Crochet Stars ⭐️ ✨

 The Stars are out again tonight..... shining like celestial gems.

....And speaking of Stars, have you seen the new commercial for our Crochet Star Chart Pattern on Youtube?  The Star Chart Pattern commercial is a stellar reminder that you can bring the magic of the night sky right into your home. What a perfect night it is to celebrate the cosmos with a star project of your own!

Whether you're looking for a gift for your favorite stargazer or a beautiful new pattern to add to your collection, we've got you covered. The Star Chart Pattern is on sale now, along with a few other Doily Designs Star Patterns.  We have something to make your crafty heart sing. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!
⭐️
~ 🧶 Cathleen 

Crochet Mr Flowers Top 🌺 🧶 🪝 flower pencil top

 Crochet Magic Flower Pencil Topper is the Magic Flower! 🪄✨🌺✨

✨🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺✨

Introducing the Magic Flower Pencil Topper, a fun and creative way to add a touch of fun to your writing tools! 🪄🌺✏️

Customize your own blooming pencil or pen with six distinct flower variations and various sizes of leaves. 

Whether you're working with a standard big pen or a #2 pencil, this topper is designed to fit perfectly. ✏️🌺🪄

The best part? You can easily take it off and on, but still doesn't fall off, so you can switch up your style whenever you like. 🌺🌼🌷

Choose from a variety of flower designs like Rose, Carnation, and Daisy to match your mood and create a unique flower arrangement that's all your own. 

Six Flower designs in one pattern!

Let your creativity blossom with the Magic Flower Pencil Topper crochet pattern!

 🌺🪄✨

Have fun making these fun and easy Magic Flowers 🪄🌺

Find this pattern on Etsy.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen 🧶🪝

Doily Designs ❅

Captain Blacklace Doily of Doily Designs

 Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶

 a.k.a. Cathleen of Doily Designs 🪝

Avast, mateys! Captain Blacklace Doily has a new anchor to drop on Substack. 

Thanks for droppin' anchor here at Doily Designs, matey. 

✨Set yer sails for our Substack ~ even if you don't sign on board, there'll be treasures to behold. No need to even sign the ship's log to see what's what! 

SubStack Link Between the STARS ✨'s  🧭⚓️👇 
Full of Treasured free patterns for SubScribers who anchor here ⚓️👇
(or click anywhere it says SubStack to take you to Cathleen's SubStack ;)

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Subscribe or walk the plank!  🗡️ 🌊  👀 😂

🧭 Best wishes, happy travels, and happy crocheting! 🧶🌊

~ Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶🪝

Crochet Chapstick Carrier 🎃🌼🍉🇺🇸🎄Fun Seasonal Designs

 Lip Balm Seasonal Tiny Tote Crochet Pattern Revive 🎄🇺🇸🍉🎃🌼🧶

Chapstick holder: crochet these cute tiny totes in fun seasonal designs 🍋🎃🌺🍉🇺🇸🧶🌼

Autumn and other fun Holiday designs in one pattern. 🎃🌺

Chapstick is a daily essential, but it always seems to get lost at the bottom of a bag or purse. Solve the problem with the Chapstick Tote! This small, stylish holder is the perfect size to keep your favorite lip balm within reach. 🍉

It's a quick and easy project, making it the perfect gift for anyone.  You can customize the tote or chapstick caddy with different colors and accessories to create a unique and personalized accessory. 🍎

This pattern is a fun, simple way to use up leftover yarn, and can be attached to a keychain, bag, or belt loop. Never lose your lip balm again! 🥳 

Visit 👉 Doily Designs Etsy for pattern.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting! 

~ Cathleen 🧶

Crochet Harvest Cloth and Pumpkin Pouch

 Pumpkin Pouch lays out to a Harvest Cloth Doily 🎃🫐

Harvest Cloth Pumpkin Pouch Pattern

The votes are in and the Harvest Cloth & Pumpkin Pouch Pattern is back!

Etsy's AI might think it's a simple washcloth, but we know better, don't we?  While it's great for storing soap and other goodies, it was just too charming to be scrubbing things.  But if you want to use it as a washcloth, I highly recommend holding two strands of yarn together.

