Square Centerpiece Crochet Doily

Most of you will remember the 'old fashioned' TV set.  You know, that large console that was in your, or perhaps Grandmother' living room.   Or, for you younger folks, in old nostalgic movies.   Big square or oblong pieces of furniture, most frequently with legs.

But these sets fulfilled more than just TV watching, the top surface became yet another place for the woman of the house to merchandise objects of choice.  Here one would often find picture frames, vases, pieces of art, etc.

And, of course, the display often included the doily; a perfect showcase to whatever might gather.   Women around the world crocheted pieces to adorn their TV's.   The patterns were frequently called doilies, runners or scarves.   One company -- Needlework Services -- (Mail Order Design patterns) took it a step further and actually referred to them as TV covers.

There were a numbers of these design patterns ....

Design 7041 - in three sizes;  19, 21 and 32 inches

Design 7020 - in three sizes; 19, 21 and 32 inches

Design 7226 - in four sizes; 20, 23, 34 and 52 inches 

 

Now, the classic TV Doily has become a thing of the past, but these Designs live on.  They are still the staging for beloved items, only the table has changed.   We now call them Large Centerpiece Square Doilies, or, in some cases small tablecloths.

These patterns, which I adore even thought I do not crochet, are each a small piece of our history.   Are there more, I ya .... MORE TV COVERS!

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Crochet Doilies Pattern Lily Leaflet D-11

I've been working my way through a stack of leaflets the last couple of days.   Near the end, I came across two individual leaflet patterns with the same number.   Now, I've found this a frequent occurrence with the Design Mail Order patterns, but nowhere else.

The case at hand are leaflets from Lily Mills. Leaflets are numbered D-11.

Rock Rose Ruffled Doily is my guess the older of the two.   I'm placing late 1940's, or perhaps early 1950's, based on the paper quality.   It's a lovely ruffled doily, with a repeating rose central motif.
This is followed by:

Pineapple Centerpiece, estimated as early 1960's.   It's a large, 18 inch diameter, beauty with tall proud ruffles.   It also bears the 'Design of the Season' logo, leading me to believe that Lily has a series of leaflets in the series.  I do not, however, have any others .... I'll have to keep a watch.

So, these leave me to ponder.   Was this just a random mistake, an oversight?   Or, will I start seeing pattern number repeats as is done in the Mail Order patterns.   Of course, I don't. know.

Thanks for dropping by for my random musings.
Lorrie

Scintillating Pineapples Crochet Pattern Set

Now, I've written a number of blog posts about Mail Order (Away) patterns, but this particular pattern leaflet was a first for me.

Leaflet T.C. 8 -- where the T.C. stands for True Confession.   Do you remember that magazine (or perhaps you are a current subscriber!).   A magazine with scintillating deemed stories aimed for the young woman; not quite pornography, but certainly not General Housekeeping either.

But, of course, women of this liking would enjoy crocheting as well.  I had just never thought about the magazine offerings being in places other than those periodicals aimed directly at Needlecraft artists.

This is a two page, open fold leaflet, T.C. 8, with two popular patterns, vintage 1950's, from The Spool Cotton Company.  Shown above is Pattern No 7857, a round pineapple daisy luncheon set.

The inside pattern is No 7855, a matching runner is a similar motif that measures 15 x 40 inches.

This pattern leaflet, in PDF form, is available in the shop, should you be interested.

The appearance of this pattern leaflet in my collection stack, makes me wonder what other magazines contracted with the Yarn and Thread companies to feature their pattern as mail-away's.   I'll keep my eyes open, and if you know of others, do let me know.

Thanks for dropping by,

Crocheted Doilies Pattern Leaflet 208

In my stack of loose pattern leaflets is American Thread Leaflet 208.

Tucked away in the back cover is the only identifier - American Thread Company - Leaflet No 208.

Now, my first thought is ... I've seen this before.   I'm sure this is already in the shop.  So, off I went to look.   But no ... not actually.  There are certainly similar Pansy Doilies, but not this exact one.  In looking through them, American Thread had  the common theme of the marvelous three color pansy border and the eight section center, but each of the centers have a slight variation to them.

Frequently Leaflet Numbers will tie to the pattern book thee designs came out of.  Off to American Thread Book 208.

Yes, Book 208 has that lovely Pansy Doily, but, it carries a different center motif and the second leaflet doily -- Rose Irish is not in this book at all.

