Oval Net Doily

Most of the oval netting I have done starts in the middle with several rows of plain netting before continuing around all four sides of the rectangular center.

Many years ago I was browsing online and I caught sight of what I thought was an oval netted doily. That is how it was advertised and what the photo looked like. It had a unique center. I purchased it and eagerly awaited its arrival. When it arrived, I discovered that it was not netted but crocheted. Recently I finally sat down to figure out how to get that type of center in an oval net doily. It took some trial and error, but here's what I came up with.

I think it works.

The first row is the hardest. The remaining 14 rows are fairly straight forward.

Oval Net Doily

943 knots in this doily

23” diameter

Instructions

Tie a connecting knot (CK) at the end of each round to form the last loop of that round.

Center

Round 1: Starting Oval Center

                mesh stick: 1.5 inch

First circle

• Create a slip knot loop that slides on the loose end, leaving a 2-yard tail.
• Put a foundation loop cord through the slipknot loop, tie it into a circle thereby forming a foundation loop, and attach the foundation loop to a tension device.
• Net 15 loops over the foundation loop, the last loop is NOT tied with a CK.

1. Remove the foundation loop cord from the slipknot loop.
2. Place the loose end which was just removed from the netting needle through the slipknot loop.
3. Pull the loose end thread and form the loops into a circle. Once all the extra thread is pulled up, tie an overhand and tighten it up against the second circle.

Second Circle

• To form the slipknot, take the center thread across and behind the loose end thread; pull up the loop, formed and tighten. If the distance from the slipknot to the end of the first circle is 3.75 inches, the entire distance of center thread to the end of the slipknot loop should be 4.25 inches. You may need to adjust where the slipknot is as well as the length of the slipknot loop.
• Now lengthen the slipknot loop as far as it will go. The slipknot will move next to the overhand knot tied at the end of the first circle.  The loop formed by the knot is now 2 ½ inches long.
• Put a foundation loop cord through the slipknot loop.
• Fill another netting needle with the 2-yard loose end.
• Net 16 loops over the foundation loop, the last loop is NOT tied tied with a CK.

Form the Center

1. Remove the thread from the netting needle.
2. Remove the mesh stick.
3. Remove the foundation loop cord from the slipknot loop.
4. Pull the netting needle and first circle through the slipknot loop of the second circle.
5. Once everything is through the slipknot loop, gently pull on the first circle and center thread to tighten the center of the second circle. When the center of the circle is tight, use the loose end and the center thread to tie an overhand knot tightly against the center of the second circle.
6. Twist the loose end around the center thread 24 times, put the end through the center of the first circle, tie the thread from the netting needle and the loose end together with an overhand knot against the center of the first circle, then tie a CK to form a loop the same length as the other loops in round 1.
7. Fasten the center of the first circle to a pillow, stretch the center thread taut, pin the center of the second circle to the same pillow.

Round 2

                mesh stick: 5/8”

Net 1 knot in each loop of circle 2 and then circle 1. (32 loops in the round)

Rounds 3-4

                mesh stick: 5/8”

 Net 1 knot in each loop. (32 loops in round)

Round 5

                mesh stick: 3/4”

 Net 1 knot in each loop. (32 loops in round)

Round 6

                mesh stick: 1/2”

*Net 1 knot in the next loop, wrap the thread once around the mesh stick and net 1 knot in the following loop*; repeat from * to *. (32 loops in round)

Round 7

                mesh stick: 1.5”

Net 4 more knots in the loop formed by the CK, skip the short loop, *net 5 knots in the next loop, skip the short loop*; repeat from * to *. (80 loops the round)

Rounds 8-10

                mesh stick: 1/2”

Net 1 knot in each loop. (80 loops in round)

Round 11

                mesh stick: 1”

Net 1 knot in each loop. (80 loops in round)

Round 12-15

                mesh stick: 1/2”

 Net 1 knot in each loop. (80 loops in round)