How to keep a doily from turning into a cone

I finally got brave enough to cast on a doily.

Having had my first attempt at working increases in the round when crocheting turn out as a cone worthy of a scoop of ice cream, and not wanting the same for my knitted doily, does anyone have any tips or tricks to offer other than spreading it out over a gazillion double points and a little bit of looseness in the tension?

Inquiring minds would love to know…

You probably need more increases more frequently so it will lay flat.

Thanks Sue! I’m not so sure the pattern will allow for more of them. It’s the Dahlia doily by Larisa Scott.

Maybe I just need to make sure my YO are loose enough for sufficient stretch, and use all of the above measures. And aggressive blocking plus old fashioned boiled starch. Haven’t done that in years - what fun! :mrgreen:

Try going up a needle size or two then, that could help loosen it up.

On ravelry, someone was having trouble getting the center of a blanket to lie flat, and it was suggested to increase on every round at the beginning, instead of every other round. Just on the first couple inc rounds which would be before you get into the pattern stitches. That could help.

I just got back into crocheting a couple of months ago. I’ve been doing charity hats for winter. Long story, but I quit smoking so I looked for something to tuck in my purse and do at break time rather than burn one. I must have looked at a million hat patterns. Anyway, they all crochet flat like your doily up to a certain point where you stop increasing. Whether you do single, half double, or double crochet, the order of crocheting these is always the same. It’s a series of staggered increases in every round.

Make a ring, join, work the number of stitches called for, slip stitch to join. The first round is crochet two stitches in each stitch around, join. Chain 1,2, or 3 depending on the stitch you’ve chosen. Second round, crochet one, two stitches in next stitch, repeat all around. Chain 1, 2, or 3. Third round, crochet two stitches, work two stitches in one, repeat around. Fourth round, crochet three stitches, work two stitches in one, repeat around. Chain 1, 2, or 3. I think you get the idea. You increase one stitch in between until you get the size you want. When you stop increasing and work straight crochets around, your piece will still keep increasing for the next row or two, then it will begin to cup to form straight sides, like for a hat. Hope this helps.
The reason I said “crochet” in each stitch is that you can use any stitch, it will work for single, half, double, and treble. It will help if you use a safety pin or bobby pin to mark the beginning of your rounds.

Occasionally when you work these increases on a project, the item will ruffle or cup anyway. I think it maybe has something to do with the yarn type. When this happens, unravel the piece back to the beginning of the round. Work a straight round without any increases, then resume the decreases on the next round. You may have to do one or two straight rounds in between increase rounds to make this lie flat. This is perfectly acceptable.

FOLinPJs,

Like you, I quit smoking about 20 years ago by crocheting. Alas for me, quitting didn’t stick through my divorce. :sad: But it does work! :yay: And even better, it’s still working for you!! :cheering:

You’re 100% spot on on all of the ways to increase evenly while crocheting, and ways to make the center lie flat - took me awhile back then to figure it out by making several round potholders, or what turned out to be several round potholders that started life as something else. :rofl: :rofl:

I just didn’t want the same thing to happen on this knitted doily, which seems like it’s going to work out now that I’m almost half done. <crossing my fingers that I haven’t jinxed myself>

Seriously in need of some longer DPN though to finish this doily - I’m up to the 7 inchers now. Too many stitches crunched onto too short of a needle, plus YO at the end of each needle = a disaster in the making.

When I mentioned needing longer DPN to Husband, he sweetly offered to tape my 6" DPN together to make an even foot per needle. What’s up with THAT??? :zombie:

So sweetly did he offer that I immediately ordered a set of 10" Addi size 1 DPN to prevent the unfortunate but lovingly performed husband project. That way I could tell him the set is on its way, but thank you for the thought anyway.

Better than shouting “DON’T TOUCH MY NEEDLES,” which was my first instinct.:roflhard: