Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Doily That Got Away

I spent all last week working on a doily that I finally gave up on. This very rarely happens to me; usually I just keep working on a design until I get it right. But this one got the best of me.
It started out like all of my designs do; an idea and a sketch. I am working on my next Lovely Ladies Doily, which will be a little witch sitting on a crescent moon. I worked for 3 days to get the moon right, and instead of starting on the witch, (which I know is going to take some extra time to get right) I thought I would make the gift doily that is going to come with her. I thought it would take me a day, maybe two at the most.
I had an idea for a five-pointed star; each point of the star would be made of cluster stitches. The number of clusters on each point would decrease by one on each round; 9 on the first round, 8 on the next, etc. until I had just one cluster left for the tip of the point. Between each point I wanted to put a spider web design. Since it was to go with a Halloween doily, I would use black thread. I would call it the "Midnight Star" doily.  It all sounded good, and I was eager to get started on it.
My sketch for the Midnight Star. It is a good thing that I can crochet better than I can draw!

The first attempt didn't look right, and since I had only one ball of black thread I ripped it all out and started over (sometimes I save pieces that don't work until the project is finished, just so I can see what I have already tried.) Dc clusters didn't look big enough, so I tried tr clusters. The doily cupped so I added more stitches to the base of the spiderwebs. (When a doily cups, or curls inwards, it means you do not have enough stitches in the round. If it ruffles, it means you have too many.) I tried everything I could think of to get it right, but nothing worked.
I cannot even guess how many times I ripped that thing apart and started over last week. My daughter called on Friday and asked what I was working on. When I told her, she said "You are still working on that doily? Is it really big or something?"
Finally, on Sunday morning I ripped it out for the last time, and decided to give up on it. There is just something about it that I am not getting, and I was tired of trying to figure it out.
"Trick or Treat" doily in progress. I was tired of working with all black and wanted to add some color to this one.
So, yesterday, I started a new doily which I am calling "Trick or Treat," and I am happy to say that it is almost finished. But I will save my sketch of the Midnight Star, and maybe someday I will try again and finally  figure it out.

12 comments:

Chain Stitch Crochet said...

Trick or Treat is beautiful. And you'll get the other one. Sometimes you just need to put it down and when you get ready to pick it up it'll click just what it is that you need to do. I can't wait to see it. :o)

byhooks4u said...

I hope you figure it out someday as I really enjoy your designs. Like the one you have posted in the pic..i may have to try one in those colors, if I can find the orange..

Ana Luisa said...

I'm sure you'll figure it out, like you say, the doily may need some extra chains or dcs in the part between the cluster points.
The Trick or Treat is quite lovely, the colours are so vibrant.
Well done!

Ann said...

Thank you, Mr. Lick Lick. I agree, sometimes you just have to put a project aside and get some space.

The orange is Royale Classic Crochet Thread in color 431, Pumpkin, Vikki. And I could be mistaken, but I believe I bought it at Walmart about a year ago.

I want to do a set of doilies that features different colors of flowers and other designs on black backgrounds, Ana Luisa. I think any color combined with black looks stunning!

crochethuahua said...

I love this doily! Will keep watching for it to appear in your stroe.

Deborah Misfit said...

Love them both! Very pretty!

CrochetBlogger said...

I love the Trick or Treat Doily. Reminds me of Candy Corn in the best way!

Jeanne Feijó Machado said...

Tantas tentativas e ficou maravilhoso. Parabéns pela criação. Não deixe de fazer o outro esboço, tenho certeza que ficará maravilhoso também. Bjs.
Jeanne

Ann said...

Thank you, Pamela and Deborah!
Kathryn, I almost called it "Candy Corn"; that is my favorite Halloween treat!
Thank you, Jeanne! I will keep trying!

Charlotte said...

The Trick or Treat doily is beautiful! Don't give up with the other. Just put it down and try again later.

Sodacoaster said...

Are you the person featured in Crochet World this month? Your Trick or Treat doily looks much like one in that magazine.

Sodacoaster said...

I'm sorry it is by someone named Kerry. It's a beautiful story though.

Your work is beautiful and amazing!!!