Free crochet doily pattern · about 6 1/4 in across · worsted cotton, US H-8 hook · about 70 minutes (estimate).
This crochet doily is worked in 6 rounds from a magic ring: a solid center of double crochet, 3 rounds of little holes (chain spaces, groups and V-stitches) and a scalloped edge of 12 shells.
Put it under a candle in a glass holder (or an LED tealight), a small centerpiece or a plate of cookies on your holiday table. Every round was checked by our stitch simulator.
- Finished size
- About 6 1/4 in across after blocking (estimated)
- Yarn
- Worsted weight (#4) cotton in white (or red for Christmas): about 29 yd (estimated, with a 30 % margin)
- Hook
- US H-8 (5.0 mm), yarn needle, pins for blocking
- Gauge
- 14 dc = 4 in (not critical for a doily)
- Time
- About 70 minutes, ends included (estimated, not timed)
- Skills
- magic ring, ch, sl st, sc, dc, V-stitch, shell
✓ CookZya original design · Stitch counts checked round by round — Stitch counts checked round by round by our simulator. This pattern has not been crocheted and swatched by a person: size, yarn and time are estimates, and your doily will differ a little.
Materials
- Color W — white, about 29 yd
- Cotton yarn holds its shape best; spray starch (optional) for a crisp doily.
Notes
- US crochet terms. ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, sp = space, st(s) = stitch(es), rep = repeat, Rnd = round.
- Ch 3 at the start of a round counts as a dc; ch 4 counts as a dc and ch 1; ch 5 counts as a dc and ch 2. Join in the top of the ch-3, or in the 3rd ch of a ch-4 or ch-5 (the top of the dc it stands for).
- V-stitch = (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same space. Shell = 5 dc in the same space.
- Right side facing you all the time; you never turn.
- The photos are a preview of the look: your doily's stitches will not match them one for one. Follow the written rounds for every count.
Crochet doily pattern chart
Doily
In white (or red), right side facing you.
- Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as the first dc), 11 dc in the ring. Pull the tail to close the ring. Join with sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3. (12 dc)
- Ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in the same st as the join, 2 dc in each remaining st around. Join with sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3. (24 dc)
- Ch 4 (counts as a dc and ch 1), *dc in the next st, ch 1; rep from * 22 more times. Join with sl st in the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (24 dc and 24 ch-1 sps)
- Sl st in the next ch-1 sp. Ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in the same sp, ch 2, skip the next ch-1 sp, *3 dc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 2, skip the next ch-1 sp; rep from * 10 more times. Join with sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3. (36 dc in 12 groups and 12 ch-2 sps)
- Sl st in each of the next 2 dc and in the next ch-2 sp. Ch 5 (counts as a dc and ch 2), dc in the same sp (first V-stitch), ch 2, *(dc, ch 2, dc) in the next ch-2 sp, ch 2; rep from * 10 more times. Join with sl st in the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-5. (12 V-stitches and 12 ch-2 sps between them)
- Sl st in the next ch-2 sp (the middle of the first V-stitch). Ch 3 (counts as a dc), 4 dc in the same sp (first shell), sc in the next ch-2 sp, *5 dc in the next V-stitch ch-2 sp, sc in the next ch-2 sp; rep from * 10 more times. Join with sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3. (12 shells of 5 dc and 12 sc) Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Block the doily
1 Wet it
2 Pin it
3 Dry
Finishing
Weave in the ring tail and the last tail along the stitches on the wrong side.
Design notes
- 12 repeats from the center to the edge: 12 dc, 24 dc, 24 (dc, ch 1), 12 groups of 3 dc, 12 V-stitches, 12 shells of 5 dc.
- Sizes come from the stitch heights stacked from the ring: an estimate; blocking sets the final shape.
Tips
- Count the 12 groups of Rnd 4 before you start Rnd 5: one V-stitch goes between each pair.
- Work the shells of Rnd 6 only in the V-stitch spaces; the sc goes in the spaces between.
- For a bigger doily, use a bulky cotton and a bigger hook (the size is not measured).
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that the beginning chain counts as a dc: the round gets 1 stitch too many.
- Putting a shell in every ch-2 space of Rnd 5: the edge ruffles. Shells go in the V-stitches only.
Make it your own
- Red cotton for a Christmas table, gold or silver for New Year's Eve.
- Make a few to put under mugs or small plates on the holiday table.
Care
- Hand wash in cool water, lay flat or pin to dry.
More crochet doilies and table decor
- Star Plate Doily (vintage 1915) — a vintage doily when you want a bigger one
- Crochet Coaster Pattern — matching coasters for the same table
- Crochet Snowflake Pattern — a lace snowflake for the tree
- Spiral Mesh Doily (vintage 1915) — a vintage 1915 doily: a spiral center and 16 rounds of open mesh
- Spiral Centrepiece (vintage 1915) — a vintage 1915 centrepiece with 24 picot fans
- Old Centrepiece (vintage 1915) — a 30-inch vintage table cover with a 12-point star
FAQ
How do you crochet a doily for beginners?
Start with a magic ring and double crochet rounds, then add rounds of chain spaces and finish with a shell edge; block it flat with pins.
How big is this crochet doily?
About 6 1/4 in across in worsted cotton with a US H-8 hook (an estimate).
What yarn is best for doilies?
Cotton: it holds its shape and takes starch well.
Can I sell what I make?
Yes, you may sell what you crochet. Please don't sell or repost the pattern; link to this page.
Copyright
© 2026 CookZya. Free for personal use: you may make and sell what you crochet. Please don't sell, copy or repost this pattern; link to it instead.