Welcome, crocheters! Today, we’re diving into a project that’s both a delightful challenge and a rewarding experience. This pattern, which I’ve named the Starburst Bloom Doily, creates a beautiful piece that begins with a solid, textured core and expands into a stunning, lacy square with pointed, scalloped edges. It’s the kind of doily that looks incredibly intricate but is built on a series of repeating rounds that are easy to master once you get the hang of them.
This pattern uses US crochet terminology and is perfect for an intermediate crocheter. To get that crisp, detailed look, I highly recommend using a fine cotton yarn or crochet thread.
Materials
- Yarn: Fine or fingering weight cotton yarn or thread (approximately 75-100 yards).
- Hook: A crochet hook appropriate for your yarn weight (e.g., 1.5 mm to 2.25 mm).
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends.
- Stitch Markers (optional, but useful for marking the corners).
Special Stitches
- Beginning Popcorn (BPop): Ch 3 (counts as first dc), make 4 dc in the specified stitch. Remove hook from loop, insert hook into the top of the beginning ch-3, then insert hook back into the active loop. Yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
- Popcorn (Pop): Make 5 dc in the specified stitch. Remove hook from loop, insert hook into the top of the first dc of the 5-dc group, then insert hook back into the active loop. Yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
- Picot: Chain 3, slip stitch into the first chain.
- V-Stitch (V-st): (Dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch or space.
Part 1: The Starburst Center
We’ll start with a solid center and build out the points that form the starburst shape.
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Chain 3 (counts as a dc), then make 11 dc in the ring. Join with a slip stitch (sl st) to the top of the beginning ch-3. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch). Sc in the same stitch. Chain 2, skip the next dc, sc in the next dc. Repeat from * to * 5 more times. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-2 spaces)
Round 3: Slip stitch into the first ch-2 space. Chain 3. Make 2 dc in the same space. Chain 1. 3 dc in the next ch-2 space. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Chain 1, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (18 dc, 6 ch-1 spaces)
Round 4: Slip stitch into the next dc and into the next dc. BPop in the same stitch. Chain 2. Popcorn in the next ch-1 space. Chain 2. Popcorn in the center dc of the next 3-dc group. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Chain 2. Popcorn in the next ch-1 space. Chain 2, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning BPop. (12 popcorns, 12 ch-2 spaces)
Round 5: Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch). Sc in the top of the BPop. 3 sc in the next ch-2 space. Sc in the top of the next Popcorn. Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (48 sc)
Part 2: Forming the Square
This section will transition the piece from a circle to a square by creating the four corners.
Round 6: Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch). Sc in the same stitch. Chain 4, skip 3 sc, sc in the next sc. Repeat from * to * 11 times. Chain 4, skip the last 3 sc. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (12 ch-4 spaces)
Round 7: Slip stitch into the first ch-4 space. Chain 3. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same space (this is a corner). Chain 1, skip the next sc. In the next ch-4 space, make (dc, ch 1, dc) (this is a V-st). Chain 1, skip the next sc. In the next ch-4 space, make (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) (a corner). Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Chain 1, V-st in the next ch-4 space. Chain 1, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (4 corners, 4 V-sts)
Round 8: Slip stitch into the next dc and into the corner ch-2 space. Chain 3. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same space. Chain 1, V-st in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1. V-st in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next corner ch-2 space. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Chain 1, V-st in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1. V-st in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
Part 3: The Lacy Border
This section adds the final, delicate scallops and points to complete the doily.
Round 9: Slip stitch into the next dc and into the corner ch-2 space. Chain 3. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same space. Chain 1. Sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 3. Sc in the ch-1 space of the V-st. Chain 3. Sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next corner ch-2 space. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Chain 1, sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 3, sc in the ch-1 space of the V-st. Chain 3, sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
Round 10: Slip stitch into the next dc and into the corner ch-2 space. Chain 3. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same space. Chain 1. Sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 3. Sc in the next ch-3 space. Chain 3. Sc in the next ch-3 space. Chain 3. Sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next corner ch-2 space. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Chain 1, sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 3, sc in the next ch-3 space. Chain 3, sc in the next ch-3 space. Chain 3, sc in the next ch-1 space. Chain 1, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
Round 11: Slip stitch into the next dc and into the corner ch-2 space. Chain 3. (2 dc, Picot, 3 dc) in the same space. Chain 1. In each of the next 3 ch-3 spaces, make (sc, Picot, sc). Chain 1. (3 dc, Picot, 3 dc) in the next corner ch-2 space. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Chain 1. In each of the next 3 ch-3 spaces, make (sc, Picot, sc). Chain 1, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
Fasten off and weave in all ends securely.
Video Tutorial:
Finishing Your Doily: Blocking for Perfection
Once you’ve finished the last round and woven in your ends, your doily may look a little ruffled or uneven. This is completely normal and is easily fixed with blocking. This is a crucial step for any lacy crochet piece.
- Get it damp: Submerge your doily in cool water until it’s saturated. You can also use a spray bottle.
- Remove excess water: Gently squeeze the water out without wringing it. You can roll it in a clean towel to absorb more moisture.
- Shape and pin: Lay the damp doily on a foam blocking mat, a thick towel, or a cork board. Gently stretch and shape the doily to its final square shape. Use rust-proof pins to secure each point of the star and each scallop of the border, making sure they are all evenly spaced.
- Let it dry: Leave the doily pinned until it is completely dry. This could take a day or two.
- Unpin: Once totally dry, carefully remove the pins. You’ll have a perfectly flat, beautiful, and professional-looking finished piece.
Enjoy your beautiful doily! It’s a wonderful project that results in a piece you can be proud of for years to come.
