Praying Hands Doily

Praying Hands Doily Wall Decor – Filet Crochet Pattern

Project Overview

The Praying Hands Doily is a decorative wall hanging designed by Kathleen Fields of Seasoned By Grace. This intermediate-level crochet project creates an elegant filet crochet piece measuring approximately 8 by 10 inches. The design features praying hands rendered through the open mesh and solid block technique characteristic of filet crochet work, making it suitable for home décor, spiritual displays, or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

Crochet Techniques Used

This pattern employs filet crochet, a technique that creates fabric through a combination of open mesh spaces and solid filled blocks. The open mesh areas are formed by chain stitches and skipped stitches, while solid blocks are created by working double crochet stitches consecutively. The pattern uses a chart-based system where you follow a grid to determine where to place mesh (open) and block (solid) sections, building the image of praying hands from bottom to top.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern utilizes the following crochet stitches:

• Chain (Ch) – The foundation stitch used to create the base and to form the open mesh sections throughout the pattern
• Single Crochet (Sc) – A basic short stitch used in pattern construction
• Double Crochet (Dc) – The primary stitch used to create solid blocks and fill areas within the filet design
• Skip (Sk) – Stitches are skipped to create the open mesh pattern that defines the design

A key stitch combination in this pattern is (ch2, dc), which means chain 2 stitches, skip the next 2 stitches, then work a double crochet in the third stitch. This creates the characteristic empty mesh of filet crochet. The pattern notes emphasize always skipping two stitches after every chain 2 to maintain proper spacing. At the end of each row, a ch3 (chain 3) serves as the first double crochet of the new row.

Materials and Supplies

To complete this project, you will need:

• Thread – Size 10 thread in a total of 200 yards. The designer used South Maid Size 10 thread in Mint Green for the photographed sample, though any Size 10 thread in your preferred color will work
• Steel Hook – Size 9 steel crochet hook, which is appropriately sized for working with fine thread and creating the precise stitches required for filet crochet

Pattern Instructions and Helpful Guidance

The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF chart that serves as a visual guide for constructing the design. Work begins at the bottom of the chart on row 1, starting from the left side and progressing upward through each row. The directional notation indicates that > means start on the left side, while < means start on the right side, helping you orient yourself as you work through the chart.

Important pattern notes include: all chains and double crochets in the previous row are referred to as stitches when following the chart instructions. The pattern emphasizes the critical step of always skipping two stitches after a chain 2 and working the double crochet in the third stitch—this spacing creates the empty mesh that is essential to filet crochet's distinctive appearance. The ch3 at the end of each row functions as the turning chain and counts as the first double crochet of the subsequent row.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes you have foundational crochet knowledge including comfort with chain stitches, single crochet, and double crochet. The primary challenge is understanding and following the filet crochet chart accurately, maintaining consistent stitch spacing, and working methodically through the rows to build the praying hands image. The use of fine thread and a steel hook requires attention to detail and steady tension control.