I spent awhile in Google Images trying to identify where this pattern originates and came to a dead in. There are many doily designs, of course, named Irish Rose, not 'Rose Irish' -- No.    It is a beauty, 12 inches in diameter, with those delicate roses all around.     As curiosity is always my cat, I'll have to continue the watch.   I've no doubt it will pop up somewhere.

I've listed these two in the shop, should you be interested.
Pansy Doily 
Rose Irish Crocheted Doily

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Ruffled Doilies Pattern Book No 306

I needed something light to work on for a couple days and selected a small doily leaflet from the awaiting stack.  The pattern book takes us back to 1954, post war-era, when life and economy were booming.    The leaflet, just 16 pages, is called Ruffled Doilies and is Coats & Clark's Book No 306.  The book was issued as a marketing promotion for their Mercerized Crochet Cottons - Best Six and Big Ball.

Gracing the front cover ....
S-582 Sunburst (top) - What a unique way the designed the rays for this Sunburst.  Small pineapples turn into ruffles, which lead to larger pineapple rays.
S-583 Whirlpool - This, unusually enough, is a knitted doily with not only a lovely whirlpool, but a
floral display and the final scalloped border of ruffles.

And, on the inside cover is this bit of prose.  I particularly like the 'in your hearts of lavender".

S-584 Bride's Doily (Top) is a lovely 20 inch crocheted design that has a center of small flower medallions that is bordered by wide ruffles --- yes; just like a brides bouquet!
S-585 Wedding Ring (Bottom) is a nice combination of crochet and hairpin lace in contrast colors.

S-588 Grape Doily (upper left), is a grand and colorful piece in 5 colors.  Don't let the picture fool you; this doily is 17-1/2 inches in diameter.
S-589 - Fruit Mats are a trio of choices.  Square, oblong or round.   Strawberry, lemon or cherry.

S-592 Rock Pool is an exquisite affair with a center wheel and celtic knot, all made whole with the lace ruffle.

S-586 Poinsettia is a larger design at 18 inches with the marvelous Poinsettia leaves and flowers followed by mesh and a smaller ruffled border.
S-587 Mosaic is a pretty filet crochet square doily that measures out to 16 inches

And, there you have it ... 11 patterns, which included one that is filet crochet.   Although the book is called "Ruffled Doilies", not all of these designs are ruffled.   The all do, however, have the commonality of a well defined border.   Rock Pool is by far my favorite of the group.

Well, this book is now finished; guess I'll have to open up the cabinet and decide what to work on next.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Two More Pansy Doilies

Each day I try to pull out two of the 'pending' Mail Order patterns and get them processed and listed to the shop.    This is typically a random draw, and as it just so happened, today I pulled out two crochet doilies patterns.   Now, that is not unusual, but in this particular case they were both Pansy Doilies.  Quite splendid doilies as well, if I don't say so myself.

Mail Order 2494 - Crocheted Pansy Doily -  This beauty is medium in size at 12 inches.  The Pansies are crocheted separately and then stitched to the doily.  

Anne Cabot's 5568 - Crocheted Chair-Back Set :  This crochet pattern has been termed a Chair-Back set, which I'd think was an apparent mistake (particularly since it ins't portrayed as such).  I'm officially calling it a doily.  This one has the small pansy center, followed by crochet that has been folded to resemble leaves, another large border of pansies with shells in between.   And, if that isn't enough, it has a gathering of three doilies at each of two sides transforming it to 'almost' an oval doily.  

These are both Mail Order Design Patterns.   I believe they are from Kate Marchbanks (which would lead back to Anne Cabot), but I'm not positive of that.   I do know that I welcome them to my collection.   

Can there ever be too many Pansy Doilies?  Well, probably not.   (I've more in the shop, in case wish to browse further). 

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie 

The Pansy Doily Pattern

I was just getting ready to add a new (vintage) Pansy Crochet Pattern to the shop, when I thought I'd better check to make sure it was not already there.  Periodically, the same pattern may have been published in different books by the same brand, or sometimes even, different brands.  

This Pansy Doily design has a flower motif within the doily which, interestingly enough, is not pansy shaped.  

This crochet doily design is billed as a luncheon mat, but a doily it is.   A quite nice pinwheel center, surrounded by an abundance of mesh and then, that charmingly colorful border. 

