Pistilli Pineapples -- pictures linked in

I've never seen a pattern like this anywhere at all -- as far as I know, it may have originated with my Aunt Irene Pistilli in the 1920s or 30s. If anyone out there knows the provenance of this pattern, please let me know as I'd love to find out.

This pattern enables you to make a doily that is three pineapples across at its widest point, like the one at right. Once you get the hang of the pattern, it's easy to make it as many pineapples across as you like.

You start this doily in the middle and work out to the point, then come around and finish the other side. See the diagram for a clearer idea.

I used Knit-Cro-Sheen variegated #10 and a #6 hook. My aunt made one that I framed on cranberry velvet out of REALLY THIN stuff, so if you're into way-thin thread, go for it. It looks gorgeous.

If you like the pattern, you can make it bigger, like thirty or so pineapples across for a table throw, or make them small, out of yarn, and then stitch them together as a bedspread. You can make the half-motif (easy since it's made that way normally) to fill in the spaces or just leave it with a sawtooth border, which is what I'd do. Tassels on the points would look great.

If you find errors in this pattern, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! And if you make anything with this pattern, and I can link to a picture on line, please let me know as well. I'd love to see what you did!

Much thanknitude to the woman who pointed out that I was leaving off one of the sc's in the creation of the pineapples, too. Thanks!

NOTE:: In this pattern, shell = 2dc ch2 2dc.

RND 1:

Ch 8 and make a sl st into the first chain to make a loop. *Ch 11, and do a tr in the 4th chain from hook. Repeat from * 5 more times for 6 ch-11-tr combinations total.

What you have now: a long string of loops that are 4 chains long with ch7's between them. 7 loops total, counting the one at the beginning, and 6 ch7's between them.

RND 2:

Ch 4, shell in loop. *Ch 7, 13tr in the next loop, ch7, shell in next loop. Repeat from * 2 more times for three groups of 13tr, interspersed with 4 shells, ch7 separating them. Turn.

RND 3:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in 1st tr, ch 4, skip one tr, repeat from * 5 more times, sc in last tr. 6 loops total with a tr between each one. Ch 7. Repeat from ** twice, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 4:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 4 more times, sc in last loop. 5 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** twice, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 5:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 3 more times, sc in last loop. 4 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** twice, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 6:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 2 more times, sc in last loop. 3 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** twice, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 7:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 1 more time, sc in last loop. 2 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** twice, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 8:

Ch 4, shell over shell. *Ch 7, sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, sc in next loop for one loop. Ch 7, 13 tr in shell. Repeat from * once. Ch 7, sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, sc in next loop. Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 9:

Ch 4, shell over shell. Ch 7, sc in top loop of pineapple, **ch 7. *sc in 1st tr, ch 4, skip one tr, repeat from * 5 more times, sc in last tr. 6 loops total with a tr between each one. Ch 7, shell in top loop of pineapple. Ch 7, complete loops in second pineapple as first, ch 7, sc in top loop of pineapple, ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 10:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 4 more times, sc in last loop. 5 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** once, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 11:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 3 more times, sc in last loop. 4 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** once, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 12:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 2 more times, sc in last loop. 3 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** once, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 13:

Ch 4, **shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 1 more time, sc in last loop. 2 loops total. Ch 7. Repeat from ** once, shell over last shell. Turn.

RND 14:

Ch 4, shell over shell. *Ch 7, sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, sc in next loop for one loop. Ch 7, 13 tr in shell. Ch 7, sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, sc in next loop. Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 15:

Ch 4, shell over shell. Ch 7, sc in top loop of previous pineapple, ch 7. *sc in 1st tr, ch 4, skip one tr, repeat from * 5 more times, sc in last tr. 6 loops total with a tr between each one. Ch 7, sc in top loop of previous pineapple, ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 16:

Ch 4, shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 4 more times, sc in last loop. 5 loops total. Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 17:

Ch 4, shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 3 more times, sc in last loop. 4 loops total. Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 18:

Ch 4, shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 2 more times, sc in last loop. 3 loops total. Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 19:

Ch 4, shell over shell, ch 7. *sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, repeat from * 1 more time, sc in last loop. 2 loops total. Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 20:

Ch 4, shell over shell. Ch 7, sc in first loop of pineapple, ch 4, sc in next loop for one loop. Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 21:

Ch 4, shell over shell. Ch 7, sc in top loop of pineapple, Ch 7, shell over shell. Turn.

RND 22:

Ch 4, shell over shell, shell over shell. Turn.

Ch 4, sc in ch2 sp of shell, ch 4, sc in ch2 sp of next shell. Fasten off.

To complete pineapple doily, attach thread around post of first dc of shell at base, marked with a star in the diagram. Ch 4, shell over shell, and then continue from RND 2. Take a look at a close-up view. (The reason for this odd way of starting is so that you have the requisite turning loop there to do the edging.)

BTW, I'm lefthanded, so that close-up view will be reversed for righties.

When finished, the doily can be edged with a series of shells separated by ch2's, made in the ch4 turning loops. Pin and block.