I Love to Create: Not Your Grandmother’s Doilies – at Least Not for Long.

This week on I Love to Create we are chatting about doilies. The first thing that might come to mind are the crocheted wonders that your grandmother has draped across the arms of her sofa and headrest of her favorite reclining chair. Well those are in fact the doilies I speak of, but as of late I have seen people pulling the switcheroo on these doilies. I know this term is over used, but these really are not your grandmother’s doilies – at least not after we get through with them.
You might recall my review of Kayte Terry’s book Complete Embellishing a couple of months ago. My favorite project in the entire book was the Bits and Pieces scarf made from an array of hand dyed vintage doilies. I have been a bit obsessed with the whole hodge podge doily look ever since. My affection for patchwork is deep rooted. Refer back to the posts on Patchwork Home Décor, Patchwork Fashion and Patchwork How-to Guide. Maybe those kids in grade school that teased me and called me Punky Brewster and Rainbow Brite were right about me all along.

Today I am rounding up a few of my favorite doily endowed goodies grom intricate dresses from Austin, TX to neon necklaces from New Zealand. All the while giving you a few suggestions on how you might create your own doily masterpieces.


As much as I love doilies incorporated into wearables that was not their original intent. They are actually defined as a small napkin or decorative mat. Leave it to clever crafter Caitlin of Nice to transform these once flat fancies into lamp shades. I have been coveting these shades for some time now and one day will make one mine. With the help of some Aleene's® Stiffen-Quik Fabric Stiffening Spray and several trips to the flea market to collect the doilies, you too could make something like this. Maybe not quite as fabulous as the choices by Nice, but at least pretty dang neat.


Austinite Sunny Haralson from Ruby Pearl makes some of the most amazing dresses from vintage crochet doilies that I have ever laid eyes on. The bright colors and eclectic mix of style and patterns is right up my alley. If you have been collecting doilies waiting for just the right project but have managed to find nothing but white, eggshell and cream doilies – never fear. Take your doilies from grandma’s house to your house with the help of some Tulip One-Step Fashion Dye or Tulip Fashion Spray Dye. Color options like Turquoise, Lime and Fuchsia mean no more snoozerific crochet.


There is something about the juxtaposition of muted pastels and bright neons that makes me very happy. Debra Dorgan of Senga Arts knows exactly how to hit this note in her doily adorned handiwork. Jewelry, purses, clothing and more there is no doily stone left unturned and bright random colors abound everywhere. Any number of Aleene’s fabric glues would work well if you wanted to try your own interpretation of this crocheted cuteness. You can skip the traditional paper-backed fusible web and opt for Aleene's Liquid Fusible Web. Don’t want to hand stitch every layer of lace on that jewelry? I’m a Fabric Fusion Glue kind of gal myself.

If you have been a good girl why don’t you treat yourself to a little something nice over at Etsy in the form of crocheted doilies. However, if you are feeling especially crafty you can always pick up a copy of Complete Embellishing and few craft supplies and try your hand at a few of these goodies yourself.