Beautiful and Inspiring Irish Crochet Lace: 10 Free Patterns

Irish crochet lace dates back to the the 19th century famine in Ireland, where it was a way for women to make money. It used several weights of thread, and motifs were made separately, tacked to paper, and the spaces filled in with mesh. Specific patterns and designs were often closely guarded secrets, and the finished lace was highly valued! Today, Irish crochet lace has evolved and expanded a bit, but the mesh and the rose are still iconic facets of the art. And luckily, it’s no longer a secret! Here are 10 free Irish crochet lace patterns that you can make today!

10 Free Irish Crochet Lace Patterns

1. Irish Filigree Necklace by Annie Potter, on Talking Crochet Newsletter: Made with size 10 cotton thread, it’s breathtaking!
2. Irish Lace Scarf by Nicky Epstein, on Lion Brand Yarn: Made with 2 strands of worsted held together, this is Irish Lace writ large!
3. Irish Oranges Stole by Annette Petavy, on Crochet Me: An Irish lace stashbuster!
4. Irish Crochet Shawl by Lion Brand Yarn: Sparkling and light, great for special occasions year round!
5. Irish Rose Square Medallion by Sandi Marshall, on About.com: Can you imagine dozens of these as a coverlet! Amazing!
6. Temair Throw by Nicky Epstein, on Lion Brand Yarn: This piece takes skill – and makes a statement! Make sure you have room to lay out all the pieces when it’s time to sew them together.
7. Daisy and Rose Irish Lace Collar by Megan Mills, on Megan Mills’ Homepage: Crocheted collars have made a huge and unexpected comeback lately – this delicate pattern has been waiting!
8. Irish Rose Afghan Square by Ferosa Harold, on Ferosah Crochet Design Studio: The classic Irish rose on the classic granny square – two worlds collide! This gorgeous one was made by Ravelry member thornberry!
9. Irish Rose Snowflake by Marika Simon, on Marika’s Place: I make thread snowflakes every holiday season, and this is really lovely!
10. Irish Rose by Lesley Stanfield, on Lion Brand: If all these patterns overwhelm you, then it’s time to start simple and small – and this pretty crochet flower pattern, with both written and charted instructions, is a lovely place to start indeed!

The Irish crochet lace industry died out as fashions changed and machine-made lace took over. The original pieces that survive can be seen in museums and are considered quite rare and valuable. Nowadays we can make our own – and as you can see here, “delicate” is no longer a requirement! I hope you found something here to inspire you to give Irish crochet lace a try! UPDATE! Be sure to also check out Crochet Thread where you’ll find lots more Irish Lace inspiration, including a Tutorial!

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