This pattern is a celebration of all things fun and creative, with the coming of Fall. It is perfect for making:

*  Pumpkin Pouch:  The drawstring makes it into a delightful little bag to hold gifts, candy, or other
    Autumn treasures.  The best part, the drawstring is an accent that stays in the cloth where it is supposed
    to when it is lying completely flat.
*  Stitch Learning Project:  This pattern is a great way to learn or practice some new stitches techniques.
    You'll get a fantastic handle on treble crochet (Tr) and front and back post stitches (FP/BP)

So grab your hook and let's make some fun, not-quite-washcloth pumpkin pouches, crocheting in the round!

Thank you for stopping by.
Best wishes and happy crocheting! ♾️🧶➰

Free Crochet Treasures Inside 💎🧶🪝

Charting a course through the vast digital seas of the internet, a pirate's greatest treasure isn't gold or jewels, but the sight of a crew thriving on the bounty you've shared.  💎

There's nothing that fills me with more joy than seeing my free patterns come to life in your hands. It's truly a sight to behold your beautiful creations, and I'm always grateful when ye take time to share your loot.

A mighty thank you to all who have featured my designs on your blogs and social media! Your support means the world to this old salt.

I especially want to give shout out to the hearty mates who recently shared my patterns. It is a true compliment to see my work featured, and I appreciate the specific credit given ~ like the 'Cathleen Gorbatenko'.  It warms my barnacled heart to see the care you take in showcasing my work, thank you!

Drop anchor ⚓️  and check out a few of their creations and blogs:

* Hi CROCHET Written by Jeff Tse
*  1001 Patterns Written by Anna

Hi CROCHET featured the Mint Chocolate Chip Doily Pattern at #2 on their list. 🥳

Go to Hi CROCHET to see the rest of this post.

Below 1001 Patterns featured the Tiny Star! ⭐️🥳💎

Paid pattern shares;
Cranberry Pineapple Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern on Reddit, courtesy of  Meh_I_Said

Thank you for all the likes and shares ❤️

Best wishes and happy crocheting!🧶

Come back aboard the Jolly Purl on Doily Design to follow the adventure and hear the latest Pirate tales. 🧶🪝🏴‍☠️
~ Captain Blacklace Doily 🦜

🌊⚓ 🧭 The Captain’s Compass: Charting New Waters Online ⚓🌊

 Hooks & Horizons: A Pirate’s Voyage Through the Net 🧶🪝🛜 Cyber meets Fiber adventure....

🧭Our pirate, Captain Blacklace Doily, has set her sights on new seas — and aye, they’re not waters of salt and tide, but the swirling currents of today’s technology. She surfs the waves of the web, balancing between satellites and space junk, her sails filled with hope as she rides the digital oceans.

Anchoring ship in such ports as; Substack, YouTube, Etsy, and my blog — each a different island along our map. 🗺️

Some shores hold free patterns👇, like a messages in a bottle drifting to you 📜🍾, while others guard new releases, treasures I’ve worked long and hard to uncover🎁, too precious to be given away.

Follow the links as Captain Blacklace Doily shares free treasured secrets in LINKS TO FREE PATTERNS

The tides of technology rise and fall, but our compass points ever toward creativity. This is just the beginning, mates — a fresh pattern release has surfaced, with more charted on the horizon. 

Set sail aboard the waves of Christmas Mandala Doily Pattern Tutorial on 
Hopes are high. If the wind continues to favor us, we’ll carry on into uncharted waters — and you’re welcome aboard for every stitch and every storm.

So raise your hooks, keep your eyes sharp, and sail with me. The web is wide, the adventure grand, and our ship’s only just left port. 🧶🪝

Thank you for stopping by.
Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

~ Pirate Blacklace Doily 🧶

📚✨ Back to School with a Fresh Pattern Update! ✨📚

Celebrating back to school....

Doily Designs just added something new to the Phone Pouch Pattern ~ now it comes with the Apple Tote design!  Perfect for carrying your phone, or a few small essentials, and keeping it all stylish and hands free while you are on the go, or for making that perfect teachers gift.

