Crochet Midnight Fan Lace Collar – Free Pattern

This crochet lace collar pattern brings a practical handmade detail to Halloween. Adult open-front black DK cotton crescent collar: narrow sc neckline, four evenly expanded hdc rows and twenty violet five-dc edge fans; short flat ties, no beads. The instructions below describe the construction in US crochet terms. Choose yarn for the fabric structure rather than color alone, and compare each checkpoint with your own swatch before continuing.

An open-front black neckline grows into a shallow crescent through four evenly increased half-double-crochet rows. Violet five-double-crochet fans finish the outside edge. Two short flat black ties meet at the front. This is an adult decorative collar for a plain blouse, not a scarf or a child costume tie.

Pattern Details

• Hook Size: 3.5 mm starting point; adjust for draping fabric
• Finished Size: Planning inner edge 14.4 inches plus an adjustable front gap; body approximately 2.2 inches deep including fans; each tie about 4 inches
• Gauge: Target 20 sc = 4 inches across neckline; 20 hdc and approximately 11 hdc rows = 4 inches for expanded body; 28 sc rows = 4 inches for ties
• Estimated Time: 3-5 hours
• Construction: 72-sc neckline, four rows with 12 increases each to 120, twenty edge fans and two flat ties
• Skill level: Intermediate

Why You’ll Love This Project

The decoration is part of a useful, deliberately shaped project rather than a generic motif added to an unrelated pattern. Separate construction stages make counting manageable, while the limited palette keeps the silhouette readable. You can pause between components and check the measurements before committing to final assembly.

Materials

• Planning allowance: 130 yards soft black DK cotton, 40 yards violet matching cotton, plus washed swatch allowance
• 3.5 mm hook, twelve removable markers, yarn needle, scissors and flexible measuring tape

Gauge, Measurements, and Planning

Work a 26-stitch swatch with a sc first row and at least twelve hdc rows, then wash and dry. The black collar needs a flexible drape rather than stiff toy fabric. At five stitches per inch the 72-sc neckline is 14.4 inches; a loose 2-inch front gap makes an approximately 16.4-inch wearing neckline. Measure where the collar will sit over clothing, not tightly around the throat. Choose a comfortable total circumference with at least one inch of ease, then subtract the desired 2-3-inch gap. For a custom version select a neckline count N divisible by twelve near five times that band length, and check it against the person before expanding. Body counts are N, N+12, N+24, N+36, N+48; the final number is divisible by six for fans. A front gap outside 1-3 inches means you should adjust N or gauge, not pull the ties tight. All sizes are planning targets requiring your own fit check.

Make and wash a gauge swatch before beginning. Measure only after the swatch is completely dry. If the stitch width differs, change hook size rather than pulling the working yarn tighter. Keep a written count at the end of every section so the finished edges remain balanced and the assembly points line up.

Abbreviations and Special Stitches

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd: round
• BLO: back loop only
• inc: 2 stitches in one stitch
• sc2tog: single crochet two stitches together
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• sp: space

Special stitch guidance: For hdc, yarn over, insert in stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through three loops. An hdc increase puts two hdc in one old stitch. Fan repeat consumes six old stitches: sc in next, skip next two, 5 dc in next, skip next two. The five dc all share one anchor. Beginning ch 1 or 2 never counts. Turn between every flat body row; there is no joining round.

Important Notes

• Pattern development note: stitch arithmetic and written construction have been reviewed computationally; this design has not been physically sample-tested. Gauge, yardage and finished measurements are planning targets, not a tested guarantee. Swatch and check fit before making a gift.
• Beginning ch 1 or ch 2 and joining slip stitches never count as stitches. Mark the first counted stitch of each round and move the marker after completing the round.
• On flat rows, turn after each row and work the first stitch into the last stitch of the previous row. On joined rounds, join to the first counted stitch and do not turn unless specifically instructed.
• Change color on the final yarn-over of the stitch before the new color is needed. Leave a 6-inch tail and weave it back and forth through same-color stitches after construction.
• Use the written stitch counts for structure and your washed gauge for dimensions. Do not silently add shaping increases to correct a measurement; make a fresh swatch with a different hook first.
• Images are AI-generated design illustrations, not stitch charts or photographs of a physically tested sample. Follow the written counts and your measured gauge.

