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These 4 antique doilies patterns come from an article titled, “Doilies or Hot-Dish Mats, Combining Tatting and Crochet”, written by Mrs. O. W. Brock, published in the February 1923 issue of Needlecraft Magazine.
These patterns make use of crochet and tatting – tatting being a form of knot-work very similar to crochet that is actually pretty easy to get the hang of once you understand the basics. Tatting can be done with a shuttle, a needle, or even a very small crochet hook, which today we aptly call “Cro-Tatting”.
Pattern Note: Antique crochet and knitting patterns often use the terms widen/widening to mean increase and narrow/narrowing to mean decrease.
Antique Crochet/Tatting Doily Pattern No. 1
Using thread, finer No. 15 crochet or coarser, as preferred, chain 40 stitches.
- Miss 2, a double crochet (d c) in each stitch (st) of chain (ch) to end, 2 dc at end, then work along opposite side of ch with d c in each st, join to ch missed at beginning with a single crochet (s c), turn.
- Ch 1, d c in last d C of previous row, 2 in next, 1 in each along the side (always taking back loop of st), 2 in 2d st from end, 1 in next, 2 in st at end, 1 in next, 2 in next, 1 in each st along side (to within 2 of end), 2 in next, 1 in next, and join to 1 ch. This joining makes the widening at this point. Turn at end of each row.
- Ch 1, dc in each of 2 d c, 2 in next, 1 in each along the side, 2 in next (of 1st of the 2 widening st of last row), 1 in each of next 2, 2 at end, 1 in each of next 2, 2 in next, 1 in each along the side, 2 in next, 1 in each of next 2, join.
Continue in this way until you have 10 ribs each side of the center or foundation chain.
One may make the mats of any desired size by commencing with a longer or shorter foundation-chain and working a greater or less number of ribs, following the same general directions; there are three widenings at one end, and two at the other, the joining making the middle or 2d widening.
The widening in each row must be made exactly over that of previous row, and preferably in the 1st stitch of the 2; some workers like to make the 2 widening stitches between the 2 of last row, but the rule given produces good results.
Around the ribbed center work 2 rows of tatting, as follows:
- A ring of (4 double knots, picot) 3 times, 4 double knots, close; chain of 5 double knots, join to double at the side of 2 widening doubles, 3 double knots, picot, 2 double knots; a ring, joining by 1st picot to last picot of preceding ring, 2 more rings in same way, joining each to preceding ring, and drawing the 3 close together at the base, forming a cloverleaf over the widening; chain of 2 double knots, join to picot of chain before the cloverleaf, 3 double knots, miss the widening doubles and join to next; * chain of 5 double knots; a ring, joining by 1st picot to last picot of preceding ring (3d of cloverleaf), chain of 5 double knots, miss 3 doubles, join to next; repeat along side of ribbed. center, make a cloverleaf over the widening, as before, and so on.
If you find the work becoming too full, miss 4 doubles instead of 3 between the chains along the sides. Join last ring by last picot to 1st picot of 1st ring, and last chain at base of 1st ring.
- A ring, as in 1st row, joining by middle picot to middle picot of 1st ring of last row; a chain of 5 double knots, picot, 5 double knots; a ring, (joining always to preceding by 1st or side picot, and by middle picot to middle picot of ring of last row); a chain, a ring, joining to 2d ring of cloverleaf; a chain; a ring, joining to same picot as last, thus joining 2 rings to 2d ring of cloverleaf; repeat, alternating rings and chains, joining a ring to each ring of last row, and 2 to 2d ring of each cloverleaf; join last ring to 1st, and last chain at base of 1st ring.
For the crocheted border:
- Fasten in a picot (p) of ch, * ch 3, fasten with s c in p of next ch; repeat.
- A treble (tr) in each st of ch (ch 3 for 1st tr) and each sc of last row, and widening by putting 2 tr in the sc of each of 3 ch around widenings. Join to top of 3 ch.
- Four d c in 4 tr (ch 1 for 1st d c), ch 5, miss 3; repeat, joining last 5 ch to 1 ch.
- Two d c in 2d and 3d of 4 d c, ch 3, 4 tr under 5 ch, ch 3; repeat around, joining last 3 ch to 1 ch which stands for 1st d c.
