Back in 2009, I made a doily that I called ‘Arches Over Arches‘. I had originally thought to call it ‘Arches’, but Yarnplayer had recently made a doily of that name, so I had to come up with something else. I am not good at coming up with names for the items I design and make, so I just modified the name a bit. I made the same doily later that year but in different colors and called it a sunflower. Other people liked the doily and requested the pattern, but I never got to it. I was recently contacted by another person who requested the pattern, and I thought it was about time to put it together.
The problem is I didn’t write down dimensions or specifics for diagramming the pattern. So, I needed to make the doily again.
This time I’m using Lizbeth #181 Cranberry Bush in size 20. It was in a thread collection of Christmas threads and I hadn’t tried it yet. As I’m thinking about Christmas gifts now, it easily suggested itself to this doily. I like how this came out.
Once I got started this doily goes pretty quickly. The hardest part, for me, is the long chains. If I’m not careful, I lose count and have to recount to make sure all of the chains are the same length. Then of course, there is the tension on chains. Careful, careful!
I noticed after I uploaded the picture that the center doesn’t look quite round. I didn’t do a good job of blocking it, did I? The chains look pretty good. They have to be blocked or they are all over the place.
The center is right at two inches across, with a total diameter of just short of nine inches. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to add a center as I did with the sunflower version. I think I’m going to write out the pattern this way first, maybe add the center later. I am working on the pattern now, looking for it to be done in a day or so. If you are interested in it, let me know.
As soon as the pattern is done, it’s on to Christmas tatting in a big way. I didn’t leave much time for that, did I?
It’s a beautiful pattern and I would love to tat it. Thank you for all the hard work you are putting into it!
Very beautiful!
It looks lovely in Cranberry Bush! I’m interested in the pattern, but I know I won’t get to it for a long time. Christmas tatting is in progress!
Tricky to tat but very effective.
I like the pattern and I love the thread, I just made a snowflake in that thread and it looks very Christmassy
I hope you do write the pattern it’s very unusual design.
It’s awesome and I would love the pattern too!! 🙂