Doily Geek

It's doily geek time!
Many of my Ravelry friends are in the Annual Dishcloth and Potholder Swaps. We are constantly looking at patterns, dissecting them and interpreting them. One of the members posted a photo of a beautiful doily that was not associated with a free pattern. I looked at the excellent photo and tried to figure out the pattern. I do believe that I have figured out a version of this Octagon Doily. Here's my interpretation of the doily. My sample is done in worsted weight cotton with a size "F" crochet hook. Next time, I'm going to use thinner cotton and a bigger hook for a much lacier doily, like the original photo at the end of this post.

Octagon Doily, interpreted by Ellen Bloom

I’m a visual crocheter and work better from charts than from written instructions. My written instructions, below may be a bit vague, but keep looking at the close-up photo of the doily and I believe you’ll be able to figure this out. You may have to slip stitch over to a spot to begin a new row. I have not added these instructions, since I know that you are all expert crocheters and understand the basic rules of crocheting in the round! Please feel free to alter this pattern to fit your needs. You may want to add or subtract chain stitches here and there!

Materials: Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton, Solid. Size “F” crochet hook. NOTE: If you’d like a lacier look for your doily, use thinner cotton and a larger hook.

Cluster :Yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull through st, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, (yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull through st, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook) 3 times, yo, pull through all 5 lps on hook.

V-STITCH SMALL: dc, ch 2, dc in the same stitch.

V-STITCH LARGE: dc, ch 3, dc in the same stitch.

Chain 4. Join into ring

Row 1: Ch 1, single crochet 8 times into center ring. 8 sts. total. Join.

Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch 2), *sk 1 st., dc, ch 2.* Continue around, from * to *, until you have 8 dc stitches and 8 ch 2 spaces, likes the spokes of a wheel. Join.

Row 3: Ch 1, *sc in dc st of row below, sc 2 sts in ch 2 space.” Continue around. You should have 24 sc stitches. Join.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc over the sc stitch that is on the spoke of the wheel (OR, over the dc st from 2 rows down). *Ch 3, sc 1*. Continue from * to * until you have 8 sc sts. with 8 ch 3 spaces between sts.

Row 5: You might have to slip stitch over to a sc stitch. Once you get there, ch 3, cluster stitch, ch 2, dc 1 into same stitch, ch 2, cluster into same stitch. This forms the cluster portion of the doily. Continue around with clusters ch 2, dc, ch 2, cluster into each sc stitch from the row below. From now on, this will be referred to as a cluster shell.

Row 6: Cluster shell over the cluster shells and place a ch 1, dc 1, ch 1 between the cluster shells (this is the beginning of the V-Stitch formation).

Row 7: Cluster shell over the Cluster shell. Ch 2. In the dc between the Cluster shells, do a V-Stitch Small. Ch 2. Join.

Row 8: Cluster shell over the Cluster shell. Ch 2, V-Stitch Large in the center of the V-Stitch Small from the row below, Ch 2. Continue around in this manner. Join.

Row 9: Same as Row 8, except instead of one dc stitch in-between the clusters, crochet 3 dc stitches.

Row 10: Single crochet in each dc around, 2 scs in V-Stitch space and in-between V-Stitches and shells. In the middle of each shell stitch (the dc stitch), sc 3 times in this stitch to create a definite point. Join.

Row 11: Crab stitch in every stitch around. The crab stitch is a backwards sc. Check the internet for video instructions. Join. Block.

Remember, if you feel you can improve this pattern, go ahead and interpret it in your own way until you have a pleasing doily!

Doily with Potholder Back...original photo

UPDATE: I crocheted this doily again (different border), using Patons Grace cotton...much thinner than my previous attempt. I also used a larger hook, size "G". I really like the results!

Unblocked Octagon Doily #2