Make in an assortment of colors!

Whether heading back to school, getting ready for fall, or just looking for a quick and practical crochet project, this updated bundle is a fun and easy bundle put together for you. 🧶💝

✨Included:

     🧶 Original Phone Pouch Pattern

    🧶 New Apple Tote Design with Apple Leaf

    🧶 Cross Charm

🎒 Grab the updated pattern today and start the season with handmade style!

Thank you for stopping by.

Find external links in sidebar.

Best wishes, happy crocheting, and have a great year!

~ Cathleen

Crochet 2 Pattern Bundle! 🥳

New Boho Granny Mini American Flag, 2 pattern Bundle.

You get the new, recently released Mini Boho Granny American Flag, paired with the adorable, tiny American Flag Heart Plush, sold in a 2-pattern set to crochet a few little patriotic treasures.

🇺🇸 Pattern 1; The Boho Granny Mini American Flag 👈

This crochet flag is made in a timeless granny style, resembling the original Boho Granny American Flag Blanket, with beautiful texture and cozy stitch work, but miniaturized. Great as a wall hanging, table display, or decorative accent piece for holiday gatherings, or everyday Americana décor.

Pattern 2; The American Flag Heart Plush Keychain 👈
Carry a little patriotism with you wherever you go! This tiny plush heart is quick and easy, beginner-friendly pattern, for use as a keychain, bag charm, or a small keepsake gift.

 Bundle includes both patterns together at a special value price

• Easy to follow instructions

• Perfect for holiday projects, gifts, or just celebrating your love of country in the form of crochet

Grab the 2 Pattern Bundle and get started on your 🇺🇸 Patriotic crochet journey today.

👇 click Doily Designs Etsy link below to find these patterns and more.

Doily Designs Etsy

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen

We've Set Sail and found our first TREASURE ⛵️ 🥳

Ahoy, mateys! 🌊🏴‍☠️ We’ve set sail, and the wind's are in our favor ~  our grand adventure is officially underway. 

With needle and yarn as our compass, we’re charting a course toward treasures that can be held, hugged, and handed down. 🧶🪝

What be our first discovery, you ask? None other than this Mini Boho Granny American Flag ~  a charming heirloom design that waves with timeless beauty. This tiny treasure carries the spirit of freedom, stitched square by square, stitch by stitch, and it’s waiting to be recreated by your own hands.

With the replicating power of patterns, you too can bring this flag to life ~ a small treasure mighty in meaning. 

Whether you make it to display, gift, or cherish, this little flag will stand as a symbol of creativity, tradition, and the adventures that lie ahead.

⚓️ The voyage has only just begun. Stay tuned, sailors ~ more treasures await on the horizon.

Follow this link ahead to dig up more treasures; Doily Designs Etsy

And yet another to follow us along the shores of SubStack.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, happy sailing, and happy crocheting!

Mini American Flag

 New! 🥳

American flag crochet pattern, with the same charm as the original Boho Granny American Flag Blanket pattern, just ... MINIATURIZED. 🤗

Thank you for stopping by.

Stop by Doily Designs Etsy to see find this pattern and more.

Best wishes, happy crocheting, and God bless!

~ Cathleen

Doily Designs Setting Sail

 

Doily Designs Sets Sail

Doily Designs is beginning a new, unique adventure on SubStack! 

In these shifting seas of creativity, I find myself riding the wild currents of change, perched atop a beast of burden in this vast and unpredictable market. The waters are teeming with fierce and talented makers—each vying for their own glimmering treasures. Yet I hoist my flag with pride, setting my sights on heirloom troves and hidden knowledge, ready to carve out my own place among them.

This voyage won’t be easy. The world of crochet design is full of competition, and every new stitch feels like a battle won. But with hook in hand, imagination as compass, and courage as crew, I press forward—charting a course through storm and sunshine alike.

Why Set Sail Now?

The seas of handmade design are more crowded than ever. There are countless brilliant crafters, each offering their own patterns, techniques, and treasures. It would be easy to feel swallowed by the waves.

