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<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nI love the resurgence of doilies in home decorating. I made a doily pillow<\/a> a few months ago and it still sits proudly on my little loveseat. You can actually see it in a few photos of mine, such as the one here<\/a>, here<\/a>, and here<\/a>. I really adore it.<\/p>\n A few weeks ago I decided I wanted a bigger doily. Like, big-big. At first I was a little intimidated at trying to make a big doily the old-fashioned way. I mean, come on! Tiny thread + tiny hook = sore hands, fingers, and elbows. I didn’t want to put myself through that right before the rush of Christmas crafting. So, I barged into my closet and through my vintage leaflet books and found one with doily patterns that were medium-sized and decided I’d crochet a normal doily, but with a heavier weight yarn. <\/p>\n My husband’s grandmother is an amazing crafter. She’s made my babies quilts and crocheted them a few blankets. She recently sent over a huge bag of yarn she didn’t want anymore. Most of it was acrylic stuff, some vintage balls thrown in as well. Amongst them was a HUGE 1-lb skein of Red Heart in ‘antique white’ or something like that. I grabbed it and a K-hook (6.5mm) and started at it. <\/p>\n I ended up with a semi-nice blanket, but it was kind of stiff, even with such a big hook. I was feeling pretty bummed, as I had spent…like….soooo much time on it (a few episodes of Criminal Minds). I tossed it in the wash without even feeling that “what if it dissolves?!?” anxiety that I usually feel when I machine-wash handknits. It came out even stiffer! I shoved that baby in the dryer with a load of laundry and what came out was….oh, it was like a cloud! <\/p>\n All that to say–it worked! I got a huge-ass doily to call a lap blanket, now. I couldn’t be happier with it!<\/p>\n![\"details\"](\"http:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4127\/5161695471_7399ca1926.jpg\")
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