Have a box of doilies. What do I do with them?

Marcella H
by Marcella H
I found a box of doilies that my great aunt crocheted probably 50 years ago. I placed some throughout my house, under plants and on tables, etc but I hate to get rid of them since she took the time to crochet them. Does anyone have any creative ideas on what to do with what I have left?!
  30 answers
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Jul 13, 2013
    How many do you have? If its possible get a piece of unbleached muslin and cut two panels to a pillow size. On each panel you can sew the doilies and even overlap some. Then sew them together add a pillow and sew shut. You can display them on a bed, couch, or even standing on a mantel or bookcase if their small. You could also get a piece of quilted material at a fabric store. On one side you can had sew the doilies on in a nice pattern and use his as a couch or bed throw. Another idea is to get a large poster size frame and use poster board in a complimentary color to your home. Lay the doilies on the poster board in a nice arrangement then you can display them if that's a direction you would want to go.
  • Kim Kim on Jul 13, 2013
    A table runner , table clothe , or display them in shadow boxes
  • Diane Carlisle Diane Carlisle on Jul 13, 2013
    Make a skirt with them, cover a vest with them, put them together to make a jacket, or a tablecloth. Good luck and come back and show us what you made with them.
  • TJ TJ on Jul 13, 2013
    I have seen them framed and really liked that look. Hand crocheted doilies are alot of work - I know because I started one when I was pregnant with one of my kids. The doily is still not finished and both of my "kids" are over 40 yo.
  • Pat Lindau Pat Lindau on Jul 15, 2013
    The latest I've seen is folks using them in Quilts for Table runners. Simply make the quilt from "Cheater Cloth" and applique the doily's. It's a really nice look if you use bright colors for your basic cloth.
  • Becky Jeffress Becky Jeffress on Jul 15, 2013
    My sister has a rather large-20" diameter maybe-one that our grandma had started-framed leaving the end piece of thread showing as if she could come back and pick it up and finish. It's simply placed on a mat that she likes and put into a frame, it's a treasured keepsake. You will find things to do with them, even possibly sharing with other relatives that might love one, or make some into framed pieces for gifts for those relatives.
  • Brenda Smith Brenda Smith on Jul 16, 2013
    they look pretty sewn onto solid throw pillows. several on an antique iron bed would look great also there's a woman in CA who makes beautiful blouses using old linens ...
  • Patricia Patricia on Jul 17, 2013
    I have some that I want to make into a lampshade or two.
  • Alice Sheppard Alice Sheppard on Jul 17, 2013
    Starch them and hang them from a window, with clear fishing line, in different levels. I would choose a window that does not expose them to the hottest sun. Have fun displaying them! In Europe they used to frame them and hang them in the windows.
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    How about a cool little purse? OR Sew some together, starch, then hang over a hat form, for a hat OR Run some line through them for a cottage-y 'valance' OR Sew some together for a foot-'puff'-stool. OR starch, and drape into a 'cone' to hold dried flowers. Just some of the top of my head ideas. ;)
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    @Patricia They do make very chic lampshades! xo
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Jul 17, 2013
    I like the starch and make into a cone idea, I have a lot of doilies that my mother-in-law made and every time one of the relatives come from Italy to visit they always bring hand made doilies in all different sizes and shapes. I do use some of them but the doilies would look cool starched into a cone or Mod Podged on a wine bottle for a vase. Add a brown twine or ribbon and you have a cool gift. Now gotta start draining the wine bottles hehehe
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    @Mary I. Maybe we should have a "Wine" party???? LOL!!!!
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Jul 17, 2013
    I'll grab a bottle right now and get started lol.....but seriously I am having a glass right now. :)
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    @Mary I. Hahahahahaa!!! I'm having a "Teeny Martini" LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    @Mary I. We are going to come up with some FAB NEW ideas OR? Remember ones we have done Ahahahhahaaaaa
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Jul 17, 2013
    Chipotle Martinis on Carnival cruise............less than a month I can almost taste it now.
  • Becca Frierson Becca Frierson on Jul 18, 2013
    sew beads on the edges for weight and use to cover tea glass when outside to keep bugs out ...
  • Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz on Jul 18, 2013
    Lay them out and stitch em together to make a table runner.
  • Nancy G Nancy G on Jul 18, 2013
    Patricia, you beat me to it! LOL You can take the doilies (even stained ones) and stitch them together and then cover a stripped down lampshade. It looks great!
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Jul 18, 2013
    Sew them together for a curtain or table cloth.
  • Sherry Sherry on Jul 18, 2013
    I saw a recent post of how to make a "Dream Catcher" using Doiles. They were beautiful
  • Deborah Deborah on Jul 18, 2013
    Use them for stencils. Spray paint over chair seats or stepping stones. Lots of ideas on pinterest
  • Beloved M'Beloved Beloved M'Beloved on Jul 19, 2013
    So much you can do with doilies !!!! I have a few that I want to decoupage onto some table tops ! Who knows I might end up decoupaging them on some pretty paper for the background on a plaque to hang on walls !
  • Patty Atwood Patty Atwood on Jul 19, 2013
    If you don't want them I will take them. lol I love old dollies.
  • Sally Sally on Jul 21, 2013
    Another Pinterest idea. Using fabric stiffener, mold over (or inside) bowl. Let dry. It will be in that shape (of course). A ruffled edge is easy by adding balls of aluminum foil for the doiley to drape over.
  • Catherine Smith Catherine Smith on Jul 21, 2013
    I have several made by both my great-great grandmother and my DH's grandmother starched and framed in shadow boxes, with pertinent information regarding who and when they were made in a special pocket in the back. Thet will hopefully be family heirlooms one day. I even have some of mine, done when I was a young woman and could still see to do that kind of fine needle work,put aside. I use to take Blue ribbons with my embroidery and petite point pieces and have those as well. However, since my great aunt taught me the skill, I taught both my sons(as, I have no daughters)fancy hand stitching,to try and preserve the skill. Both of them have taken Blue ribbons and several Best of Show awards with their work my oldest still does it as a hobby. His Christmas gifts can be very beautiful, since he is expert enough to do free hand. I think my Aunt would be very pleased.
  • Mabeline Mabeline on Feb 20, 2014
    Frame them - display them in memory boxes or regular frames as works of art
  • Linda Fraser Linda Fraser on Jan 26, 2015
    I crochet and what I did was I bought some frames and framed them and hung them down my hall. I have had al ot of compliments on them.
  • Josefina Velez Josefina Velez on Aug 14, 2019

    I would make a dining table cloth.