This Pansy Doily is Mail Order Design 303 from Homecrafters and features the doily motif in the center and finishes with a shell scalloped border.  It is worked in one solid color. 

This is another Mail Order Design, Anne Cabot 5055, and, in addition to the Pansy Doily, there's a Carnation design as well.   As are all the Design patterns, the picture is in black and white, but the pansy border is brightly colored. 

The New Pansy Doily, vintage 1960's has a pretty floral center and a scattering of implied flowers in mesh.   And, of course, the grand border of Pansies. 

This Pansy Doily is designed to be a bowl.   Starch it quite nicely and place it in the front entry for your what-nots.  

This Pansy Doily has a elongated diamond center motif.   It's officially billed as a ruffled doily, of which I'm not sure --- but, a grand design it is.  

The Diamond Pansy Crochet design is quite like the doily right above, with the colorful border and elongated diamonds.   But, look closely, and you'll notice the border that connects the border to the center is different. 

And this Pansy Doily was the one I started with.   And yes, it has a number of similar elements .... like the Pansy (lol), but definitely not the same as the others. 

All the pansy doilies currently in my shop seem to be coming from the 1950's and 1960's.   I have no doubt, however, that this colorful beauty has been around for many generations prior; in books that I've just not gotten to yet.  

If this is not enough Pansy design for your, here's a bit larger sample.  

Well, that's enough for today ... back to work. 

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie  

Crochet Doily Patterns, Star Book 145

The last leaflet of the year -- 2014 -- that I've processed for the shop is  lovely American Thread Book 145.    This book takes us back to 1956, when the ladies were crocheting away while perhaps listening to the most popular songs 'Don't be Cruel', 'Hound Dog', or 'Blue Suede Shoes'.   No, on second hand, who would be able to sit still with The King of Rock and Roll on the record player!   The leaflet is 32 pages and offers up 16 different patterns for our enjoyment.   There is something for all here - knit, crochet and tatting.

American Thread Co., DOILIES, Star Book 145

Pinky:  A crochet fern center that radiates out to floral border.  

Swan Tatted:  American Thread named this piece Swan .. perhaps thinking the pineapples fold out like feathers?   It can be worked at 14-1/2 or 15-1/2 inches.

Sunburst :  These are a colorful affair that should have no problem finding a display point in many a home.  An easy crochet. 

Pansy (on left):  Another variation of the always popular pansy motif.  This colorful bordered piece is 11 or 12 inches in diameter.

Fan (on right):  A pretty flower center that fans out to a delightful shell border.

Dove : A splendid Pineapple doily with wide shells and lace border.

Ivy :  This doily, with Ivy type leaves and yellow flowers is centerpiece quality at 21 or 25 inches in diameter.

Chelsea :  A small set of pineapples, followed by those much larger, surrounded by mesh, culminate at 16 inches.

Violets - Crochet with pink or purple flowers.  Add a second display of  violets for a large doily.

Golden Citrus - A grand display of pineapples and shells.   It is quite glorious in yellow, but I have no doubt equally nice in any color of your choosing.

Quill- Four quadrangles of pineapple motifs make up this pretty 13 or 14 inch doily.

 Marigold:  Starts and ends with pretty marigolds, with pineapples in between.

Valley Lilly:  A proud floral centerpiece doily at 21 or 22 inches.

Cluster Stitch:  Not as petite as it looks at 12 or 13 1/2 inches.

And that's it ... Star Book 145.   What do you think?  The Sunburst design is my personal favorite of the offerings.  And, I think the flowers on the Ivy Doily could be adjusted to make marvelous trim.  

Okay ... on to the next batch of patterns, which will be miscellaneous leaflets and Mail Order Designs, for a week or so. 

Thanks for dropping by,  

Variations of the Mail Order Rose Crochet Doily

As I have been mentioning, I have found very few instances where one of the mail order patterns (Alice Brooks or Laura Wheeler) are actual duplicates of each other.   So, not exactly the same, but closely related to each other; variations you might say.

Today I came across an example of a lovely Rose Design.

Mail Order Design 7327 -  Raised rose motif in an eight point star with diamond motifs between the points.   Made at 13 or 22 inches.

Mail Order Design 603 - Raised rose motif in a 6 point star with wheel center, and shell scallops.  Make at 11 13, 18 or 21 inches.

