Ruffled Doily
Remember these beauties sitting on top of the large console TV or an occasional table in the living room in the 1950’s. Well this 1957 crochet pattern for a Cat’s Cradle Ruffled Doily is just one of those. Also the game we played with string called Cat’s Cradle was probably this doily’s inspiration.
I even found a ton of Cat’s Cradle Games for sale. Some have the string and instructions and I found one that even has a DVD on how to play. Would be a fun gift for kids.
Coats and Clark’s
This particular doily crochet pattern comes from the 1957 Coats and Clark’s Book No. 327 titled Ruffled Doilies. The front states, “Frills of frothy lace for the delicate decoration of your occasional tables. ”
The doily measures 16 inches in diameter. To crochet it you use Size 20 Mercerized Crochet Cotton with a No. 9 Steel Crochet Hook.
PDF Download Pattern
The pattern is in PDF format so to read it you’ll need the Adobe Reader software on your computer. Most computers come with it, but it is free and can be found here.
Download Instructions: Right-Click the link and select either “save target as” or “save link as” depending on what browser you are using or simply click on it and save or print.
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Enjoy!
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They do have a fabric stiffener product that people can buy, I don’t know the ingredients in it, maybe it works better or not than Epsom Salts (I use it in the bath too, did you know it’s the only mineral that the human body can absorb through the skin? That’s what I read).
I will have to look in my old crochet booklets I have to see if they have instructions on how to ruffle them. I wonder if we just used our fingers?
Your site is my favorite, yours and free vintage crochet. The woman who does that page has not updated it very much lately, but I wonder if she has posted about all the free patterns she cares to in a lifetime. There surely are more patterns on the site than I can possibly complete in a lifetime, anyway!
I also enjoy “Celt’s Vintage Crochet” as she has the very old and elaborate patterns. SOME one on the internet copied the free domain patterns, stuck a (phony) copyright on them, and sold them online! CI digress.
Thank you for taking the time out to post these. Lots of fun.& PS- God forgive me, but I wish I were born in the day those doilies were displayed.
One of the things I love about doing this is going through my old booklets to find patterns to share. It seems like I find out something new every time. I’ve been on the free vintage crochet site. Lots of patterns there. I’ll have to check out the other one. I haven’t come across it yet.
Yes some people copy public domain patterns and sell them. I’ve even thought about it. I look at it as providing a service for others that may not use the internet or be as versed in getting around to find the different patterns available or maybe they don’t want to download a pattern but would buy a hard copy from someone. As long as the price isn’t outrageous. Your right that they can’t put a copyright on a public domain pattern unless they have significantly added or changed it to be their own some how. Just copying does not constitute a copyright for a pattern that is in the public domain. But that’s a whole other topic.
Thanks for commenting.
Debra
Oh yes I agree a bit with charging a price for printing out a “free” pattern, the paper’s not free, and the time & effort in printing it out costs money- sure! but some of the online sellers well.. it’s a personal thorn in my side and I won’t bore you with it.
I looked up in one of my old patterns on for ruffled doilies, the ruffles were just crimped by hand. The recipe for stiffener is just to use laundry starch.
love your site thank you
Thanks Kristen, appreciate your comments.
I love this doily. I love doilies, period. I have a few vintage doilies and table runners, some tatted, that I pick up at second hand shops. You would be surprised what people donate!
The gorgeous Cat’s Cradle Doily: Now, I cannot “remember these beauties” because the 1950s was before my time, and my parents’ adult years- but I wish these were part of my childhood memory.
I have a tip some of your readers might want, I use Epsom Salts as a stiffener for my projects. I do not like using the white glue as a stiffener as some do, it’s too difficult to remove when I want to wash it, and I just don’t like glue. With the Epsom salts you can use a ratio of 50% salts to water, or even more- as much salt as the water will take. Do not use table salt, it is not the same. I use a plastic bowl and warm water with the Epsom salts and gently swish the doily around in there. To dry the doily, simply invert the bowl. The bowl’s shape uses gravity to pull down the circular edge of the doily, so you won’t need to use a thousand pins. I’ve even used a basketball on a larger doily. The frills, however are a different story, maybe someone else has some tips there.
Thank you for your posts! I read them as soon as posted. I just think they’re wonderful.
I hate to admit it, but I’m old enough to remember these in my Grandparents home. Glad those who are younger appreciate their beauty. Thanks for the tip on stiffening. I use my Epsom salts in the garden and the bath, but I’ll have to try them for stiffening as well. Yes, sometimes the glue can be messy. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments.
Debra