Free Crochet Heart Lace Stitch Pattern

Are you looking for a beautiful, romantic crochet stitch that’s easy to adapt into different projects? My crochet heart lace stitch pattern is perfect for making a stunning top-down increasing shawl or a handkerchief-style headband / headscarf! In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions to transform this stitch into a gorgeous lace shawl or a stylish headband, complete with a detailed chart and video tutorial.

What You’ll Learn in This Tutorial:

✔ How to crochet the heart lace stitch
✔ How to increase top-down to create a triangle shawl
✔ Step-by-step instructions + chart and video tutorial
✔ Row by row photo tutorial

Supplies Needed

For both projects, you’ll need:

Yarn: Choose a lightweight cotton or acrylic for the headband; use fingering, sport, or worsted weight for the shawl.
Hook Size: Use the recommended size for your yarn (I suggest 3.5mm–5mm).
Other Tools: Scissors, tapestry needle, and stitch markers.
Fiber Choices & Why:

Cotton: Ideal for the headband because it holds its shape, is breathable, and has minimal stretch.
Acrylic: A budget-friendly, lightweight option that provides softness and warmth. Great for both projects!
Wool or Wool Blends: Perfect for the shawl if you want extra warmth and a fabric that blocks beautifully to enhance the lace.
Bamboo or Silk: Adds a drapey, luxurious feel, making the shawl more elegant and flowy.

Learn more about yarn substitution here:

Yarn Substitutions Advice from Kristin Omdahl

How to Crochet the Heart Lace Stitch Even in Rows

The heart lace stitch is worked over a multiple of stitches and forms a delicate, openwork design. If you haven’t tried it before, start with a small swatch to get comfortable with the repeat.

Heart Lace Stitch Pattern (Flat Version for Swatching):

Crochet Heart Lace Stitch Pattern: Free Tutorial with Photos, Chart, and Video

Read step by step instructions with photo tutorial, watch the video tutorial and get the detailed chart HERE

Crochet Stitch Guide:

Chain (ch), double crochet (dc), 3dc-cluster (3dc-cl), 4dc-cluster (4dc-cl) and slip stitch (slst).

Beg Shell: Ch3 (counts as dc), (1dc, ch3, 2dc) in same ch3 sp.

Shell: (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in same ch3 sp.

Turning the Heart Stitch into a Top-Down Triangle Shawl

To create a triangle shawl, we need to adapt the stitch pattern to increase at the center spine and edges.

Triangle Shawl Pattern (Top-Down Construction)

1️⃣ Foundation: Start with a magic ring (or ch5 and slst to join).
2️⃣ Set up section: Two rows of double crochets to get the right stitch count to begin the heart lace stitch pattern.
3️⃣ Increase Pattern:

Begin working heart lace stitch, increasing at the center and at both edges every row.
Each 2-row repeat adds more heart motifs, creating a symmetrical triangle.
4️⃣ Continue: Repeat rows 15 – 16 until the shawl reaches your desired size.
5️⃣ Edging (Optional): Add a scalloped border or a simple picot edge for a delicate finish. Check out My Crochet Edgings Book for inspiration!

TIP: If using lightweight yarn, blocking will enhance the lace!

My Crochet Edgings Book is also available as an instant PDF download ebook here:

Crochet Power 2: Edgings eBook

Instructions:

Note: Refer to chart below to correspond with each row of instructions.

Ch5, slst to 5th ch from hook to form ring.

Row 1: Ch3 (counts as dc), 8dc in ring, turn. — 9 dcs

Row 2: Ch3 (counts as dc), 1dc in same st, 2dc in ea st across, turn. — 18 dcs

Row 3: Ch6 (counts as dc, ch3), skip next dc, 1dc in ea of next 7 dcs, ch3, 1dc in ea of next 7 dcs, ch3, skip 1 dc, dc in last dc, turn.

Row 4: Ch3 (counts as dc), (1dc, ch3, 2dc) in same ch3 sp, *ch3, skip 3 dcs, 3dc in next dc, ch3, skip 3 dcs, (2dc, ch3, 2dc) in next ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 5: Slst into first ch3 sp, ch3 (counts as dc), (1dc, ch3, 2dc) in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Note: (ch3, 1dc, ch3, 2dc) will be referred to as beg shell for remainder of project. (2dc, ch3, 2dc) will be referred to as shell for remainder of project.

