Throughout the years I’ve taught crochet , there have been many projects where a cord is required (e.g. the mesh soap bag). There are many options for making cords and having tried various methods, I’ve found that the Crochet Lucet Cord or Four Sided Chain is my favourite option for the following reasons:
- You don’t need any special equipment – yes, you can make a lucet cord without a lucet!
- You can use the hook you’re already using for your project.
- The technique is easy to memorise.
- Once you get a rhythm going, the cord works up pretty quickly.
- It makes a firm and thick cord.
- The finished cord is flexible yet strong.
- It’s very attractive – it looks like a four sided chain.
Materials
- Yarn – thicker is better for a good effect. I’m using a DK weight yarn doubled up (Paintbox Cotton DK in Melon Sorbet).
- A crochet hook – in this example I’m using a 3.5mm hook (Clover Amour). Use a slightly smaller hook than you’d normally use for the yarn thickness otherwise the stitches in the cord can end up being too slack.
How much yarn will I need for my cord?
You’ll need about 9 x the finished length of your cord.
E.g. desired cord is 30cm /12 inches long, so I’ll need 2.7 m / 3 yards of yarn or 2 x 2.7 m / 3 yards if you’re doubling up.
Crochet Instructions
- Wind off a separate ball of yarn from your main skein to make a double thickness thread – tie the ends together to keep them together to start with.
- With the tail end to the left, lay the yarn on a flat surface in an “arc” shape (fig. 1).
- Fold over the top of the arc (fig. 2) , to make 2 “loops”.
- Insert the hook into the right loop, from above, then, coming from underneath, bring the hook up through the left loop (fig. 3) .
- Pull the loops tight on the hook (fig. 4).
- Rearrange the yarn – move the working end of the yarn over the left and hold the tail end as if to make a chain (fig. 5).
- Yarn over and pull a loop through the first loop on the hook, i.e. ch1 with the left loop (fig. 5).
- Carefully remove this loop from the hook (fig. 7).
- Pinch this loop between your thumb and middle finger (or forefinger if you use your middle finger to feed the yarn) to stop it coming undone when you work the next stitch (fig. 8).
- Ch1 with the right loop (fig. 9).
- Replace the left loop on the hook (fig. 10)…
- …and ch1 with the left loop (fig. 11).
- Continue in this way, i.e. drop & hold left loop, ch1 right loop, replace left loop; ch1 left loop…until the cord measures desired length (fig. 12).
- To finish off, after a ch1 left loop, yarn over and pull the yarn through both the left and right loops (fig. 13).
- Cut the yarn, yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook and all the way out. Pull tight (fig. 14).
- Tie a tight knot in each end and trim, or as in this example, you could also add a bead at each end for a decorative effect (fig. 15).
TIP : To even out the cord, roll it between your fingers and pull it gently all along is length. This makes a big difference to the look of the cord – making it firmer and smoother.
You can also find a video of this technique on my YouTube channel:
Disclosure
I sometimes use affiliate links to my favourite yarns, hooks and other craft materials.
