I have been crocheting for over twenty years, and in the last few years, I have ventured into the realm of doilies.

Doilies are not just for old people anymore. When made with the right yarn or thread, they can be gorgeous, and add a vintage, special touch to your home decor.

I found a beautiful doily pattern from Pinterest, which is from this Russian website, (like all good crochet patterns).

 

Here is the crochet doily chart:

I have learned to absolutely LOVE crochet charts, rather than written crochet patterns. Charts are so much easier to read, and it is easier to keep track of the row you are working on.

I found a few skeins of gorgeous, sparkly, electric blue yarn at the thrift store, and I had just enough to complete this stunning pattern. Here is the doily right after I finished it.

 

Almost all doilies need to be rinsed, stretched, and pinned so they lay completely flat and symmetrical when they are dried.

Rinse the doily under cold water, and wring it out gently.

 

I like to use a large piece of flat cardboard to dry my doilies. Gently stretch the pattern and spread it out on the cardboard so it looks symmetrical, and everything is laying perfectly flat.

 

The other great thing about using cardboard is that you can pin the doily to the board to make sure the pattern does not shrink, wrinkle, or warp while it is drying.

 

After the doily has dried thoroughly, sometimes it is necessary to starch and iron the doily so it remains flat and stiff.

I used a size D/3-3.25MM crochet hook with my blue yarn. The final doily measured about 22 inches wide. And totally beautiful.