Free crochet pattern · intermediate · sport weight
Filet Heart Table Runner
A sport-weight cotton table runner worked flat in filet crochet featuring a repeating heart motif in block-and-space design. Finished with a delicate shell edging along both long sides.
Heirloom on a budget
Finished / weight
Approximately 14 in wide × 36 in long (blocked)
Gauge
24 sts × 12 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in filet mesh with E-4 (3.5 mm) hook
Yarn
Sport weight cotton, 500 yards; 100% cotton recommended for best starch results and crisp mesh definition
Needles / hooks
US E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook
Notions
Tapestry needle, blocking mats and pins, spray starch (optional), scissors
Abbreviations
ch = chaindc = double crochetsc = single crochetsl st = slip stitchsp = spacesk = skiprep = repeatRS = right sideWS = wrong sidest = stitchsts = stitchest-ch = turning chainopen sp = open filet square: dc in next dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc in next dcfilled sq = filled filet square: dc in next dc, dc in next 2 sts, dc in next dc (4 dc total for interior; 3 dc total when sharing a post)shell = 5 dc in same stitch or spacebeg = beginningapprox = approximately
Notes and Filet Chart Key
Note 1The foundation chain sets up 84 stitches of filet mesh. Each filet square = 3 sts wide (2 ch + 1 dc post shared with neighbor). The runner is 28 filet squares wide. RS (odd-numbered) rows are read right-to-left; WS (even-numbered) rows are read left-to-right.
Note 2Open square (open sp): dc in next dc, ch 2, sk 2 sts or ch-2 sp, dc in next dc. Filled square (filled sq): dc in next dc, dc in each of next 2 sts or ch, dc in next dc (posts shared with adjacent squares). The turning chain 3 at the beginning of each row counts as the first dc of the first square.
Note 3Heart motif is 13 squares wide × 10 rows tall. The runner contains 2 full heart repeats centered on the runner, separated by 4 squares of open mesh, with 4 squares of open mesh at each short end and a 2-square open border on each long side.
Heart Chart — Row A (bottom of heart, RS)Squares 1–2: open sp; Squares 3–4: filled sq; Squares 5–6: open sp; Squares 7–8: filled sq; Squares 9–10: open sp; Squares 11–12: filled sq; Square 13: open sp. (This row defines the bottom two 'bumps' of the heart. Use this chart row for filet rows marked 'Heart Row A'.)
Heart Chart — Row B (WS)Squares 1–2: open sp; Square 3: filled sq; Squares 4–5: open sp; Square 6: filled sq; Squares 7–8: open sp; Square 9: filled sq; Squares 10–11: open sp; Square 12: filled sq; Square 13: open sp.
Heart Chart — Row C (RS)Square 1: open sp; Squares 2–4: filled sq; Squares 5–6: open sp; Squares 7–8: open sp; Squares 9–11: filled sq; Square 12: open sp; Square 13: open sp. (Begins closing arches of bumps.)
Heart Chart — Row D (WS)Square 1: open sp; Squares 2–5: filled sq; Squares 6–8: open sp; Squares 9–12: filled sq; Square 13: open sp. (Arches filled, center open.)
Heart Chart — Row E (RS)Square 1: open sp; Squares 2–6: filled sq; Squares 7: open sp; Squares 8–12: filled sq; Square 13: open sp. (Two arches now fully joined except center.)
Heart Chart — Row F (WS)Squares 1–2: open sp; Squares 3–11: filled sq; Squares 12–13: open sp. (Heart body fully filled across.)
Heart Chart — Row G (RS)Squares 1–3: open sp; Squares 4–10: filled sq; Squares 11–13: open sp. (Heart narrows toward point.)
Heart Chart — Row H (WS)Squares 1–4: open sp; Squares 5–9: filled sq; Squares 10–13: open sp.
Heart Chart — Row I (RS)Squares 1–5: open sp; Squares 6–8: filled sq; Squares 9–13: open sp.
Heart Chart — Row J (WS, tip of heart)Squares 1–6: open sp; Square 7: filled sq; Squares 8–13: open sp. (Single filled square at tip completes the heart.)
Foundation Chain
FoundationCh 87. (The ch-87 yields 28 filet squares: 3 ch per square × 28 = 84 ch, plus 3 for the turning ch of Row 1 = 87 ch.)87 sts
Border — Top Open Mesh (Rows 1–4)
Row 1 (RS)Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in 4th ch from hook counts as first filled sq base; work across in all open sp: *ch 2, sk 2 ch, dc in next ch; rep from * across to end. (28 open squares across.) Turn.85 sts
Rows 2–4Ch 3, turn. *Ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in next dc; rep from * across, ending with dc in top of t-ch. (28 open squares.) Turn.(3 rows)
First Heart Motif — Rows 5–14
Row 5 (RS) — Heart Row A, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp (squares 1–7 of border and left buffer); then work Heart Row A over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, filled sq (dc in next dc, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, dc in next dc), filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp (right buffer and border). (28 squares total.) Turn.
