Friday 1 June 2012

A Coats Crochet Design no. 267

Doiley
Doiley
Doiley

So I thought we'd get back to more lighthearted posts after the emotional struggle of the immigration posts by talking about something crafty.

I couldn't tell you the last time I crocheted a doiley. They are funny things to crochet - you go around and around and a pattern just grows from only using a couple of stitches. Yet they are certainly of an era when you'd stick one under your plates, your cake stand or your flower pot. You'd make them for your dresser and pass them on as gifts. For me they sit on my dresser and underneath my compacts - not only to protect them but they are of the same period. They may not be to everyone's taste but I love making them and that's probably why I never end up buying any when we go to estates sales - sometimes I just prefer to make my own.

While the actual Coats pattern isn't printed with a date, I've seen this pattern [no.267] being dated to 1953. It was one I grabbed for 50p with a handful of it's sister publications from a charity shop back home in Yorkshire. Yes vintage crochet patterns are another thing I love to re-home with my collection spanning from 1915 to the 1980s. This pattern of stars and pineapples was meant to only be 9 inches in diameter but as time as passed finding the more intricate crochet thread is a challenge in itself so I opted to using this multicolored Coats yarn so its ended up being a grand 15". So say's bigger isn't better?!

Have you ever been tempted to crochet? Do you like using vintage patterns?

27 comments:

  1. I love crocheting doilies! There is just something about the simple stitches coming together.

    Love the colors in this one too!

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    1. That's what a love about crocheting - you only really need a few different stitches and you're pretty much sorted!

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  2. My grandma crochets so we all have a pretty good collection of doilies, potholders, and afghans :) When I was little she even crocheted clothes for my Barbies. Now they're in a box and if I ever had a little girl, they're coming back out for her!

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    1. Aw that's so sweet - my mam use to knit my dolls clothes but I was never really a doll kind of girl so they never got much use.

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  3. This is so fabulous, if u could crochet that well I would be making lots of them! Scarlett x

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  4. Aww I love doilles :) This one is really pretty, and I love the colours :)

    Charlee
    http://charmedcharlee.blogspot.com
    xx

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  5. aww, doilies are my favorite!! beautiful!
    xo TJ

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  6. So pretty - I love the colours... crochet gives me the fear for some reason though! Looks way too complicated!

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    1. Its not as complicated as it looks - I find it a lot easier then knitting that is for sure.

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  7. I love the colours you've used, it looks really contemporary and fun. I've tried to crochet & failed, it's just too intricate and fiddly for my paws! x

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    1. It can very fiddly at times, esp if your using a very fine thread that's why I never use them!

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  8. These and so unique I love the colour! And congrats on the interview going well :) xx
    Ella @ Belle Vintage

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    1. Thank you - as am I, glad its all over with.

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  9. This pattern is so pretty! I'm quite crafty in some ways but I'm just useless at knitting/sewing/crocheting, it looks so intricate!

    Gillian x
    elevatormusik.com

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    1. It can be, you just need a good pattern and it explains itself. I always end up getting lost though I will admit!

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  10. you are amazing with crochet, Rachael! I am hopeless when it comes to crocheting doilies! LOVE the colors you've chosen too!

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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    1. Going around and around in circles can make it confusing - I always forget what row i'm on!

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  11. This is so cute! I wouldn't even know where to start doing something like this. I've had a really hectic week and been a bit behind on my blog/other blogs, but congrats on your immigration interview success, I bet thats a huge stress off your mind. We still have a several year wait for our PR here only just beginning the process - gulp! In answer to your question too - YES I am converting everything into pounds and its driving me loopy! It's a really bad habit and I need to stop (my OH doesn't do it, he's completely dropped pretty much all his 'englishness' now!) but I find it really hard to access value still without converting. I guess I'll get used to it in time (or I hope so at least!).

    On a slightly different tangent as I was typing the above, I'm reflecting again that it's good to know someone made a huge move across the world the same as I did, and I often laugh and smile at comments in your blog as they so closely mirror my own experiences. So glad I found your blog! xxx

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    1. Thank you sweetie - it's good to know someone else who's going/gone through the same thing as myself. I keep thinking we spend way too much on food a week till I convert it back and then it sounds not bad at all. I keep telling myself I should just think in dollar signs now but I still don't "get" it haha!

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  12. this is lovely!

    I was digging through a suitcase full of some things that belonged to my grandma and I found papers that have a crochet pattern written on it, I don't know what the pattern is but I assume it's a doily, I've been meaning to attempt to crochet it since I found it!

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    1. Aw that's lovely! I inherited a lot of my gran's vintage crochet patterns when she passed which really got me into learning how to crochet more.

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  13. I love to crochet! Making a doiley however is out of my ability range...yours is amazing!

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  14. I have tried to teach myself to crochet but it didn't happen... determined to give it another go though!

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