CROCHET, MATS

These doyleys, part of a variety of beautiful hand-stitched household linen generously donated by a Portuguese family who migrated from Madeira to Western Australia in early 1950s. Linen included sheet, pillow cases, tablecloths, doyleys and duchess sets for dressing table.

The focus of these doyleys are the rings called a couronnes. Traditionally made using a couronne stick as in (a), but later using a plastic ring as in (b) and (c).

a) Ecru medallions – centre couronne made using couronne stick with crochet over and around the cotton ring.

(b) White circles, couronnes made with crochet over plastic rings.

(c) Blue motifs whose centre a couronne - crochet over plastic ring.

Couronnes are small circles of buttonhole stitch which are attached embroidery or lace. Thread is wrapped around a graduated wooden / metal dowelling, a couronne stick also called a hedebo stick, to produce different sized rings. Buttonhole stitch or crochet is worked over and around the ring, which is then applied to the fabric or lace.

Couronnes are used in other whitework and needlepoint lace techniques: Point de France from the late 17th century; sparingly in Point de Venice à reseau from the late 17th/early 18th century; and in Carrickmacross from 19th century Ireland. More modern laces also use couronnes: Point de Colbert from France; Rosaline from Belgium; and Youghal from Ireland.

Couronne sticks are a small, wooden or metal tool with graduated sections, enabling one to make various sizes of rings by wrapping thread around them and then buttonhole or crochet over and around the ring.

Couronne stick — a French word, meaning ‘crown’ — from the ring shape of the resulting embroidery rings.