Row 6 (WS) — Heart Row B, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row B over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 7 (RS) — Heart Row C, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row C over next 13 squares: [open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 8 (WS) — Heart Row D, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row D over next 13 squares: [open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 9 (RS) — Heart Row E, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row E over next 13 squares: [open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 10 (WS) — Heart Row F, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row F over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 11 (RS) — Heart Row G, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row G over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 12 (WS) — Heart Row H, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row H over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 13 (RS) — Heart Row I, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row I over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 14 (WS) — Heart Row J, Pass 1Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row J over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Center Open Mesh Separator (Rows 15–18)
Rows 15–18Ch 3, turn. *Ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in next dc; rep from * across, ending with dc in top of t-ch. (28 open squares.) Turn.(4 rows)
Second Heart Motif — Rows 19–28
Row 19 (RS) — Heart Row A, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row A over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 20 (WS) — Heart Row B, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row B over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 21 (RS) — Heart Row C, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row C over next 13 squares: [open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 22 (WS) — Heart Row D, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row D over next 13 squares: [open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 23 (RS) — Heart Row E, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row E over next 13 squares: [open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 24 (WS) — Heart Row F, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row F over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 25 (RS) — Heart Row G, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row G over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 26 (WS) — Heart Row H, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row H over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 27 (RS) — Heart Row I, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row I over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, filled sq, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Row 28 (WS) — Heart Row J, Pass 2Ch 3, turn. Work 7 open sp; then work Heart Row J over next 13 squares: [open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, filled sq, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp, open sp]; then work 8 open sp. (28 squares.) Turn.
Border — Bottom Open Mesh (Rows 29–32)
Row 29 (RS)Ch 3, turn. *Ch 2, sk ch-2 sp or sp, dc in next dc; rep from * across, ending with dc in top of t-ch. (28 open squares.) Turn.
Rows 30–31Ch 3, turn. *Ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in next dc; rep from * across, ending with dc in top of t-ch. (28 open squares.) Turn.(2 rows)
Row 32 (WS)Ch 3, turn. *Ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in next dc; rep from * across, ending with dc in top of t-ch. (28 open squares.) Do NOT turn. Fasten off. Body of runner is complete.
Shell Edging — First Long Side
Edging Row 1 — Setup (RS, Long Side)With RS facing, join yarn with sl st in the top-right corner dc (top of t-ch of Row 32). Ch 1. Work sc evenly along the long side (row ends): work 1 sc in each dc post at end of each filet row, placing sc in the side post of each dc or t-ch edge. Work approximately 3 sc per 2 rows across 32 rows = approx 48 sc along the long edge. Do not fasten off. Turn.48 sts
Edging Row 2 — Shell Row (WS, Long Side)Ch 1, turn. Sc in first sc. *Sk 2 sc, shell (5 dc) in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across long edge, adjusting final repeat as needed to end with sc in last sc. (8 shells along long side.) Fasten off.
Shell Edging — Second Long Side
Edging Row 1 — Setup (RS, Second Long Side)With RS facing, join yarn with sl st in bottom-left corner dc (foundation ch edge, left side). Ch 1. Work sc evenly along the second long side row ends: 1 sc in each dc post or t-ch post, working approximately 48 sc across 32 rows. Do not fasten off. Turn.48 sts
Edging Row 2 — Shell Row (WS, Second Long Side)Ch 1, turn. Sc in first sc. *Sk 2 sc, shell (5 dc) in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with sc in last sc. (8 shells.) Fasten off.
Shell Edging — Short Ends
Short End 1 — Setup (RS, top of runner)With RS facing, join yarn with sl st in the first dc of Row 32 (right edge). Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each dc and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp across the top edge of Row 32: [1 sc in first dc, (2 sc in ch-2 sp, 1 sc in next dc) × 28 squares] = 1 + (3 × 28) = 85 sc. Do not fasten off. Turn.85 sts
Short End 1 — Shell Row (WS, top)Ch 1, turn. Sc in first sc. *Sk 2 sc, shell (5 dc) in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with sc in last sc. (14 shells.) Fasten off.
Short End 2 — Setup (RS, foundation edge)With RS facing, join yarn with sl st in the first ch of the foundation chain (right edge of the cast-on end). Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each dc and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp across the foundation chain edge: [1 sc in first st, (2 sc in ch-2 sp, 1 sc in next dc) × 28 squares] = 85 sc. Do not fasten off. Turn.85 sts
Short End 2 — Shell Row (WS, foundation edge)Ch 1, turn. Sc in first sc. *Sk 2 sc, shell (5 dc) in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * across, ending with sc in last sc. (14 shells.) Fasten off.
Finishing
Weave in all ends securely with a tapestry needle, taking care to bury ends along dc posts for invisibility. Wet-block the runner by soaking in cool water for 10–15 minutes, gently squeezing out excess water, then pinning to blocking mats to finished measurements (14 in × 36 in). Allow to dry completely. For crisp, defined mesh, lightly spray with fabric starch while still slightly damp and allow to dry fully before removing pins. Join shell edging corners with sl st if desired for a polished finish.
Notes
Read filet chart rows right-to-left on RS (odd) rows and left-to-right on WS (even) rows. Filled squares are worked by placing dc stitches into the ch-2 space of the previous row rather than skipping them. When working a filled square following an open square, dc in the dc post, then dc in each of the 2 ch, then dc in the next dc post (posts are shared). Adjust the number of separator rows (Rows 15–18) to lengthen the runner: each 2 rows of filet mesh adds approximately 2/3 in to the total length. For a shorter runner with one heart, omit the second heart section entirely and replace Rows 15–28 with 4 open mesh separator rows before the bottom border.
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Start tracking this pattern →AI-drafted, human-run · this version drafted Oct 2, 2026. Always swatch and verify stitch counts before casting on.