🌟 Introduction
Unleash your inner lacemaker with the Heirloom Starflower Doily! This captivating design features a distinct six-petal flower center that expands into a gorgeous mosaic of mesh and fan stitches, culminating in a scalloped, six-pointed border. It’s a wonderful project for working with fine thread, creating a truly elegant piece perfect for a side table, a cherished gift, or an addition to a larger tablecloth.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Requires precision with chain spaces and shaping)
Finished Size (approximate): 11 inches (28 cm) from point to point, when using thread.
🧵 Materials & Gauge
✨ Materials Needed
- Yarn/Thread: Approximately 120-170 yards of Size 10 Cotton Thread (Lace Weight/Fingering). Using cotton thread is essential for achieving the delicate, crisp definition and maintaining the shape of the lace. (The sample is a clean white.)
- Hook: Steel Crochet Hook Size 7 (1.65 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge. (Consult your thread label for the recommended size.)
- Notions: Small sharp scissors, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and T-pins for blocking.
📏 Gauge (Crucial for Sizing!)
- Rounds 1-4 (Center) should measure approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
- Crucial Check: Your work must lie perfectly flat at the end of each section. If it cups, increase your hook size; if it ruffles, reduce your hook size.
💡 Special Stitches & Abbreviations
📝 Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning | | Abbreviation | Meaning | | :—: | :— | :—: | :— | | ch | chain | | st(s) | stitch(es) | | sl st | slip stitch | | rep | repeat | | sc | single crochet| | dc | double crochet | | tr | treble crochet| | ch-sp | chain space | | MR | Magic Ring | | sk | skip | | Fan | Fan Stitch | | Picot | Picot stitch |
⭐ Special Stitches (Written Instructions)
- Picot: Ch 3, sl st back into the first chain.
- Fan: Work (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) all into the indicated stitch or space.
🌸 The Pattern: Heirloom Starflower Doily
Note: The pattern is worked in joined rounds. The ch-3 at the beginning of DC rounds counts as the first dc. The pattern features 6 repeating sections.
Part 1: The Central Flower
Foundation: Start with a Magic Ring (MR).
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 17 dc into MR. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (18 dc)
Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1). Dc in the same st (V-st start). Ch 1, sk 2 sts. V-st in the next st (dc, ch 1, dc). Ch 1, sk 2 sts. Rep from * 5 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the starting ch-4 to join. (6 V-sts, 6 ch-1 sps, 6 ch-2 sps)
Round 3 (First Petal Row): Sl st into the ch-1 sp of the V-st. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same ch-1 sp. Ch 3, sk ch-2 sp. 3 dc in the ch-1 sp of the next V-st. Ch 3, sk ch-2 sp. Rep from * 5 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (6 3-dc groups, 6 ch-3 sps)
Round 4 (Second Petal Row): Ch 3, dc in the next 2 dc. [Arch] Ch 4, sk ch-3 sp. Dc in the next 3 dc. Ch 4, sk ch-3 sp. Rep from * 5 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (18 dc, 6 ch-4 sps)
Part 2: Mesh and Fan Expansion
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Ch 3, sk 1 dc, sc in the next dc. Rep from * around. You should have 3 sc/ch-3 arches over the 3-dc group from Rnd 4. Continue over the ch-4 sp: Ch 5, sc in the center dc of the next 3-dc group. Rep from * around. Sl st to the first sc to join. (18 ch-3 sps, 6 ch-5 sps)
Round 6 (Fan Setup): Sl st into the first ch-3 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp (Shell). Ch 1, sk sc, 3 dc in the next ch-3 sp (Shell). Ch 1. Dc in the next ch-5 sp, ch 1. Rep from * 5 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (12 Shells, 12 ch-1 sps, 6 dc in ch-5 sps)
Round 7 (Mesh Frame): Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Ch 3, sk 1 dc, sc in the next dc (the center of the Shell). Ch 3, sk 1 dc, sc in the next dc. Ch 2, sc in the dc in the ch-5 sp. Rep from * 5 more times. Sl st to the first sc to join. (18 ch-3 sps, 6 ch-2 sps)
Part 3: The Scalloped Border
Round 8 (Large Fan and Arches): Sl st to the center sc of the Shell group. Ch 3, dc in the same st. [Large Fan] Work 5 dc, ch 1, 5 dc in the next sc (which is the single sc over the dc from Rnd 6). Dc in the center sc of the next Shell group. Ch 5, sk ch-2 sp, dc in the center sc of the next Shell group. Rep from * 5 more times. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. (6 Large Fans, 12 dc, 6 ch-5 sps)
Round 9 (Picot Edging): Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Sc in the next 4 dc. In the ch-1 sp: (sc, ch 3, Picot, ch 3, sc). Sc in the next 5 dc. Ch 3, sc in the ch-5 sp, ch 3, sc in the next dc. Rep from * 5 more times, omitting the last sc on the final rep. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Fasten off.
Video Tutorial:
✂️ Finishing & Blocking
🧺 Blocking is Mandatory!
- Wet Blocking: Since this motif is delicate lacework, wet blocking is essential to flatten the piece and define the six scalloped points.
- Soak the doily thoroughly in cool water, ideally with a small amount of liquid fabric starch for a crisp finish.
- Gently squeeze out excess water.
- Pin the doily out firmly onto a foam mat. Ensure the six outer scalloped points are pulled taut and symmetrical. Carefully pin open the inner mesh sections.
- Allow the doily to dry completely (which may take a full day or two for starched thread) before unpinning.
✨ Conclusion
Weave in all your ends securely on the back of the work.
Congratulations on completing your stunning Heirloom Starflower Doily! Its intricate beauty is a wonderful testament to your crochet skill.
