Clever DIYs with Crocheted Doilies

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Did you know that you can take vintage crocheted doilies and turn them into clever DIY wall art and other home decor? I’ve used them on lampshades and handmade clothing.

Below are projects I found using crocheted doilies.

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Historically known as antimacassars, crocheted doilies on chair backs and arms protected furniture from grease, hair oils, and general wear.

Today, you can turn these sewn pieces into all sorts of home decor. You can use them to embellish other home decor or use them on their own. It is the ultimate in cottagecore decorating.

Creative DIY Projects Using Crocheted Doilies

Instead of letting crocheted doilies collect dust in a linen closet or sit unnoticed in a thrift-store basket, why not turn them into charming DIY projects?

You can repurpose vintage linens and doilies into all kinds of fun decorating projects.

Their delicate patterns, soft texture, and vintage character make them perfect for adding a little old-fashioned charm to your home.

Today, those pretty little crochet pieces can become something entirely new.

Turn a Doily Into a Decorative Pillow

One of the easiest ways to use a larger crocheted doily is to turn it into a pillow accent. Sew or attach the doily to the front of a simple fabric pillow cover.

A white or cream doily looks especially pretty against floral, gingham, ticking-stripe, or muted solid fabrics.

Create a Doily Wall Hanging

A collection of crocheted doilies can make an inexpensive wall hanging.

Gather doilies in different sizes and shapes, then arrange them on a wall. Keep them all white for a simple cottage look, or choose pieces in different natural shades.

Hang them individually or arrange several inside a large frame for a more finished appearance.

This is especially pretty above a bed, in a cozy reading corner, or on a small accent wall.

Make a Vintage Doily Table Runner

Arrange several smaller doilies down the center of a dining table, coffee table, or sideboard.

Overlap the edges slightly to create the look of one long, delicate runner. Add a vase of flowers, a few candles, or a stack of old books for a nostalgic centerpiece.

This is a wonderful way to decorate for a gathering without buying anything new.

Add Doilies to Curtains

If you have plain curtains that need a little personality, consider adding crocheted pieces as decorative accents.

A row of small doilies along the bottom edge can give inexpensive curtains a cottage-style appearance.

This idea works particularly well in bedrooms, craft rooms, and cozy kitchens.

Turn a Doily Into a Decorative Bowl

You can also shape crocheted doilies into shallow decorative bowls.

Use a stiffening method to hold the crochet in a bowl shape. Once dry, the finished piece can hold lightweight decorative items such as artificial flowers, fabric scraps, or wrapped candies.

Because crochet can collect dust, these pieces work best for decoration rather than anything that requires frequent washing.

Make a Doily Garland

For a simple and inexpensive decorating project, turn several small doilies into a garland.

String or attach them along a length of ribbon or twine, leaving a little space between each piece. Hang the garland across a mantel, china cabinet, bookshelf, or window.

Add fabric bows, vintage buttons, or small wooden pieces for even more character.

Use Doilies as Picture Frame Accents

A crocheted doily can make an ordinary picture frame look like something you discovered at an antique shop.

Place a small doily behind a photograph before putting it in the frame, letting some of the crochet show around the edges.

You can also attach a small piece to the corner of a larger frame as a decorative accent.

Make Vintage-Style Coasters

Small doilies make charming coasters for a cottage-style kitchen or dining room.

Place them beneath mugs, teacups, or small decorative glasses. If you’re using vintage doilies, consider choosing several with different patterns rather than trying to match them all.

The slight variations are part of their charm.

Create a Doily-Covered Lampshade or Light Fixture

Small crocheted doilies can embellish lampshades.

Attach a few around the outside of a simple fabric shade, or use one large doily as an overlay. The open crochet pattern can create beautiful shadows when you turn on the lamp.

For a more ambitious project, you can incorporate crocheted pieces into a decorative light fixture.

However, this requires extra care.

Never let crochet come into direct contact with a hot bulb; keep materials away from heat sources. Use LED lighting and create a shade that allows plenty of ventilation.

Make a Cottage-Style Bulletin Board

Cover a simple corkboard with fabric and add a crocheted doily to one corner or along one edge.

Tuck photographs, recipes, handwritten notes, postcards, and little pieces of inspiration beneath the crochet.

Doily Dream Catcher

Embroidered Hoop Doily DIY

Center a doily inside a wooden embroidery hoop, tighten the screw, and trim or leave the fringe visible for shabby-chic wall art.

Give Old Doilies a New Life

One of the best things about using crocheted doilies for DIY projects is that they don’t have to be perfect.

A doily with a little discoloration, an unusual shape, or a slightly imperfect edge can have even more personality than a brand-new piece.

Look for them at thrift stores, antique malls, estate sales, flea markets, and even in your own family’s linen closets.

Before you pass over those little crocheted treasures, imagine them somewhere else.

Framed Lace: Place a doily inside a small picture frame with a contrasting background like an old sheet music page or scrapbook paper.

Stiffened Ornaments: Soak doilies in a 50/50 mix of water and sugar (or fabric stiffener) to create rigid holiday snowflakes, hearts, or tree decorations.

Wicker Tray Centerpiece: Hot-glue a doily to the center of a wicker or wooden tray using minimal glue so you can easily repurpose it later.

Sometimes the prettiest DIY projects aren’t made from expensive supplies. They’re made from the little things we already have.

I remember making a long vest covered with patchwork cotton pieces, crocheted doilies, and yo-yos years ago.

Doily Crafts that have a Function

• Glass Vase Wraps: Wrap a doily around a glass jar or vase, stitch or tie it in place with ribbon, and add battery-operated fairy lights inside for a soft glowing pattern.
• Reusable Bowl Covers: Sew a circle of breathable fabric to the back side of a clean doily to use as a pretty, eco-friendly cover for rising bread dough or outdoor food bowls.
• Open-Back Doily Top: Layer or seam a large doily onto a basic summer top or stitch a few doilies together with a wide zigzag stitch to create boho-style garments.
• Book Spine Accents: Wrap a narrow strip of lace or a small doily around the spine of a favorite book and tie it off with a delicate ribbon.