Mail Order Design 507 - Raised Rose in Pineapple Motif with scalloped edges.  Crochet this runner at 12 x 26, or 15 x 32 inches.

The commonality, of course, is the rose.  Exact same rose, with the petal and leaves, in all three patterns with the variations being the number of star points, or scallops, or round versus oval.   Although I have a lot of these Design patterns, there are hundreds more out there (waiting for me to find), and I have no doubt this exact rose will show up again, and again .... and perhaps, even again.

Thanks for dropping by,

The Homecrafters Crochet Patterns

I've again come across the name 'The Homecrafters" and will say that I'm just a bit perplexed.   I have three Homecrafters patterns in my mail order collection.  All are crochet patterns.

Homecrafters 303 - Pansy Doily 

Homecrafter 318 - Fern Crochet Doily 

Homecrafters 327 - Large Ruffled Pineapple Doily

Homecrafters 329 - Three Doilies

The new pattern I worked today is identified as Homecrafters 312 - a filet crochet half or bibbed apron, that includes only charts, not even a picture of the completed apron.  (It's not often I see a pattern that vague).  

So, why am I perplexed?  Well, it's the name -- The Homecrafters.   Now there are quite a variety of names that the mail order knit and crochet patterns were marketed under.   And, I've been able to find information, be it from Google News advertising clips, Copyright entries in Google Books, the web, or others that have mail order patterns and are blogging or selling them on Ebay.   But, the Homecrafters .... nope .... nothing. 

The patterns are on the full size sheets, as are all the other patterns, but the back of the sheet is printed with patterns for woodworking projects; such as chairs, tables, benches.   The address is listed as PO Box 45, Old Chelsea Station, New York 11, NY.   Now, Old Chelsea Station is right where the Needlecraft Services and other mail order patterns kept their PO boxes, so this falls right in line.  The patterns will be pre-1963 as they reference the 2 digit postal codes.  

And, that's all I know.   I've Bing'd, Google, even browsed Dogpile and, as I've already said ... nada.  

Mysteries always bother me.   So ... if you know anything about The Homecrafters, I'd love to hear from you !!!

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie 

Floral Doily Patterns for Crochet Book 268

The year was 1950, and the Spool Cotton Company issued a bright and colorful pattern booklet, making the grand step from the slightly earlier times where only the front and back covers were in color.  Of course, there was a definite reason for this.  It was the introduction of a line line of bright and colorful, as well as varigated threads under the Coats and Clarks Brand Name.  

The book contains just 11 patterns .... and very nice patterns they are. 

The Newest in Floral Doilies 
Book 268

Gracing the front cover is the incredible lovely ...

FD-437 Tulip Varieties with 16 variegated tulips bordering spiderweb mesh at either 

15 or 17 inches.

FD-440 Wild Rose Scallops, brightly colored with pink roses and border on a green lace background.   It measures either 10-1/2 or 12 inches. 

FD-448 Rose Bouquet, worked in Filet Crochet with full page chart, measuring 

11 x 17-1/2 or 12 x 19-1/2 inches.

FD-441 Flower Cartwheel designs radiates from the wheel to brightly colored flowers at the ends of the spokes.   Make it up at either 10 or 11 inches. 

FD-446 Floral Temptation has a bit of it all; pretty flowers, scalloped border that forms a ruffle at the points, a wheel type center... and more !

FD-443 Daisy Web gives a spiderweb ad large tiered center daisy, with a border of repeating

 daisies and leaves.   Make it at either 14 or 16 inches. 

FD-447 Viola Cornuta is the crocheted motif around a linen center creating 

a runner up to 14-1/2 by 40 inches, 

FD-439 Sweet William is made up of 1-1/2 inch doilies, in bright colors, with a deeply 

ruffled green border

FD-442 Petunias has a nice compact pinwheel central motif that is surrounded by

16 individual petunias.  

FD-445 Coreopsis has bright yellow and while flowers nestled at the ends

of the long narrow leaves. 

And, the back cover .. the last three doilies, of course. 

I personally think it is a delightful collection of doilies.  Now, I know that white and beige are the norm, but I'm fond of colorful.  My particular favorite being the Petunia Pinwheel design.   You?  Have you a favorite? 

Thanks for dropping by for my pattern book review, 

Lorrie