99 Little Doilies (Leisure Arts #3228) [Paperback]

This is one doily book I keep going back to. I started to use it as a beginner and it really challenged me to learn new stitches. They don't have pictures of the stitches, only a stitch guide (for each doily) that has them written out. This was a real challenge for me but it forced me to be able to read how to complete stitches or I was stuck. There is not a big section for beginners on how to do each and every stitch so don't expect one. These are small projects/doilies, they are 10 inches and under in size. I get a few doilies out of each ball of crochet thread. I wouldn't recommend a big ball of 1,000 yard thread if you don't want all your doilies the same color. The gauge is for a 1.65 mm hook, my hook set didn't come with that size so I use a 1.6 or a 1.7 mm. Every doily has a picture, most are located in the middle of the book, they are on the front and back cover as well and they are all out of number order. I make a note on which page the picture is on so I can go back to it and look. This will help eliminate the search. Overall, it is a good book and I recommend it.

I purchased this book to make gift doily coasters that were unique and fancy. This book fulfilled this and beyond. The patterns vary in size from 4" to 9.5" and in shapes. It is printed on text book quality paper and beautifully illustrated. I personally counted each photo to verify there were actually 99 Doilies and patterns through-out the book. I wish there would be an on-line stitch grid to help with placement for challenging patterns. Like the other reviewer, I also wish it included a picture of the doily on the same page as the pattern. I found myself constantly turning the pages to refer to the picture to verify stitch placement. Don't let that stop you from purchasing "99 Little Doilies." Even with that inconvenience, the patterns are beautiful and challenging--but worth it all. Stitch Guide Diagrams and Instructions are listed on the back pages. They are again listed on each pattern instruction page. Stitches used are Free Loops, 2 legs of a stitch,Treble, Lg & sm Picot, Cluster, Tr Cluster, Popcorn, Twisted Decrease,Double Decrease, Front Post Treble, Cross St, Shell, Split Treble, washing & blocking, etc. The instructions are easy to understand and found myself rewriting them on a separate sheet of paper according to each sequence of stitches to prevent from marking up the book. It is another excellent book by Leisure Arts and you will not go wrong in purchasing "99 Little Doilies."

Personal reflections: I used 1.65 hook and #10 Crochet thread. I thought my tension was loose and found each doily made was smaller than stated finished size. So in my case, will try a larger hook to see if that corrects my personal gauge discrepancy.

Completed: #28, #29, #48, #74, #93, & (#61, I did 1/2 and 1/2 of another pattern -- turned out great)

Book On-line correction: #90, Rnd 10: *+ should be after ch 2 and not before it in the 1st line. Rnd 11: *+ should be after chain 2 and not before it on 2nd line.

#28: Couldn't get it to work for me, listing in case it may help you if confronted with same difficultly: Alternative to make it look like picture: Rnd 5: ...*Ch 5, sc in st before picot, Tr in st after Picot, ch 5, sc in ch 2 sp*...

#93: Round 12 didn't work for me as written. Found if I did the following corrections, it worked. Listing in case it is an actual error or if you find it not working either might try this. This is the step I found missing: sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2.
So in Rnd 12: line 2-4: ... next ch-3 sp, work Picot, 2 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sc in next sc, ch 2, *sc in next 3 ch-3 sps, ch 2, 2 dc in next 3 ch-3 sp,work Picot, 2 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sc in next Ch 3 sp, ch 2repeat from * around ...

Looking forward to completing all 99.

Instructions look easy and large print helps to follow more easily. Looking forward to making all of these gorgeous doilies