The materials necessary are a steel crochet hook, considerably finer than for ordinary crochet work, as the work must be very firm, even and close. Irish Crochet Thread, numbers 36 to 50 or D. M. C. cotton numbers 70 to 100 inclusive and number 10 for the padding cotton will be needed. All laces look better if pressed before making up, this is especially true of Irish Crochet. And when slightly soiled it can be washed in soap suds, made from any good laundry soap; rinse thoroughly in several waters, starch slightly and iron on the wrong side on a heavy blanket. These simple directions help to make the lace look like new. In Irish Crochet the motifs are made separately mostly worked over a padding cotton.
Fig. 249. Doily with crochet edge
Then these motifs are basted on a pattern of cambric, or paper muslin which has been cut to the desired shape. A row of chainstitching is worked and basted to the edge of the pattern, then the filling in background is worked, joining the different motifs together with rows of chainstitching and picots or any other background stitch desired.
Doily with Irish Crochet Edge ([Figure 249]).
This can also be used for a bread plate.
1st row—around a 24 inch circle of linen work a row of single crochet.
2nd row—5 chain, miss 3 single crochet and fasten with a single crochet in the 4th stitch; continue around mat.