Vintage pattern · 1915 · small thread crochet doily

Priscilla Nine-Fan Doily

Free crochet pattern with chart

A small round doily from a 1915 Priscilla book, about 7 inches across in fine thread. A spoked center and two rounds of clusters open into nine solid points that narrow to a tip, with nine lacy fans widening between them and a picot edge all round. The 1915 wording uses the older stitch names and sums up five rounds in one sentence. Here it is in today's US terms with every round written out and counted.

Thread: Size 30 cottonNo. 30 in 1915
Hook: 1.4 mm steelNo. 9 in 1915
Finished: about 7 in across17 rounds

Every count checked by KrowsheaNo errors in the 1915 original. Modern US and UK terms, and a chart drawn from the counts.

Priscilla Nine-Fan Doily rendered in Krowshea 3D Yarn — **Today** · rendered in Krowshea 3D Yarn, not AI

1915 photo of a round white crochet doily with a spoked center, nine solid pointed shapes and nine openwork fans, and a small scalloped edge — **1915** · the booklet photo

Chart

Priscilla Nine-Fan Doily crochet chart

Right-handedLeft-handed

Crochet symbol chart of Priscilla Nine-Fan Doily, drawn by Krowshea

The same chart drawn left-handed, mirrored

Reading this chart

Start at the center and read each round counterclockwise, the way a right-handed crocheter works.
Start at the center and read each round clockwise, the way a left-handed crocheter works.
Each round begins at its green mark, its first stitch or chain; its number is printed beside it. Rounds alternate dark and blue so they read apart.
The key under the chart names every symbol. Symbols follow the Craft Yarn Council chart standard.

Drawn by Krowshea from the checked counts, not traced from the original. New to charts? How to read crochet charts.

Written pattern

Round by round

US termsUK terms

Written in US crochet terms

In rounds 9–15, begin with ch 1, which doesn't count as a st.

1
Ch 9, join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as a dc), 26 dc in ring, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
27 dc
2
Ch 3 (counts as a dc), ch 1, [dc in next st, ch 1] 26 times, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
27 dc, 27 sps
3
Ch 4 (counts as the first tr), then work the bracketed step of the 3-tr cluster twice (not 3 times) in the same st, yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook, ch 3, [3-tr cluster in next dc, ch 3] 26 times, join with a sl st to the first st.
27 clusters, 27 sps
4
Sl st in next sp, ch 4 (counts as the first tr), then work the bracketed step of the 4-tr cluster 3 times (not 4 times) in the same sp, yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook, ch 4, [4-tr cluster in next sp, ch 4] 26 times, join with a sl st to the first st.
27 clusters, 27 sps
5
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as a dc), (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 4, sk next st, dc in next cluster, ch 4, [sk next sp, sk next st, shell2 in next sp, ch 4, sk next st, dc in next cluster, ch 4] 8 times, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
45 dc, 27 sps
6
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as a dc), (2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 9, [shell3 in next ch-1 sp, ch 9] 8 times, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
54 dc, 18 sps
7
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as a dc), 7 dc in same sp, ch 5, sc over next sp into the st 2 rounds below, ch 5, [8 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 5, sc over next sp into the st 2 rounds below, ch 5] 8 times, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
72 dc, 9 sc, 18 sps
8
Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in next 8 sts, ch 3, 2 dc in next sc, ch 3, [sc in next 8 sts, ch 3, 2 dc in next sc, ch 3] 8 times, join with a sl st to the first st.
72 sc, 18 dc, 18 sps
9
Sk next st, sc in next 7 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, [sk next st, sc in next 7 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4] 8 times, join with a sl st to the first st.
63 sc, 36 dc, 27 sps
10
Sk next st, sc in next 6 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, 2 dc in next sp, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, [sk next st, sc in next 6 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, 2 dc in next sp, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4] 8 times, join with a sl st to the first st.
54 sc, 54 dc, 36 sps
11
Sk next st, sc in next 5 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next sp, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, ch 1, dc in next sp, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, *sk next st, sc in next 5 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next sp, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, ch 1, dc in next sp, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a sl st to the first st.
45 sc, 72 dc, 54 sps
12
Sk next st, sc in next 4 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, *sk next st, sc in next 4 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a sl st to the first st.
36 sc, 90 dc, 72 sps
13
Sk next st, sc in next 3 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, *sk next st, sc in next 3 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a sl st to the first st.
27 sc, 108 dc, 90 sps
14
Sk next st, sc in next 2 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, *sk next st, sc in next 2 sts, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a sl st to the first st.
18 sc, 126 dc, 108 sps
15
Sk next st, sc in next st, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, *sk next st, sc in next st, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a sl st to the first st.
9 sc, 144 dc, 126 sps
16
Sl st in next sp, sl st in next dc, ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in same st, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 8, 2 dc in next dc, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, [dc in next dc] 2 times, [ch 1, dc in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, sk next st, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * 7 more times, ch 8, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
162 dc, 135 sps
17
Ch 1 (does not count as a st), *[(sc, ch-3 picot, sc) in next sp] 14 times, (sc, ch-3 picot, sc) in next sp, [(sc, ch-3 picot, sc) in same sp] 7 times; rep from * 8 more times, join with a sl st to the first st.
396 sc, 198 picots
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Written in UK crochet terms