Row 6: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 7: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 4dc-cl over next 4 dcs, ch5, 4dc-cl over last dc and next 3 dcs, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc I next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 8: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch5 sp, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 9: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *(ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 4dc-cl over next 4 dcs, ch5, 4dc-cl over last dc and next 3 dcs)x2, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 10: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, (ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch5 sp)x2, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 11: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *(ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 4dc-cl over next 4 dcs, ch5, 4dc-cl over last dc and next 3 dcs)x3, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 12: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, (ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch5 sp)x3, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 13: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *(ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 4dc-cl over next 4 dcs, ch5, 4dc-cl over last dc and next 3 dcs)x4, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 14: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, (ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch5 sp)x4, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 15: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *(ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 4dc-cl over next 4 dcs, ch5, 4dc-cl over last dc and next 3 dcs)x5, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Row 16: Slst into first ch3 sp, beg shell in same ch3 sp, *ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, (ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch5 sp)x5, ch3, 2dc in next dc, 1dc in ea of next 3 dcs, 2dc in next dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch3 sp, ch3, shell in next shell’s ch3 sp. Rep from * once more, turn.

Rep rows 15 – 16, increasing the bold number by one for each additional repeat.

How the Increases Work

For the triangle shawl, you will repeat the last two rows of the pattern, increasing the stitch count in a structured way. Each time you repeat the sequence, the number of motifs (hearts) grows symmetrically across the row.

First Repeat → The heart lace motif appears once (x1) in the row.
Second Repeat → The motifs increase to two (x2) across the row.
Third Repeat → The motifs expand to three (x3) across the row.
Fourth Repeat → The motifs continue increasing to four (x4), and so on.

This means that every new repeat adds one more motif per row, forming a steadily expanding triangular shape. The increases occur at both edges and the center spine, ensuring the triangle grows symmetrically.

Tip: Use stitch markers at the center spine to help track increases and keep the pattern aligned!

Turning the Heart Stitch into a Crochet Headband / Headscarf

For the crochet heart lace headband, we’ll work the same identical top down triangle shaping as the shawl but finish after many less rows for a much smaller triangle.

Chart for the Heart Lace Stitch

This crochet chart shows the stitch placement of the top down increasing manipulation of the stitch pattern. Follow along above with the step by step written instructions written out per row.

Video Tutorial: Watch & Crochet Along!

Watch the full step-by-step tutorial here: coming soon!

If you’re a visual learner, this video walks you through the heart lace stitch, increasing for the shawl and/or headband / headscarf.

Final Thoughts: Which Project Will You Make?

The heart lace stitch is so versatile and beautiful, making it perfect for both wearable accessories and elegant shawls. Whether you choose to crochet the romantic lace headband or the cozy triangle shawl, I’d love to see your creations!

✨ Tag me on Instagram (@KristinOmdahl) with #KristinOmdahl or #CreateShareInspire so I can feature your work!

Save This Pattern for Later: Pin it to your favorite Crochet Board on Pinterest!

More Free Patterns You’ll Love:

✔ Beginner-Friendly Lace Scarf Patterns
✔ One-Skein Crochet Shawl Patterns
✔ Stretchy Headbands Collection

Happy crocheting! Let’s Create, Share & Inspire together.

Kristin Omdahl patterns, books, handouts and videos are for your personal use only; additionally, up to 10 items can be made to sell from one design. Commercially produced products made from my instructions are prohibited. All Kristin Omdahl patterns, books, handouts and videos are licensed for single use and remain the intellectual property of Kristin Omdahl. This pattern may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise.

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Free Crochet Pattern, Free Pattern, Free Scarf Pattern, Free Shawl Pattern

Crochet Heart Lace Stitch | Free Triangle Shawl & Headband Pattern with Step-by-Step Tutorial

What You’ll Learn in This Tutorial:

Supplies Needed

How to Crochet the Heart Lace Stitch Even in Rows