Posted 13 years ago
vetraio50
(756 items)
These are four doilies as promised. These are not from my family but were bought second hand. I am not sure of their quality and would like some comment on them. I have some other photos of the back and detail, if anyone is interested.
The fourth one of the 'crooked cross' shape is a good luck example, I believe.
"A doily (or doilie) is an ornamental mat, originally the name of a fabric made by Doiley, a 17th-century London draper. Doily earlier meant "genteel, affordable woolens", evidently from the same source.
They are crocheted and sometimes knitted out of cotton or linen thread. Openwork allows the surface of the underlying object to show through. In addition to their decorative function doilies have the practical role of protecting fine-wood furniture from the scratches caused by crockery or decorative objects.
Many patterns for crocheting or knitting doilies were published by thread manufacturers in the first part of the 20th century. The designers were often anonymous. The designs could be circular or oval starting from the center and working outward, reminiscent of the Polar coordinates system. Doilies, as well as other household items, may be made by crocheting rows on a grid pattern using a technique called filet crochet, similar to points on the Cartesian coordinate system. Although it may to some extent interfere with the original use, some doilies have raised designs (rose petals, popcorn, or ruffles) rather than being flat."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doily
My guess is the first one is tatted, not crocheted! They're all beautiful.
Thank you for your comment, stefdesign.
Can one tell whether tatting is done with needles or shuttles?
Thanks for your comments bellin68 and s_p. I don't believe the crooked cross is a German symbol. It moves to the left and is imperfect as well. These days I don't really use them. Rather I have Chinese wooden stands and perspex pieces. The rectangular one is a bit of a challenge for most people.
I remember my grandmother and her sister starting at the centre of an item and with jagged movements they created these amazing mathematical designs. My mother still does crochet rugs and embroiders. Lately my sister has gotten involved as well and has taken up American-style quilting, as have many other Australian women
Thanks marcobabe13, scandinavian_pieces & mark too!
Many thanks BeauxPurdy!
Love the first two. The 1st one is tatted (awesome project inspiration), the second one is a lovely knit.
Thanks very much BluVamp! Not just old tat?
Many thanks AGHCOLLECT!
Many thanks NUTSABOTAS!
I have not seen this one in quite some time. Thanks again!
OMGoodness Kev, How did I miss these lovely linens?! They're so beautiful, especially the one in first photo. Love, love love.
Hi AIMATHENA!
Thanks for the love and comment.
After a while so many things go to the bottom of the list.
It's been a few years now on CW.
Maybe this time it'll get noticed by an antique/vintage linen expert ;)
vetraio50, I guess we have Newfld to thank for bringing this back to the top. :-)
It looks like stefdesign never answered your question about tatting. Tatting can be done with either a needle or a shuttle:
https://pieceworkmagazine.com/learning-to-tat-needle-or-shuttle/
It's worth noting that macrame is similar to tatting, in that both employ many of the same knots.
I concur with BluVamp about the second one being knitted.
The third and fourth are both crocheted.
I find it interesting that whoever did that filet crochet piece seems to have made mistakes in the swastika/sauwastika on the left. I don't quite understand how they managed that, because the filet crochet technique is fairly easy. You just 'fill in' the little squares, or leave them open, depending on the image you're trying to create.
BTW, the reason I used both terms, swastika and sauwastika is because I had trouble deciding whether I was looking at the front or the back of the filet crochet piece.
Filet crochet is normally worked in rows that alternate, so there is no 'right side,' unless and until the artisan creates a border. Yours has a border, and it looks to me like we might be looking at the front of that final round, but I'm not quite sure.
I’m so glad to see doilies posted. They are fascinating little works of art.
Keramikos, I overlooked the little mistake you pointed out….that is a very curious omission.
Great comments and Thanks Guys !!!!!