Complete Instructions for Crochet Midnight Fan Lace Collar

Expand the Open Crescent

1. With black, ch 73. Row 1: sc in second chain and all remaining chains. (72 sts) Ch 2 and turn. Divide the row into twelve consecutive six-stitch segments, marking the final stitch of each segment.
2. Row 2: [hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next] twelve times. (84 sts) Each repeat uses 6 old stitches and produces 7. Remove old markers as you reach them and mark each new repeat end. Ch 2 and turn.
3. Row 3: [hdc in next 6, 2 hdc in next] twelve times. (96 sts) Each repeat uses 7 old stitches and produces 8. Remove old markers as you reach them and mark each new repeat end. Ch 2 and turn.
4. Row 4: [hdc in next 7, 2 hdc in next] twelve times. (108 sts) Each repeat uses 8 old stitches and produces 9. Remove old markers as you reach them and mark each new repeat end. Ch 2 and turn.
5. Row 5: [hdc in next 8, 2 hdc in next] twelve times. (120 sts) Each repeat uses 9 old stitches and produces 10. Remove old markers as you reach them and mark each new repeat end. Fasten off black after counting.
6. After Row 5, lay the body around the intended neckline shape. The inside edge must stay relaxed; the outer edge is deliberately much longer. Gently damp-block before continuing if the rows curl. Mild waves relax with drape, but deep ruffles or a cupped neck indicate a gauge mismatch: recheck hdc height and width before making the border.
7. For custom N, divide the previous row count by twelve for the old segment size. In each segment hdc in all but its last stitch, then 2 hdc in that last stitch. Four rows still add 48 stitches total. Write each count down and count the neckline before adding any tie.

Work the Twenty Violet Fans

1. Turn the piece once after Row 5. Attach violet at the first stitch of the outer edge. Ch 1. Border Row 6: [sc in next stitch, skip next two stitches, 5 dc in next stitch, skip next two stitches] twenty times. (120 sts) There are 20 sc and 100 dc; no extra sc at the very end.
2. The last fan is anchored three stitches before the last old stitch, and the final two old stitches are deliberately skipped. Fasten off with a 6-inch tail after those skips. This keeps every repeat identical; do not add an extra shell to fill the short endpoint gap.
3. For a custom neckline N, work (N+48)/6 repeats. The edge produces the same stitch total as the old row, but compresses five dc into each fan anchor to create a scalloped outline. Do not work into a skipped stitch on a second pass.
4. Check all fan groups from one front end to the other: each must have exactly five dc with a single sc between neighboring groups. The row has twenty fans for the standard size, not twenty-one. Weave violet tails under several fan bases and reverse direction; keep tails clear of the open scallop gaps.

Make Two Short Flat Ties

1. With black ch 4. Tie Row 1: sc in second chain and next two chains. (3 sts) Rows 2-28: ch 1, turn and sc in every stitch. (3 sts) Fasten off with a 12-inch sewing tail. Make a second identical tie.
2. Wash and dry both ties and check each is close to four inches long at seven rows per inch. Add or remove complete rows if they are different lengths. The narrow flat strips should bend without curling into stiff cords. Do not add beads, tassels or metal ends.
3. Place one tie short edge against one front endpoint of the original neckline row, pointing straight out from the band rather than down into the fans. Overlap only its last two rows on the wrong side of the black collar. Sew all three columns across both overlapped rows twice.
4. Repeat at the opposite front endpoint, with the tie on the same side of the fabric. Leave the remaining tie lengths free. Pull gently at each attachment independently; the stitches should hold without gathering the neckline into a knot.

Block, Fit and Care for the Collar

1. Soak briefly according to the cotton label, press moisture out in a towel without wringing, and arrange on a flat mat as an open crescent. Lay the neckline along its natural curve; do not stretch it to a different size. Spread each violet fan gently with fingertips. If pins are used, count and remove every pin after drying.
2. Place over the adult wearer’s clothing with the tie ends at the front. Maintain a comfortable gap and tie a loose small bow. It should be easy to slide two fingers under the black neckline without pressing against the throat. Untie at once if it pulls, restricts movement or feels tight.
3. If the band is too short, remake with a larger multiple of twelve or choose a different washed gauge; longer ties alone do not fix an undersized curved band. If it is too long, decrease the starting multiple or make a new smaller-gauge sample. Keep all four increase rows and the six-position fan repeat intact.
4. This is decorative adult neckwear only. Remove for sleep, exercise, machinery or any snagging activity; keep ties out of the reach of young children. Do not offer this construction in baby sizing. It is not protective clothing, flame-resistant material or a restraint.
5. Untie before laundering and wash flat in a mesh bag or by hand as the yarn label allows. Reshape all fans, dry completely and inspect both tie seams before wearing again. Store flat so the neckline does not stretch under its own weight. Keep a note of your actual neckline and row gauge for future copies.