In rounds 9–15, begin with ch 1, which doesn't count as a st.

1
Ch 9, join with a ss to the first ch to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as a tr), 26 tr in ring, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
27 tr
2
Ch 3 (counts as a tr), ch 1, [tr in next st, ch 1] 26 times, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
27 tr, 27 sps
3
Ch 4 (counts as the first dtr), then work the bracketed step of the 3-dtr cluster twice (not 3 times) in the same st, yarn round hook and draw through all loops on the hook, ch 3, [3-dtr cluster in next tr, ch 3] 26 times, join with a ss to the first st.
27 clusters, 27 sps
4
Ss in next sp, ch 4 (counts as the first dtr), then work the bracketed step of the 4-dtr cluster 3 times (not 4 times) in the same sp, yarn round hook and draw through all loops on the hook, ch 4, [4-dtr cluster in next sp, ch 4] 26 times, join with a ss to the first st.
27 clusters, 27 sps
5
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as a tr), (tr, ch 1, 2 tr) in same sp, ch 4, miss next st, tr in next cluster, ch 4, [miss next sp, miss next st, shell2 in next sp, ch 4, miss next st, tr in next cluster, ch 4] 8 times, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
45 tr, 27 sps
6
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as a tr), (2 tr, ch 1, 3 tr) in same sp, ch 9, [shell3 in next ch-1 sp, ch 9] 8 times, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
54 tr, 18 sps
7
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as a tr), 7 tr in same sp, ch 5, dc over next sp into the st 2 rounds below, ch 5, [8 tr in next ch-1 sp, ch 5, dc over next sp into the st 2 rounds below, ch 5] 8 times, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
72 tr, 9 dc, 18 sps
8
Ch 1 (does not count as a st), dc in next 8 sts, ch 3, 2 tr in next dc, ch 3, [dc in next 8 sts, ch 3, 2 tr in next dc, ch 3] 8 times, join with a ss to the first st.
72 dc, 18 tr, 18 sps
9
Miss next st, dc in next 7 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, ch 1, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, [miss next st, dc in next 7 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, ch 1, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4] 8 times, join with a ss to the first st.
63 dc, 36 tr, 27 sps
10
Miss next st, dc in next 6 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, ch 1, 2 tr in next sp, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, [miss next st, dc in next 6 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, ch 1, 2 tr in next sp, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4] 8 times, join with a ss to the first st.
54 dc, 54 tr, 36 sps
11
Miss next st, dc in next 5 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, ch 1, tr in next sp, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, ch 1, tr in next sp, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, *miss next st, dc in next 5 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, ch 1, tr in next sp, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, ch 1, tr in next sp, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a ss to the first st.
45 dc, 72 tr, 54 sps
12
Miss next st, dc in next 4 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, *miss next st, dc in next 4 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a ss to the first st.
36 dc, 90 tr, 72 sps
13
Miss next st, dc in next 3 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, *miss next st, dc in next 3 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 3 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a ss to the first st.
27 dc, 108 tr, 90 sps
14
Miss next st, dc in next 2 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, *miss next st, dc in next 2 sts, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 4 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a ss to the first st.
18 dc, 126 tr, 108 sps
15
Miss next st, dc in next st, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, *miss next st, dc in next st, ch 4, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 5 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4; rep from * 7 more times, join with a ss to the first st.
9 dc, 144 tr, 126 sps
16
Ss in next sp, ss in next tr, ch 3 (counts as a tr), tr in same st, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr, *ch 8, 2 tr in next tr, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, [tr in next tr] 2 times, [ch 1, tr in next sp] 6 times, ch 1, miss next st, 2 tr in next tr; rep from * 7 more times, ch 8, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
162 tr, 135 sps
17
Ch 1 (does not count as a st), *[(dc, ch-3 picot, dc) in next sp] 14 times, (dc, ch-3 picot, dc) in next sp, [(dc, ch-3 picot, dc) in same sp] 7 times; rep from * 8 more times, join with a ss to the first st.
396 dc, 198 picots
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Special stitches

