits in the lower bulb, an open net of chain loops tapers up to a neat point, and a corded rim holds the shape crisp. A small crocheted bead and a full tassel hang below, and a twisted cord with a knot hangs it from the mirror.
The sample is worked in one warm taupe cotton thread. One neutral color lets the lace texture show and suits almost any car interior. It also works in ivory, sage or dusty rose.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished teardrop measures 4 in (10.2 cm) tall and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide. With the cord loop, bead and tassel, the whole charm is about 10.25 in (26.0 cm) long.
You start with the sunburst in rounds, then work the chain-loop net back and forth over its top half, losing one loop per row until it comes to a point. Two edging rounds then go around the whole outline. Last, you add the bead, the tassel and the cord.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished teardrop: 4 in (10.2 cm) tall x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide
- Total length with cord loop, bead and tassel: about 10.25 in (26.0 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate (thread lace, working into loops, reverse sc)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 10 cotton crochet thread (Lace / 0)
- Hook: 1.5 mm (US steel 8)
- Number of pieces: 1 lace teardrop, plus 1 bead and 1 tassel as trims
- Layout: Single piece, no joining
- Sunburst diameter after Rnd 4: 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Size before border: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall x 2 in (5.1 cm) wide
- Border depth: 0.125 in (0.3 cm) on every side
Materials
Use a mercerized cotton thread in size 10. Mercerized cotton holds starch well, keeps its sheen and won’t fuzz in summer heat or sun through the windshield. Avoid acrylic: it won’t keep a blocked lace shape.
- Taupe (Color A): 10 g (about 56 m) of size 10 cotton thread
This amount covers the teardrop (about 15 m), the tassel (about 4.5 m), the bead and the cord. It includes a comfortable margin for swatching and trimming.
Tools:
- 1.5 mm (US steel 8) crochet hook
- Fine tapestry needle
- Sharp scissors
- Stitch marker
- Stiff card cut to 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall, for the tassel
- A pinch of matching scrap thread or polyester fiberfill, or a 0.375 in (1.0 cm) wooden bead, for the bead core
- Blocking mat, rust-proof pins and spray starch or fabric stiffener
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sp – space
- MR – magic ring
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
Special stitch – reverse single crochet (rev sc): Work from left to right (right-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. The stitch twists as you go and makes the corded, rope-like rim.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge isn’t critical for a hanging charm, but the teardrop proportions depend on it. Work Rnds 1–4 first and measure before you start the net.
- After Rnd 1: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across
- After Rnd 3: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
- After Rnd 4: 2 in (5.1 cm) across, laid flat
- After Row 7 of the net: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) from the bottom of the sunburst to the tip
- After the edging: 4 in (10.2 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
If your work is too big: Go down to a 1.25 mm hook, or tighten your chains. Loose chain loops are the most common cause.
If your work is too small: Go up to a 1.75 mm hook. Don’t add stitches or loops, because the loop counts set the teardrop’s taper.
Sunburst Center
The sunburst is worked in joined rounds with the right side facing. Don’t turn.
Rnd 1: Make a MR. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring. Pull the ring closed tightly and sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (16 dc)
This makes the small solid center of the sunburst.
Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). Dc in next dc, ch 2. Repeat from * 14 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 sps)
These are the spokes the ribs grow from.
Rnd 3: Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same sp, ch 1. 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1. Repeat from * 14 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (48 dc in 16 groups of 3, 16 ch-1 sps)
Each 3-dc group is one rib of the sunburst. The ch-1 spaces keep the ribs separate so the fan lines show clearly.
Rnd 4: Sl st in the next 2 dc and into the next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sc in the same sp. Ch 5, sc in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from * 14 more times. Ch 2, dc in the first sc. (16 ch-5 loops)
The closing ch 2 + dc is the 16th loop. It leaves your hook at the center of that loop, ready for the net. Call this closing loop Loop A and mark it.
Checkpoint: Lay the sunburst flat. It should be 2 in (5.1 cm) across with 16 even loops.
Lace Net (Worked in Rows)
Now you work back and forth over 8 loops: Loop A and the next 7 loops of Rnd 4. These 8 loops form the top half of the circle. The other 8 loops stay free and become the rounded bottom of the teardrop.
Every row starts at the center of the first loop and ends with a sc at the center of the last loop. That’s why each row has exactly one loop fewer than the row before.
Row 1: With the hook at the center of Loop A, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop of Rnd 4. Repeat from * 6 more times. (7 loops)
Your last sc is in the 8th loop of the top half.
Row 2: Turn. Sl st in the next 3 ch, so you’re at the center of the first loop. Ch 1, sc in the same loop. Ch 5, sc in next loop. Repeat from * 5 more times. (6 loops)
Row 3: Turn. Sl st in the next 3 ch, ch 1, sc in the same loop. Ch 5, sc in next loop. Repeat from * 4 more times. (5 loops)
Row 4: Work as Row 3, repeating from * 3 more times. (4 loops)
Row 5: Work as Row 3, repeating from * 2 more times. (3 loops)
Row 6: Work as Row 3, repeating from * 1 more time. (2 loops)
Row 7: Turn. Sl st in the next 3 ch, ch 1, sc in the same loop, ch 5, sc in next loop. (1 loop)
This last loop is the tip of the teardrop. Fasten off and weave in the end.
Checkpoint: Pin the piece out lightly. It should measure 3.75 in (9.5 cm) from the bottom of the sunburst to the top of the Row 7 loop, and 2 in (5.1 cm) at its widest. The sides should curve in evenly toward the point.
