I gave this pattern a bit of a difficulty rating because the center cupped badly when I was working with it. However, when this doily is blocked, it does lay perfectly flat. It is also a chart pattern, and it, like me, you are using a chart for the first time, it can be challenging.

It is because of the cupping that I almost gave up on completing this doily. Special thank you to Mary Burkinshaw for encouraging me to try blocking it. I had everything but the edging in back in 2014, and had laid it aside because I was afraid it would never lay flat. I guess I had some vague idea of somehow figuring out what I did wrong and being able to start over a third time (first try scrapped) and get this lovely pattern right! Also, special thanks to Institches52 for posting the lovely reference photo. Youyr photo helped me a lot when I was working this pattern.