CROCHET FAVORITES

A graphic moth motif built from solid and hollow filet blocks.

Publishing & SEO

About the Midnight Moth Filet Shawlette

Midnight uses one of the simplest ideas in filet crochet — solid blocks versus hollow blocks — to create a surprisingly detailed moth. The motif grows symmetrically from the center, so the most important habit is to check both sides of every row before moving on.

How the filet grid works

The first block of every row is ch 5, dc in the first st. The last block is ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch. Each interior block represents 2 stitches.

Hollow over hollow: Ch 1, skip the chain space, dc in next dc.

Solid over hollow: Dc in next chain space, dc in next dc.

Solid over solid: Dc in next 2 dc.

Hollow over solid: Ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc.

Full moth filet chart

Read from Row 1 at the bottom upward. X = solid block. O = hollow block. The pale outside area is not crocheted.

Written pattern – Rows 1–36

Row 1. Ch 5 (counts as a dc and ch 2 here and throughout), dc in the 5th ch from the hook; turn.

Row 2. Ch 5, dc in the first st, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch; turn.

Row 3. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch; turn.

Row 4. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 4, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 5. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts) x 3, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 6. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts) x 3, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts), 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Visual progress reference through Row 6.

Row 7. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts), 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 8. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 3, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 9. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 4, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 3, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 10. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 6, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 5, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 11.

Row 12.

Visual progress reference through Row 12.

Row 13.

Row 14.

Row 15.

Row 16. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 17. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 7, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 18. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 7, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Visual progress reference through Row 18.

Row 19. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 20. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 10, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 21. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 7, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 22. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 13, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 7, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 23. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 7, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 24. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Visual progress reference through Row 24.

Row 25. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 3, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 26. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 6, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts) x 3, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 4, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 6, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 27. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 5, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 28. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 5, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 29. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 8, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 30. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 10, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 8, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 7, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 9, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Visual progress reference through Row 30.

Row 31. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 12, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 14, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts) x 2, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 14, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 11, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 32. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 14, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 10, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 4, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 4, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 10, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 13, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 33. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 17, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 6, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts), (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 3, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 6, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 5, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 16, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Visual progress reference through Row 33.

Row 34. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 29, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 3, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) x 2, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 28, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 35. Ch 5, dc in the first st, (dc in the next 2 sts) x 30, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts) x 5, (Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st), (dc in the next 2 sts) x 29, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Row 36. Ch 5, dc in the first st and in each st across, 2 dc in the ch-5 sp, ch 1, dc in the 3rd ch, turn.

Visual reference for Rows 34–36.

Extend to your preferred size

Repeat Row 36 until the shawlette reaches the size you want or until you are close to the end of your yarn. The sample finished at 43 rows including the finishing row.

Finishing row: Ch 5, dc in the first st, (ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st) repeat across, ch 2, dc in the 3rd ch. Fasten off.

Filet shorthand

O = hollow block. X = solid block. A number after a symbol means repeat that block.

Row	Blocks
1	O
2	O, X, O
3	O, X3, O
4	O, X5, O
5	O, X, O, X3, O, X, O
6	O, X2, O, X3, O, X2, O
7	O, X2, O3, X, O3, X2, O
8	O, X3, O3, X, O3, X3, O
9	O, X4, O3, X, O3, X4, O
10	O, X6, O2, X, O2, X6, O
11	O, X8, O, X, O, X8, O
12	O, X9, O, X, O, X9, O
13	O, X10, O, X, O, X10, O
14	O, X11, O, X, O, X11, O
15	O, X10, O3, X, O3, X10, O
16	O, X9, O5, X, O5, X9, O
17	O, X8, O7, X, O7, X8, O
18	O, X8, O8, X, O8, X8, O
19	O, X9, O4, X2, O2, X, O2, X2, O4, X9, O
20	O, X10, O4, X, O3, X, O3, X, O4, X10, O
21	O, X8, O2, X, O8, X, O8, X, O2, X8, O
22	O, X8, O4, X2, O13, X2, O4, X8, O
23	O, X8, O7, X, O5, X, O5, X, O7, X8, O
24	O, X9, O2, X2, O4, X, O4, X, O4, X, O4, X2, O2, X9, O
25	O, X9, O4, X2, O4, X, O2, X3, O2, X, O4, X2, O4, X9, O
26	O, X9, O6, X2, O4, X, O, X3, O, X, O4, X2, O6, X9, O
27	O, X9, O7, X2, O5, X5, O5, X2, O7, X9, O
28	O, X9, O8, X2, O5, X5, O5, X2, O8, X9, O
29	O, X9, O8, X2, O8, X, O8, X2, O8, X9, O
30	O, X10, O7, X2, O8, X, O, X, O8, X2, O7, X10, O
31	O, X12, O14, X2, O, X, O, X2, O14, X12, O
32	O, X14, O10, X4, O2, X, O2, X4, O10, X14, O
33	O, X17, O5, X6, O3, X, O3, X6, O5, X17, O
34	O, X29, O2, X3, O2, X29, O
35	O, X30, O, X5, O, X30, O
36	O, X69, O

Blocking the moth motif

Block the shawlette so the filet cells become square rather than rectangular. Work from the center outward and compare both wings of the moth as you pin. The motif reads most clearly when the grid is even.

Troubleshooting

The moth looks distorted: Count filet blocks and confirm symmetry around the center.

The filet cells are too dense: Use a slightly larger hook if the fabric is stiff.

One side is wider than the other: Stop and compare the current row with the chart before adding another row.

The motif is hard to see: Blocking usually improves contrast dramatically. A solid or lightly tonal yarn will also show the moth more clearly than a highly variegated yarn.

Color ideas

Nocturne: black, charcoal, deep plum and smoke gray.

Luna: pale sage, ivory and muted silver for a softer moth.

Ember Wing: rust, aubergine, warm brown and faded gold.

FAQ

Do I have to read a chart?

No. This post includes the full written rows and a compact shorthand version as well as the chart.

Can I make the shawlette larger?

Yes. After Row 36, continue solid rows to add depth, then work the alternating hollow-block finishing row when the proportions suit you.

What yarn shows the moth best?

Solid or lightly tonal yarn generally gives the clearest contrast between solid and hollow blocks.

Is this beginner-friendly?

If you already know double crochet, chains and skipping stitches, the technique itself is straightforward. The challenge is careful counting and maintaining symmetry.