Border
The border has two rounds: a sc round that closes the outline, then a rev sc round that makes the corded rim. Together they add 0.125 in (0.3 cm) on every side. That brings the piece from 3.75 in x 2 in (9.5 cm x 5.1 cm) to 4 in x 2.25 in (10.2 cm x 5.7 cm).
Border gauge: About 22 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm) along the outline.
The outline has five sections:
- Tip: the Row 7 loop
- Side 1: the outer end loops of Rows 1–6, one per row (6 spaces)
- Bottom curve: the outer half of the last top-half loop of Rnd 4, then the 8 free bottom loops of Rnd 4, then the outer half of Loop A
- Side 2: the outer end loops of Rows 6–1 on the other side (6 spaces)
Edging Rnd 1: With the right side facing, join the thread with a sc in the Row 7 tip loop. Work 5 more sc in the same loop (6 sc at the tip).
- Side 1: 4 sc in each of the 6 row-end loops, working down toward the bulb. (24 sc)
- Bottom curve: 2 sc in the free outer half of the end loop of Rnd 4, 4 sc in each of the 8 free bottom loops, then 2 sc in the free outer half of Loop A. (2 + 32 + 2 = 36 sc)
- Side 2: 4 sc in each of the 6 row-end loops, working up toward the tip. (24 sc)
Sl st to the first sc. (90 sc: 6 tip + 24 side + 36 bottom + 24 side)
Edging Rnd 2: Ch 1. Rev sc in each sc around. Sl st to the first rev sc. (90 rev sc)
Don’t fasten off yet if you plan to make a crocheted hanging loop. For the twisted cord used in the sample, fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: Each ch-5 loop takes 4 sc. That’s enough to cover the chain without ruffling, and few enough that the curve doesn’t cup. Each half loop takes half of that, 2 sc. The tip gets 6 sc so the point stays sharp but doesn’t pucker. The rev sc round goes 1-into-1, so the count stays at 90. It adds texture and firmness, not length.
Checkpoint: The teardrop should now be 4 in (10.2 cm) tall and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide.
Bead
Rnd 1: Make a MR, 6 sc in ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)
Rnds 3–4: Sc in each sc around. (12 sc)
Fill the bead with scrap thread or fiberfill, or drop in the wooden bead.
Rnd 5: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the last round and pull it closed. The bead should be 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across.
Tassel
- Lay a 6 in (15.2 cm) tie strand along the top edge of the 2.75 in (7.0 cm) card.
- Wrap the thread 60 times around the card’s height, over the tie strand.
- Knot the tie strand tightly around the top of the wraps. Cut the wraps at the bottom edge of the card.
- Wrap a 10 in (25.4 cm) strand tightly 6 times around the bundle, 0.25 in (0.6 cm) below the top, to form the tassel’s neck. Knot it, then needle the ends down into the tassel.
- Steam the strands lightly and trim them evenly to 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Assembly and Hanging Cord
- Thread the tassel’s top tie strand through the center of the bead from bottom to top.
- Stitch the tie through the bottom-center stitch of Edging Rnd 1, directly below the sunburst center. Knot it securely inside the bead so the bead sits snugly against the rim.
- Twisted cord: Cut 2 strands of 24 in (61.0 cm). Pass them through the tip stitches, between the 3rd and 4th tip sc, and even the ends. Twist all 4 ends together tightly in one direction. Fold the twisted length in half and let it twist back on itself.
- Tie an overhand knot 0.25 in (0.6 cm) above the tip. This makes the small knot you see above the point. Knot the free ends again so the finished loop measures 3 in (7.6 cm), then trim.
Final Blocking
- Soak the teardrop in cool water for 10 minutes, keeping the tassel out of the water. Squeeze it gently in a towel.
- Pin it out to 4 in (10.2 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Pin the tip first, then the center bottom, then both widest points.
- Put a pin in each net loop and each 3-dc rib of the sunburst so every opening is clean and round.
- Spray it evenly with starch or dab on fabric stiffener. Let it dry completely, at least 12 hours.
- Unpin the piece and check that the sides curve symmetrically. If they don’t, mist, re-pin and dry again.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Sunburst has 16 ribs of 3 dc, evenly spaced
- Net rows count down from 7 loops to 1 loop
- Edging Rnd 1 has 90 sc: 6 tip, 24 per side, 36 bottom
- Rev sc rim is even with no skipped stitches
- Teardrop measures 4 in (10.2 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- Bead is 0.5 in (1.3 cm), closed tight and centered under the bulb
- Tassel is trimmed level at 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- Cord loop is 3 in (7.6 cm) with a firm knot above the tip
- All ends are woven in and invisible from both sides
Troubleshooting
Sunburst cups or ruffles: Check that Rnd 3 has 1 ch (not 2) between groups, then block firmly. If it still cups, use a smaller hook for Rnds 1–3.
Teardrop leans to one side: You probably started the net one loop off center. The 8 net loops should be exactly the top half of the circle, with Loop A and the last loop level with each other.
Point is blunt: Check that Row 7 has a single loop. Pull the tip sc snug and pin the point sharply when blocking.
Edge waves: Your sc count is too high. Recount to 4 sc per loop.
Edge pulls in and curls: Work the rev sc more loosely, or go up 0.25 mm for that round only.
Tassel looks thin: Wrap 75 times instead of 60. You’ll need about 1 m more thread.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, then reshape and re-starch while damp. Keep it out of the dryer.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple:
- Rnd 4 sunburst: 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Seven net rows: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall
- Two edging rounds: 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per side, for a finished 4 in x 2.25 in (10.2 cm x 5.7 cm) teardrop
- Bead, tassel and cord: about 10.25 in (26.0 cm) total length
If you check each stage as you go, the charm will hang straight and symmetrical. Happy crocheting!