- Slip-stitch (sl st) to top of 1st tr, * 4 d c in 4 tr, ch 5; repeat, joining last ch to
1st d C. - Like 4th row. The 5th and 6th rows may be repeated for a wider openwork border, if desired.
- Four d c in 4 tr, ch 4; repeat.
- Tr in each st.
- Eight tr in 8 tr (ch 3 for 1st), ch 4, miss 3, 8 d c in 8 tr, ch 4, miss 3; repeat around, join.
- Eight tr in 8 tr, 1 ch between, ch 4, 7 d c over 8 dc (1 between each 2 of last row), ch 4; repeat around, join.
- Nine tr over 8 tr, 1 ch between (putting 1 tr, ch 1 and 1 tr in the 2d of 8 tr), ch 4, 6 d c over 7 d c, ch 4; repeat around, join.
- Ten tr, 1 ch between, over 9 tr, ch 4, 5 d c over 6 d c, ch 4; repeat around, join.
- Ten tr over 10 tr, 2 ch between, ch 4, 4 d c over 5 d c, ch 4; repeat, join. 14. Ten tr over 10 tr, 3 ch between, ch 4, 3 d c over 4 d c, ch 4; repeat.
- SI st back to 2d of 3 d C. turn, ch 3, tr under 4 ch, * ch 3, 3 tr under the side of last tr made, tr in next tr of last row; repeat from * around scallop, fastening last tiny scallop of edge in 2d of 3 d c; then repeat the row.
Antique Crochet and Tatting Doily Pattern No. 2
A round mat to match this has a hexagonal center of ribbed work.
Chain 3.
- Twelve d c in 2d st of ch; join; turn.
- Ch 1. d c in d c, 2 d c in next: repeat until you have 5 widenings, 2 d c in next 2, join, turn.
- D c in each of 2 d c, 2 in next; repeat around, join.
As before directed, make the 2 doubles in 1st stitch of widening doubles of previous row.
The last “gore” is not widened, as the 1 chain and the joining form the widening.
There should be 1 double more in each gore, each row. Continue in this way until you have 8 ribs, counting from center, or more for a larger mat. Then work the 2 rows of tatting, and the border as directed for the oval mat.
If it is desired to arrange for slipping in the asbestos mats this is easily done by working a row of double trebles or trebles, separated by 5 or 6 chain, on the wrong side; just at the edge of scallop; work the next row with 1 less stitch in the chain between trebles, and a treble in each space, and another row the same.
Cro-Tatting Antique Doilies Patterns No. 3
No. 3 is a pleasing variation of these mats is worked in the manner directed to the 8th row (of treble in each stitch) of crocheted border.
For the tatted border:
- A ring of (1 double knot, picot) 12 times, close, tie and cut threads.
- A ring of 2 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, join to picot of center ring, 2 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, close; turn ring, leaving one eighth inch of thread, make a ring of 3 double knots, (picot, 2 double knots) 4 times, picot, 3 double knots, close; alternate these 2 rings, leaving always the same space of thread, joining each to preceding ring, and each small ring to picot of center ring; join also last ring to 1st, fastening off at base of 1st ring. Eleven of these medallions are required for the mat illustrated.
- A ring of (2 double knots, picot) 7 times, 2 double knots, close; chain of 4 double knots; ring of 2 double knots, join to last picot of preceding ring, 2 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, join to midde picot of ring of medallion, 2 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, close; chain of 4 double knots, picot, 4 double knots; * ring of 4 double knots, join to middle picot of next ring of medallion; chain of 2 double knots, (picot, 2 double knots) 3 times; a small ring, like preceding, joining to 1st free picot of next ring of medallion; a chain; a ring, missing next picot of ring of medallion and joining to next; a chain; repeat from * twice, joining 2 rings to every other ring of medallion, join 1 ring to next, making 10 of the small rings in all, a chain of 4 double knots, picot, 4 double knots; a ring (like 2d ring made in this row), joining by 2d picot to middle picot of next ring of medallion; a chain of 4 double knots; a large ring (like 1st), joining by 1st picot to last picot of preceding ring; 4 double knots; a ring, like 2d, joining by 1st picot to last picot of large ring and by 3d picot to middle picot of ring of another medallion; chain of 4 double knots, join to picot of corresponding chain, last made, 4 double knots; repeat from * until all the medallions are joined by the edge; join the last chain of last medallion to 1st, last ring to 1st, and last chain at base of 1st ring.