3-tr cluster: [Yarn over twice, insert the hook in the st, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, all in the same st (4 loops on hook); yarn over and draw through all 4 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.
4-tr cluster: [Yarn over twice, insert the hook in the st, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 4 times, all in the same st (5 loops on hook); yarn over and draw through all 5 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.
shell2: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the same place.
shell3: (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in the same place.
ch-3 picot: ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.

Abbreviations (US)

ch chaindc double crochetrep repeatsc single crochetsk skipsl st slip stitchsp(s) space(s)st(s) stitch(es)tr treble crochet

Special stitches

3-dtr cluster: [Yarn round hook twice, insert the hook in the st, yarn round hook and draw up a loop, yarn round hook and draw through 2 loops, yarn round hook and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, all in the same st (4 loops on hook); yarn round hook and draw through all 4 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.
4-dtr cluster: [Yarn round hook twice, insert the hook in the st, yarn round hook and draw up a loop, yarn round hook and draw through 2 loops, yarn round hook and draw through 2 loops] 4 times, all in the same st (5 loops on hook); yarn round hook and draw through all 5 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.
shell2: (2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr) in the same place.
shell3: (3 tr, ch 1, 3 tr) in the same place.
ch-3 picot: ch 3, ss in the 3rd ch from the hook.

Abbreviations (UK)

ch chaindc double crochetdtr double treblemiss miss (skip)rep repeatsp(s) space(s)ss slip stitchst(s) stitch(es)tr treble

Materials

Thread, 1915: Crochet cotton No. 30. Today's size 30 crochet thread is the nearest match.
Hook, 1915: "Crochet needle No. 9", a steel hook. We set 1.4 mm as a stand-in; it was not converted from a 1915 size chart. Use the hook that suits your thread.
Size: The book gives none. Our estimate at the usual gauge for the hook is about 7 inches across.

