Materials
2 x 50 g balls DMC Hermina 4-ply
Needles 2.75 mm (12)
Measurement
38 cm (15”) diameter
This is a classic 6-pointed lace doily knitted in the round from the center outward, finishing as an elegant 38 cm (15-inch) hexagon. Worked on double-pointed needles using fine 4-ply cotton thread, the pattern features intricate, expanding lace motifs created through paired increases and decreases, with every alternate round knitted plain to let the lace pattern open up. The piece is finished with a decorative picot-style cast-off edge and blocked into a crisp, six-pointed geometric shape.
Knitting Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- k: Knit
- k1, k2, k3…: Knit 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches, knit 3 stitches, etc.
- m1: Make 1 stitch (In classic/vintage lace doily patterns like this, m1 is typically worked as a yarn over (yo) to create a decorative lace eyelet)
- sl 1: Slip 1 stitch knitwise (unless otherwise specified)
- psso: Pass slipped stitch over the knitted stitch(es)
- sl 1, k1, psso: Slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch (left-leaning single decrease, equivalent to SSK)
- k2 tog: Knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning single decrease)
- k3 tog: Knit 3 stitches together (double decrease)
- sl 1, k2 tog, psso: Slip 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over (double decrease)
- sts: Stitches
- LH: Left-hand (needle)
- ( ) or [ ]: Work instructions within parentheses or brackets as many times as directed
Doily Pattern
Cast on 6 sts; 2 sts on each of 3 needles, work with 4th needle.
- Round 1: Knit.
- Round 2: (m1, k1) to end of round.
- Round 3 and alternate rounds: Knit.
- Round 4: (m1, k2) to end of round.
- Round 6: (m1, k1, k twice in next st, k1) to end of round.
- Round 8: (m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog) to end of round.
- Round 10: (m1, k1, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso) to end of round.
- Round 12: (m1, k3, m1, k1) to end of round.
- Round 14: (m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k1) to end of round.
- Round 16: k1, (m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k3). Repeat to last 2 sts, m1, k2.
- Round 18: k2, (m1, k1, m1, k5). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat m1, k3.
- Round 20: (m1, k2 tog, m1, k3, m1, k2 tog, m1, k1) to end of round.
- Round 22: k1, m1, k1, (m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k1, m1, k3, m1, k1). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k1, k2 tog, m1, k1, m1, k2.
- Round 24: k2, (m1, k2 tog, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k2 tog, m1, k5). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat m1, k2 tog, m1, k3.
- Round 26: k3, (m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k7). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k4.
- Round 28: (m1, k3, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k3, m1, k1). Repeat to end of round.
- Round 30: k1, (m1, k4, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k4, m1, k3). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat m1, k2.
- Round 32: k2, (m1, k4, m1, k3, m1, k4, m1, k5). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k3.
- Round 34: k3, (m1, k4, m1, k5, m1, k4, m1, k7). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k4.
- Round 36: (m1, k4, m1, k5, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k5, m1, k4, m1, k1) to end of round.
- Round 38: k1, (m1, k4, m1, k7, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k7, m1, k4, m1, k3). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k2.
- Round 40: k2, (m1, k4, m1, k9, m1, k1, m1, k9, m1, k4, m1, k5). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k3.
- Round 42: k3, (m1, k5, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k5, k2 tog, m1, k3, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k5, k2 tog, m1, k5, m1, k7). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k4.
- Round 44: (m1, k4, m1, k6, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, m1, k5, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, m1, k6, m1, k4, m1, k1) to end of round.
- Round 46: k1, [(m1, k5, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, (m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k1) twice, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, m1, k5, m1, k3)]. Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k2.
- Round 48: k2, [(m1, k6, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k1, (m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso) 5 times, m1, k1, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k6, m1, k5)]. Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k3.
- Round 50: k3, [(m1, k7, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k15, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, (m1, k7) twice)]. Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k4.
- Round 52: [(m1, k4, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, (m1, k2 tog) 5 times, m1, k1, (m1, k2 tog) 5 times, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, m1, k4, m1, k1)]. Repeat to end of round.
- Round 54: k1, (m1, k5, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k23, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, m1, k5, m1, k3). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k2.
- Round 56: k2, [(m1, k6, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, (m1, k2 tog) 6 times, m1, k1, (m1, k2 tog) 6 times, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k6, m1, k5)]. Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k3.
- Round 58: k3, (m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, m1, k29, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k3, k2 tog, m1, k7). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k4.
- Round 60: [(m1, k2 tog) twice, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, (m1, k2 tog) 14 times, m1, k3 tog, m1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, (m1, k2 tog) twice, m1, k1)]. Repeat to end of round.
- Round 62: k5, (m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k31, m1, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, m1, k11). Repeat to end of round, ending last repeat k6.
Cast off knitwise thus:
(Cast on 3 sts, cast off 6 sts, sl remaining st back to LH needle.) Repeat to end.
Fasten off. Darn in end.
Pin out the doily evenly at the six points. Press the work thoroughly to form a true hexagon.