Shell Doily Crochet Pattern

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate,
FINISHED SIZE: 15 inches in diameter (= 38cm)

MATERIALS
• Size 10 crochet cotton: 284 yds each ecru and light pink
• Size 7/1.65mm steel crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

GAUGE: Rnds 1 and 2 = 1¾ inches in diameter

SPECIAL STITCHES

. Double treble decrease (dtr dec): Holding back last lp of each st on hook, dtr in each of next 5 dc, yo, pull through all lps on hook, ch 1 to secure.

. Beginning double treble decrease (beg dtr dec): Ch 4, holding back last lp of each st on hook, dtr in each of next 4 dc, yo, pull through all lps on hook, ch 1 to secure.

 DOILY 

Rnd 1 (RS): With ecru, ch 8, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 2 (counts as first hdc), 23 hdc in ring, join with sl st in 2nd ch of beg ch-2. (24 hdc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 4 dc in same st [sk 2 hdc, 5 dc in next hdc] around, ending with sk last 2 hdc, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (8 dc groups)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in each of next 4 dc, ch 5, [dc in each of next 5 dc, ch 5] around, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (8 dc groups)

Rnd 4: Beg dtr dec (see Special Stitches), *ch 9, sl st in center ch of next ch-5 sp, ch 9**, dtr dec (see Special Stitches), rep from * around, ending last rep at **, join with sl st in top of beg dtr dec. (8 dtr dec)

Rnd 5: Sl st in first ch-9 sp, ch 4 (counts as first tr), 8 tr in same ch sp, 9 tr in each rem ch-9 sp around, join with sl st in 4th ch of beg ch-4. (16 9-tr groups)

Rnds 6-8: Ch 4, tr in each tr around, join with sl st in 4th ch of beg ch-4. (144 tr)

Rnd 9: Ch 4, 4 tr in same st, sk next 3 tr, [5 tr in next tr, sk next 3 tr] around, join with sl st in 4th ch of beg ch-4. (36 tr groups)

Rnd 10: Sl st in each of next 2 tr, ch 4, 6 tr in same st, 7 tr in center tr of each tr group around, join with sl st in 4th ch of beg ch-4. (36 tr groups)

Rnd 11: Sl st in each of next 3 tr, ch 4, 8 tr in same st, 9 tr in center tr of each tr group around, join with sl st in 4th ch of beg ch-4. (36 tr groups)

Rnd 12: *Sk next 3 tr, 11 tr in next tr, sk next 3 tr**, sl st in each of next 2 tr, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sl st in next tr, join with sl st in joining st of last rnd. Fasten off.

Rnd 13: With RS facing, join ecru with sl st in center tr of any unworked 3-tr group of rnd 8, ch 4, 8 tr in same st, 9 tr in center tr of each tr group around, join with sl st in 4th ch of beg ch-4. Fasten off. (36 tr groups)

Rnd 14: With RS facing, join pink with sl st in joining st of rnd 13, rep rnd 12.