1st round: 30 stitches of double crochet over the circle of chain stitches.
2nd round: 36 stitches of double crochet.
3rd round: 1 double, 5 chain, miss 1.
4th round: The same as the preceding--the 1 double always on the 3rd chain.
5th round: Close double crochet; 3 stitches in 1 in the centre stitch of each loop.
6th to 12th round: The same as the 5th, close double crochet, increasing in the centre of each small scallop, which forms the 18 raised petals of the dahlia.
13th round: Here begins the open-work border round the dahlia. Work 1 double between 2 petals, taking together the 2 centre stitches, 1 double in the next, 5 chain. There will be 18 loops of 5 chain in the round.