But every sailor knows: the sea is vast enough for many ships. My work—my doilies, shawls, ponchos, and playful creations—isn’t just about patterns. It’s about story, memory, and the joy of turning a ball of yarn into something timeless.

This Substack is my logbook, my captain’s journal, a place to share the maps I draw (patterns), the ports I visit (projects), and the treasures I uncover along the way (tips, inspiration, maybe even a few secrets).

What You’ll Find Here

• Patterns & Projects: Some free, some exclusive—woven with care.

• Behind the Scenes: The design process, the challenges, and the triumphs.

• Treasure Maps: Tutorials, tips, and heirloom wisdom passed down through stitches.

• Adventure & Storytelling: Crochet is more than loops of yarn—it’s a journey worth telling in tales of storm and sparkle.

The Pirate Spirit of Making

To crochet is to be part pirate, part poet. We take humble string and steal back time from the endless rush of life. We craft beauty from chaos, treasure from the ordinary. And yes, in a market where competition is fierce and the winds are unpredictable, we need that pirate’s daring spirit to survive and thrive.

I may not have a ship’s wheel or a parrot on my shoulder (though a crochet hook tucked behind the ear feels close enough), but I do have the same hunger for discovery, the same stubborn spark to chase after what’s just beyond the horizon.

---

So come aboard. Grab your yarn, sharpen your hooks, and sail with me into this adventure. The seas are wide, the competition fierce, and the treasures endless. Together, we’ll stitch our own legends.

Fair winds,
Cathleen of Doily Designs 🪝 (a.k.a. Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶

Find me on SubStack in link between ✨'s 👇

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Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

American Flag Blanket

 Junior American Flag Afghan

SubScribe on SubStack for the latest Doily Design's crochet designs, or follow this blog to support Cathleen and her Doily Designs.

Purchases of the American Flag Blanket, all include the Heart Pillow, Medium Plush size, when you purchase the pattern or blanket on Etsy!

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes!

Cross Starching ✝️

Crochet Cross Pattern, and Cross stiffening ✝️

Elegant, lacy, jeweled CROSSES made with various yarn sizes, and various jewels.

...and my cross stiffening adventures on YouTube     

Including this one with John Denver (below).

Crosses where first tested with a half and half glue/water mixture, which works well. 

Secondly tested with 4 cups water to 1/4 cup cornstarch for stiffening, or starching, which also worked very well.

💎 Some were stiffened with jewels others without. When you attach your jewels only seems to matter if you used a water soluble adhesive. There was one cross that it would have been better to apply the jewel before starching. 

When gifting Jeweled Crosses 💎✝️, why not consider letting the recipient choose the jewel, and maybe even yarn colors, and plank ends.

I have had several people prefer them not stiffened, and to attach their own jewels.

Drying times varied, based on yarn, and climate.

These varied from half a day, to a day and a half for bulky acrylic cross.

You can view the entire stiffening process on YouTube

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, happy crocheting, and God bless.

Ai Crochet 🤯 🧶

People at it again...

Watch out for Ai crochet pattern scams.

Have you seen this rooster? 🤨

For a split second I got excited, thinking that someone actually figured out how to create this cute Rooster, only to snap to my senses before ever daring to click the link. 

Yes it is people at it again, and the crochet rooster photos seen below are Ai. 

Keep these scams in mind when scrolling, and seeing pictures like this one with unrealistic crochet objects and links to free patterns. These are Ai rendered photos, and this is a trending scam, that may even include a 'pattern'. Which in some reported cases are also ai generated 'patterns', and not a real pattern at all. Leaving people confused and disappointed.

If you frequent this blog, you may recall several  past issues that I had done about Ai and crochet, one of which includes the cute Ai rooster seen below. 

Notice anything weird? 🤔 

One difference is this latest one has more recognizable 'stitches', giving it the appearance that it is the real deal. Yet they are almost identical in most aspects. A second attempt perhaps.

While people worry about where Ai is taking us, we need to also be aware of threats by other humans happening now.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy real time crocheting!

