Bilbo's Garden Doily

Bilbo's Garden Doily by Ruth Nguyen

Project Overview

Bilbo's Garden Doily is an advanced knitted lace decoration measuring 15¼ inches in diameter. Designed by Ruth Nguyen, this intricate doily combines traditional lace-making techniques with a modern construction approach, making it an elegant centerpiece or wall decoration suitable for kitchen displays or garden party settings.

What Is Being Made

This is a circular lace doily featuring a sophisticated design centered around a quartet of acorns resting on a bed of leaves and diamond motifs. The doily showcases a visually rich pattern in the center, complemented by a dramatic knitted-on lace edging that creates an attractive saw-tooth border. The finished piece measures 15¼ inches in diameter, making it a substantial and striking decorative element.

Design and Construction Techniques

Despite its old-fashioned, traditional appearance, Bilbo's Garden Doily employs a daringly modern construction method. Rather than following the conventional approach of working a circular doily in 8 wedges, this pattern rearranges the increases to work the doily first in 4 wedges and then in 12 wedges. This unconventional construction method creates visual interest and demonstrates advanced knitting design principles while maintaining the classic aesthetic of a vintage doily.

The pattern utilizes charted instructions, specifically referencing Chart B for gauge purposes. A knitted-on lace edging is worked separately and attached to form the distinctive saw-tooth edge detail.

Stitches and Techniques

• Circular knitting using both circular needles and double-pointed needles
• Lace knitting with increases and decreases to create openwork patterns
• Cable knitting techniques (cable needle required)
• Provisional cast-on method using waste crochet thread in a contrasting color
• Chart-based pattern reading and execution
• Knitted-on edging construction
• Stitch marker usage for pattern tracking

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Knit Picks Curio #10 in Natural (colorway 26254), 100% cotton with 721 yards per 100 grams. One ball of yarn is required for this project. The yarn weight is classified as thread, making it exceptionally fine and suitable for delicate lace work.

Needles and Tools:

• One 16-inch circular needle, US 1 (2.25 mm)
• One set of 5 double-pointed needles, US 1 (2.25 mm)
• Cable needle
• Steel crochet hook, US size 1 (2.35 mm) for provisional cast-on
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends
• Locking stitch marker or small safety pin for pattern tracking

Gauge: 32 stitches and 48 rounds over the pattern in Chart B using US 1 (2.25 mm) needles, or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced, reflecting the complexity of lace knitting, the fine yarn weight, the intricate charted patterns, and the sophisticated construction techniques involved. Knitters should have solid experience with circular knitting, lace techniques, and the ability to read and follow detailed charts before attempting this project.