Assembly and Shaping

Block the open crescent with both front ends separated and without stretching the neckline. Stitch one three-sc-wide tie to each front endpoint at the neckline edge. Tie with a small loose bow over clothing, keeping the neckline gap; this must never become a constricting choker.

Lay every component on a flat surface before joining. Match the marked centers first, then divide each remaining edge into equal sections. Work through both layers with consistent tension and pause after each section to check that the fabric lies flat. This measured approach prevents twisting and keeps decorative details facing the intended direction.

Finishing

1. Fasten off with a 6-inch tail; weave through three separate groups of stitches, changing direction twice.
2. Damp-block gently according to the fiber label, check the intended shape, and dry fully before assembly or use.
3. Inspect both sides, all joins, and every decorative attachment; resecure a loose stitch before gifting.
4. Include the fiber content and washing instructions with the finished item. Keep the item away from candles and other heat sources.

For a polished result, weave each tail through several same-color stitches, reverse direction once, and trim only after the fabric has been gently stretched. Block to the listed dimensions without flattening textured stitches. Inspect joins, borders, straps, and decorative pieces before the project is used or gifted.

Helpful Tips

• Count in small marked sections instead of counting an entire dark-colored edge repeatedly.
• Use a pale working surface behind black yarn so both loops of the stitch remain visible.
• Keep a row tally and record your swatch measurements beside the size you selected.
• If shaping ripples or pulls, stop at that checkpoint and compare counts and gauge before progressing.

Good lighting and a contrasting stitch marker make counting much easier. If a section looks uneven, compare the current count with the previous checkpoint before continuing. Fixing one missed stitch early is faster than compensating later, and it preserves the measurements used by the assembly instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the colors?

Yes. Keep the yarn weight and fiber behavior consistent and use enough contrast for the decorative detail. Make a washed swatch with every major yarn substitution.

Is this pattern physically tested?

No physical sample test is claimed. The stitch counts are computationally checked and the written construction is reviewed. Make a gauge swatch, use the measurement checkpoints, and test fit or assembly before gifting.

Can a beginner make this?

This is an intermediate project because shaping and assembly require careful counting. Practise the named special stitches in a small swatch before working the main piece.

Conclusion

Keep the completed measurements and your yarn details with your pattern notes. The finished piece should match the described construction before it is styled or gifted. If a checkpoint does not match, correct the underlying count or gauge instead of concealing the difference during finishing.

BabyYarnie Printable Crochet Pattern Card

BabyYarnie — easy-to-follow crochet for everyday makers.

Project: Crochet Midnight Fan Lace Collar

Skill level: Intermediate   Hook: 3.5 mm starting point; adjust for draping fabric   Yarn: DK cotton

Finished size: Planning inner edge 14.4 inches plus an adjustable front gap; body approximately 2.2 inches deep including fans; each tie about 4 inches

Card Materials

• Planning allowance: 130 yards soft black DK cotton, 40 yards violet matching cotton, plus washed swatch allowance
• 3.5 mm hook, twelve removable markers, yarn needle, scissors and flexible measuring tape

Card Instructions

1. Expand the Open Crescent: Neckline 72; four hdc increase rows give 84, 96, 108 and 120.
2. Work the Twenty Violet Fans: Twenty six-position repeats: sc, skip 2, 5 dc, skip 2.
3. Make Two Short Flat Ties: Two three-sc-wide ties, 28 rows each, sewn at the open neckline ends.
4. Block, Fit and Care for the Collar: Block without forcing dimensions, fit loosely over clothing, inspect tie seams and remove during snagging activities.

Finish: Check every count, weave in all ends, block to measurement, and inspect each join.