Shell and Knot Stitch Doily Pattern #419

Materials: Clark's O.N.T. or J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet No. 30 or 50 self-shading colors (either Blues, Pinks, Lavenders, Greens or Yellows are attractive). Milward's steel crochet hook No. 8.

Cut out a linen circle 3¼ inches in diameter. Turn ⅛ inch edge under and baste. Work around with s c placed closely together. 1st rnd: * Ch 3, skip 2 s c and make 1 s c in 3rd s c and repeat from *. The number of ch loops made should be divisible by 6. For the small doily there should be 54 loops. 2nd rnd: * Ch 1, 1 d c in the next s c; 3 tr in same st, 1 d c in same st (this forms a cluster). Ch 1, 1 sl st in next ch-3 loop ** ch 3, 1 s c in next ch-3 loop and repeat from ** 3 times, thus having 4 sps. Repeat from * to end of round. (There are only 3 ch-3 loops in this last group.)

3rd rnd: * Ch 1, make 1 cluster in ch-3 loop to the right of the cluster made in previous round, 1 sl st in center tr of cluster of last round, 1 cluster in next ch-3 loop, ch 1, 1 s c in next loop, ch 3, make 3 ch-3 loops and repeat from * to end of round. (There will be only 2 ch-3 loops in the last group.) 4th rnd: * Ch 1, 1 cluster in next s c, 1 sl st in center tr of next cluster, 1 cluster in center tr of 2nd round, 1 sl st in center tr of next cluster, 1 cluster in center st of next ch-3. Ch 1, sc in next loop, repeat from * to end of round.

5th rnd: ** Make 1 knot st on top of center tr of 1st cluster (to make a knot st draw loop on hook out ¼ inch, ch 1 through this loop, 1 s c over the single loop at left side of st just made, work another similar knot st), 1 cluster on top of center tr of 1st cluster of 3rd round, 1 s c in center tr of next cluster of previous round, 1 cluster on top of center tr of 2nd cluster of 3rd round, 1 sl st in center tr of next cluster, repeat from **.

6th rnd: * Make 2 knot sts, 1 s c in center tr of 1st cluster of previous round, 2 knot sts on center tr of next cluster, 1 s c over double loop at right of center knot of preceding round, 1 s c over double loop at left of same knot. Repeat from * to end of round. Make remaining 2 rows of knot sts working into the knot of the preceding round, placing 1 s c on each side of center knot.