Doily facts for kids

A doily is a decorative mat. It is usually made from paper or fabric. Doilies often have an open, lacy design, which lets you see the surface underneath. People use them for many things, like protecting furniture, decorating food, or as part of clothing.

Ears of ripe wheat used as a table linen.

Eliza A. Jordson, Brooklyn L.I. 1848. Seaweed art framed by paper doilies. Brooklyn Museum

A crocheted doily in use.

Queen Elizabeth II holds a doily-wrapped posy.

Macarons on a paper doily.

Where the Word "Doily" Comes From

The word "doily" comes from a person named Doiley. He was a fabric seller in London in the 1600s. He became famous for making a special type of wool fabric. This fabric was popular for summer clothes.

At first, "doily" was used to describe this fabric, like "doily suits." Later, the word started to mean a small, fancy napkin used during dessert. This was sometimes called a "doily-napkin."

How Doilies Are Used

Protecting Furniture

Doilies are not just pretty. They also help protect nice wooden furniture. They can stop scratches from cups, plates, or other decorations. People often place them under teacups or on tea trays. When doilies are used on the backs and arms of chairs, they are called antimacassars.

Arranging Flowers

Doilies are traditionally used to hold the stems of small flower arrangements. These arrangements are called posies. In the Victorian Era, these were also known as tussie-mussies.

Serving Food

Doilies are often seen in formal meals, especially with finger bowls. A finger bowl is a small bowl of water used to rinse fingertips. A fabric doily (never paper) is placed between the dessert plate and the finger bowl. After dipping your fingers, you dry them on a napkin.

You might also see disposable paper doilies. These were made to be a cheaper version of fabric doilies. They are often placed under food on plates to make the presentation look nicer.

How Doilies Are Made

Doilies are usually made by hand. People use techniques like crochet, tatting, or knitting. They use thin cotton or linen thread.

Many patterns for doilies were published in the early 1900s by thread companies. These patterns often started from the center and worked outwards in a circular or oval shape. This is similar to how polar coordinates work in math. Some doilies are made using a grid pattern, a technique called filet crochet.

Today, many designers still create new patterns for people who enjoy hand crafts. Some doilies even have special designs like embroidery, raised rose petals, or ruffles, making them more decorative than flat.