To join the border to doily: Make a double in treble of 8th row, drop stitch on needle, insert hook in middle picot of 2d free ring of medallion, pick up dropped stitch and draw through, 12 doubles in next 12 trebles, join to middle picot of large ring of edge, 12 doubles in 12 picots, and repeat. If preferred, the medallions and edging may be joined as they are made. The border is a very pretty one for luncheon- or buffet-sets.
Antique Doilies Pattern for Crochet and Tatting No. 4
A slightly different medallion is used for another mat, in which tatting is the feature. Using No. 10 crochet-thread, begin at center with a ring of 3 double knots, (picot, 5 double knots) twice, picot, 3 double knots, close; 3 more rings like 1st, joining each to preceding by side picot, and last also to 1st; draw close together at center, and fasten off.
For the medallion:
- A ring of 1 double knot, picot, (2 double knots, picot) 11 times, 1 double knot, close, tie and cut thread.
- A ring of 2 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, join to picot of center ring, 2 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, close; turn, leaving space of thread, make a ring of 2 double knots, (picot, 2 double knots) 5 times, close; alternate these 2 rings, joining each to preceding by side or 1st picot, each small ring by middle picot to picot of center ring, and last ring also to 1st ring; fasten off at base of 1st ring. Join the 1st medallion by middle picot of 1st ring to picot of ring of 1st row, the 2d medallion in same way to picot of next ring of 1st row and by next 2 rings (middle picot) to corresponding 2 rings of preceding medallions; join next 2 medallions in same way and last also to 1st; this gives you 4 medallions surrounding the 4-ring figure.
- Fill in between each 2 medallions with a 4-ring figure, as follows: A ring of 3 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, join to middle picot of ring of medallion next to side joining, 6 double knots, join to corresponding ring of next medallion, 2 double knots, picot, 3 double knots, close; a ring of 3 double knots, join to last picot of preceding ring, (2 double knots, picot) 4 times, 3 double knots, close; 2 more rings like 2d, joining to preceding as directed, and last ring also to 1st; fasten off at center.
- Fasten in middle picot of 3d free ring of outside of medallion, ch 18, fasten in middle p of outside ring of 4-ring figure; repeat around.
- Fill each ch with 20 dc, with de in the fastening sc.
- A cloverleaf, as follows: 1st ring of 3 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, picot, 4 double knots, picot, 3 double knots, close; 2d ring of 3 double knots, join to last picot of preceding ring, 3 double knots, (picot, 2 double knots) twice, (picot, 3 double knots) twice, close; a 3d ring of 3 double knots, join to last picot of preceding ring, 4 double knots, picot, 2 double knots, picot, 3 double knots, close; a chain of 2 double knots, picot, 6 double knots, join to double directly over the joining at top of medallion, * 6 double knots, picot, 2 double knots; a cloverleaf, as before, joining 1st ring by 2d picot to 2d picot of 3d ring of preceding cloverleaf; a chain of 2 double knots, join to picot of preceding chain, 6 double knots, miss 6 doubles of last row and join to next; repeat, joining a chain over each double where chains of 4th row were joined, and to every 7th double between-24 cloverleaves in all. Join last cloverleaf also to 1st, and last chain at base of 1st ring.
- Fasten in middle picot of 2d ring of cloverleaf, ch 9; repeat.
- D c in fastening st, 10 d c under ch; repeat, join.
- Ch 5, miss 3, dc in next; repeat.
- For Rows 10 – 15: Slip to 3d of 5 ch, ch 5, fasten in next loop; repeat.
Make 12 medallions, as directed for center, joining them with the edge given for pattern No. 3. Join the border to the 15th row thus: Three doubles in loop of 5 chain, join to middle picot of 2d free ring at bottom of medallion, 3 more doubles in same loop, 6 doubles in each of 2 loops and 3 in next, join to middle picot of large ring between medallions, 3 more doubles in same loop, 6 in each of next loop, and repeat.
A very attractive luncheon-set may be easily arranged from this doily.
While these instructions may seem a bit complicated – I actually think they are pretty easy enough to follow. As some of the patterns build upon the other patterns, these could all easily be combined in many different ways and for different sizes as long as you take into consideration all of the increases along the way.
I hope you enjoy these antique crochet and tatting patterns for doilies and of course if you make anything with these patterns I would love to see what you create! Share your projects in the comments section below!