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Doily Crochet

I love doily crochet!  My grandmother made amazing, lovely doilies.  She crocheted many beautiful things, actually, but it was her doilies that started my love of crochet.  So, of course, doily crochet has a special place in my heart.  I think many people who think of crochet image their grandmother’s house as well, but, crochet has come a long way since then and so have doilies.

A doily was originally used to protect the surface of tables or sideboard buffets.  The lace doilies looked pretty while the open design allowed the wood underneath to still show through.

Nowadays doilies are sometimes used for the same purpose, but mostly they’re used for decoration.  Designs and patterns have become very intricate and, well, fantastic.  They come in endless designs from very simple to extraordinary.  Doilies also can be practically any shape you would want.  The most popular are probably round, rectangular or oval.

Doilies are usually worked with crochet thread instead of yarn and much smaller sized hooks are used.  They tend to be open and airy, resembling lace.  Many doilies need to be blocked and starched because of this.  It will help the finished project have and keep the desired shape.  Here’s a little more information on blocking.

Here are some gorgeous patterns for doilies at All Free Crochet.  

Pineapple Stitch

Many patterns are used to create a doily but the pineapple stitch is very popular to use.  True to crochet, there are many variations to the pineapple stitch, as well.  Its use is not limited to doilies either.  You’ll find it in shawls, dresses and even bags and hats.

Here’s a great site for ideas that use the pineapple stitch.  The Lavender Chair

Here’s a photo walk-through of a pineapple stitch motif.  It will give you an idea of how this stitch is worked.

Basic Pineapple Stitch Motif - Doily Crochet

I used Size 10 crochet thread and a 1.5mm (8) hook.


Row 1



Ch 4. (counts as 1st double crochet)

Work (1dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in the 4th chain from the hook.

Turn.


Row 2



Ch 4  (counts as 1st tr)

Work 12 tr in the chain-2 space. (13 trebles)

Turn.


Row 3




Ch 5. (counts as 1st tr and 1 chain)

Skip 1st tr,

Work 1 tr in next treble of the previous row.

Turn.



Work (ch 1, tr) in each tr across, ending with the last treble worked in the top of the ch-4.


Row 4



Work (ch 3, sc) in the 1st ch-1 space.

(ch 3, sc) in each ch-1 space across.  (12 chain-3 spaces).

Turn.


Row 5


Skip the 1st ch-3 space.

Work (ch 3, sc) in each ch-3 space across.  (11 chain-3 spaces)

Turn.


Row 6



Skip the 1st ch-3 space.

Work (ch 3, sc) in each ch-3 space across.  (10 chain-3 spaces)

Turn.


Rows 7-13


Repeat Row 6 until you have a row with only 1 chain-3 space in the row.  That’s 7 times in this motif.

Row 11

(You will have one less ch-3 space at the end of each row.)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

You'll need to block this motif so that it will hold it's shape.

You can see why this beautiful stitch is used so often in doilies.

Enjoy!

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