Pineapple Stitch

Pineapple stitch is one of the most recognisable crochet laces, a motif in which a fan of stitches is topped by a spray of chain loops that step down and narrow, row by row, into the pointed shape of a pineapple. Each pineapple starts wide from a shell or cluster, then its chain loops are worked into and reduced on every round so the openwork tapers to a tip, while new pineapples begin from the fans between. It is worked from written instructions or a symbol chart rather than memorised, because the loop counts change as each pineapple grows and shrinks, which is why it sits at the advanced end. The reward is a classic, airy, heirloom lace that defines doilies, table runners, shawls, and pineapple-yoke tops. Use a smooth thread or yarn and a symbol chart, count the chain loops carefully at each step, and block firmly to open the lace and sharpen the points. It uses relatively little yarn for its coverage because so much of the fabric is open.