The 1915 original

As it was printed

The Priscilla Crochet Book: Centerpieces and Doilies · Figure 57, "Doily": photo on page 28, directions on page 30
Figure 57. Doily. Materials: Crochet cotton No. 30, crochet needle No. 9. Chain 9, join in ring. 1st round: 27 t (first one of 3 ch) in ring, join with sl. 2d round: Ch 4 (as 1 t and 1 ch), * t over next t, ch 1; repeat around. 3d round: Ch 4 (as 1 dt), 2 dt (2 loops) all worked off together as a Cluny group, ch 3, * Cluny group of 3 dt over next st, ch 3; repeat around. 4th round: One Cluny group of 4 dt between groups of 3d round, with 4 ch between groups; there should be 27 groups in each of the 3d and 4th rounds. 5th round: Sl on ch, make shell of * 2 t, ch 1, 2 t over same ch, ch 4, miss one group, t over next group, ch 4; repeat from *, making 9 shells. 6th round: Sl over 2 t, make shell of * (3 t, ch 1, 3 t) over ch of shell below, ch 9, shell (3 t, ch 1, 3 t) over next shell, ch 9; repeat from *, fasten with a sl, and sl to ch of first shell. 7th round: 8 t over ch of first shell, ch 5, d joined (over 9 ch) in t of 5th round, ch 5; repeat from first of round. 8th round: * 8 d over 8 t (taking up both threads), ch 3, 2 t over d below, ch 3; repeat from *. 9th round: Sl over first d, 7 d over 7 d, ch 4, 2 t over 2 t, ch 1, 2 t over t, ch 4; repeat. 10th round: Sl over first d, * 6 d over 6 d, ch 4, 2 t over first t, ch 1, 2 t over ch, ch 1, 2 t over fourth t, ch 4; repeat from *. 11th round: Sl over first d, 5 d over 5 d, ch 4, 2 t over first t, ch 1, 1 t over space, ch 1, 2 t over centre of fan, ch 1, t over space, ch 1, 2 t over last t, ch 4; repeat. 12th to 16th rounds: Continue in this way, making in each round one less d in group, and one more open mesh each side of centre of fan. 17th round: Cover each ch with (1 d, picot of 3, 1 d), uniting the fans at corners in this last round.

The 1915 stitch names

This book uses the names of Irish crochet workers, and says so: its "double" is the stitch Americans call single crochet, and each taller stitch is one name lower than today's US name.

In 1915	US today	How we know
d (double)	sc	The book's Explanation of Stitches: a loop through the work, then thread over and through both loops.
t (treble)	dc	Round 1 says "27 t (first one of 3 ch)": a chain of 3 stands for one.
dt (double treble)	tr	Round 3 says "Ch 4 (as 1 dt)" and "(2 loops)": thread over twice.
Cluny group	cluster	"All worked off together": 3 or 4 unfinished stitches in one place, closed as one.
picot of 3	ch-3 picot
miss	skip

What we checked

Rounds 3 and 4: 27 clusters each, as the book says there should be.
Round 5: a shell, a skipped cluster, a dc and another skipped cluster use 3 clusters, and 27 make exactly the 9 shells the book promises.
Rounds 6 and 7: 9 shells, then 9 groups of 8 dc with a single crochet worked over each long chain into round 5.
Rounds 8 to 11: points of 8, 7, 6 and 5 sc and fans of 2, 4, 6 and 8 dc, as printed.
Rounds 12 to 16, written out by us: points of 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 sc, fans of 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 dc.
Round 17: (sc, picot, sc) on each chain: one in each of the 126 ch-1 spaces and eight in each of the 9 ch-8 loops, 198 groups: 396 sc, 198 picots.
The 1915 photo shows 9 solid points and 9 fans round a spoked center.

How we read the old wording

Rounds 12 to 16 are ours. The book says only to continue, with one less single crochet in each point and one more open mesh each side of the center of each fan.
In round 16 no single crochet is left in the point, so a loop of 8 chains runs from fan to fan. One (sc, picot, sc) over it in round 17 is how the fans are united.
"2 t over centre of fan" is read as one dc in each of the two center dc.
The first single crochet of each point is skipped in every round, so the point narrows from one side, as the book has it.
Where the book does not say how a round begins, a round that opens with taller stitches begins with a slip stitch to the place and a chain that counts as the first stitch. A round that opens with single crochet begins with ch 1, which does not count, as single crochet rounds usually do.

No count errors in the original. Its rounds 12 to 16 are one sentence, and its last round is brief. We wrote those out, and each choice is listed above.

More vintage patterns

All vintage patterns

Krowshea is in beta

Make it with Krowshea

This pattern stays free right here. Krowshea members will be able to do more with it:

Turn it in 3D Yarn and watch it grow round by round
Save it to your Library and make it your own: new colors, a border, a different size
Track your rounds with Make it, on your phone
Open it in the Studio: change the thread, size it up in yarn, join motifs

Join the beta