This doily is the center section of the engraving that accompanied the instructions in 1870 Mrs. Beeton’s Guide to Embroidery, Crochet and Knitting. Mrs. Beeton’s “Table Cover” instructions actually stopped at a 9” doily, so I renamed it “Dahlia Doily”. The first 5 rows are worked flat because I just can’t knit in the round until there’s at least 4 stitches on each needle. You can start row 1 in the round and/or use ‘magic loop’ circular needles, if preferred. This doily is then knit in the round up to round 48. Mrs. Beeton’s instructions stopped there, expecting the knitter to figure out the rest of the pattern. Instead, I added the worked-flat points to avoid cutting off the last big ‘petals’.
Skills needed: long-tail cast on, knit, purl, yarn over, k2tog, k3tog and SK2P (slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over).

Gauge is not important in this pattern. Any block-able yarn/thread will work. Make a swatch to check size and appearance.

100 yards of #10 crochet cotton thread will make an 8.75” doily (measured point to point) in the stated gauge.