A doily (or doilie)'s an ornamental mat, originally the name of a fabric, from Doiley, a 17th century London draper. They're usually made of cotton or linen thread, often crocheted but may also be knitted. Openwork allows the underlying surface to show through. In addition to their decorative function, doilies have the utilitarian role of protecting fine-wood furniture from the scratches caused by crockery or decorative objects. Many patterns for crocheting or knitting doilies were published by… (More on Doily)