To see Doily Designs real crochet pattern catalog, go to Doily Designs Etsy

Jeweled Crochet Cross 💎✝️🧶

Crochet Cross Pattern 🧶✝️❤️

Crochet an elegant lace, jeweled CROSS. Add jewels for beautiful finishing touch.

Leave your cross soft, and subtle, or follow simple steps to stiffen crosses with items that you probably already have at home.  

Jeweled Cross pattern  works up quickly, for lovely handmade gifts, to be used as Cross wall hangings, Holiday decoration, Cross doilies, and more.

This pattern came to me overnight, and I have cherished these times. Find some Cross Stiffening videos on YouTube :

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, happy crocheting, and God bless!

Back to School Crochet Patterns

It is that time of year again, with all the fun and excitement of back to school.

These times bring inspiration for making teachers gifts, crocheting for school preparation, or simply relaxing with a crochet hook after all the excitement 🥴

From pencil ✏️ lip balm totes, to apple lip balm totes 🍎 washcloths 🌺 flower coasters, and more, for some fun, quick, and easy teacher, and kids gifts 🎁 

Doiily Designs crochet, back to school pattern SALE 🧨 Happening NOW! (Thru August 6th, 2025)

Follow the link to see more Doily Designs on YouTube

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

Lazy Daisy Washcloth

 Flower washcloth, dishcloth, and/or doily, placemats PATTERN

Make in a multitude of colors ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤

And of course,

Americana Lazy Daisy Washcloth 

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting! 🌼🌸🌼🌸🌼

Circle CRAZY 🧶 🧶 🧶

Doily Designs Crochet Circles & Lazy Circle Lace Washcloth Pattern .

Enjoy this pattern going around and around ⭕ 🧶 🎠 😂 🧶🎠

Simple, and elegant crochet circular washcloth is a fun beginner pattern, with updated stitches, and a classic looking crochet design. 

Circles can also be used as placemats, or doilies.

Make multiple size circles, for a multitude of uses.

Use CIRCLES for eyes, jar bottoms, bag base, pillows, and more! 🧶 

If you are just starting out, and new to crocheted circles, this pattern gives you a basic formula, sizes, hooks, with stitch chart, and even a beautiful, lacy washcloth pattern, to start your journey crocheting in the round. 

We are loving going full circle with this pattern .

 🧶 ⭕ 🧶 

Don't like MAGIC RINGS? Check out my YouTube video on how to make the perfect Magic Ring every time, along with video tutorial for washcloth pattern (available with pattern purchase).

If you enjoyed the star, follow link to blog page for free Tiny Star patterns,  and if you enjoyed this Magic Ring tutorial, find more of my tutorials on YouTube , and please like and subscribe, :) and Thank you.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

Ai CROCHET SCAMS

Ai, or a people problem?

With the abundant use of Ai, I have been seeing to many posts with lovely crochet items claiming to give you a free link to the pattern. 🛑🚨🧨 This is more than likely TOM FOOLERY and people trying to scam you in some way. Be leery when following links like this.

It would be okay to say something like, "Hey, check out this crochet art I made with Ai!" And post a pic. I did. 😅 Here you go.

But you can not sell the pattern to this, (or give it away), if that pattern does not really exist.

The stitches seen in the above picture are not even real stitches, and it is an Ai generated image.

Try to ask Ai to write you a pattern, and more than likely, you will get a shell of what resembles a pattern, not an actual crochet pattern.

In my experiences, Ai has not quite figured out how to write complete crochet patterns.

 So if someone tells you that an unrealistic looking crochet item has a pattern link, please be leery to follow it, as it might just be an attempt to exploit you.

This one was the latest to catch my eye. I had to look very closely, and still wasn't for certain. I mean I could figure it out how to make it, given enough time. And it is so pretty!

The picture above contained a link saying that it was to the pattern. I followed it, and it was NOT.

I can not find a pattern for these shells anywhere, and do not believe that it really exists. Please correct me if I am wrong.

This is potentially a scam.

Ai didn't do that. People did.

Ai is useful, and can do so very much, but We must use it wisely.

To hear more of my thoughts on Ai and crochet, visit this link to my Ai post here on Doily Designs blog.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting!