The doily is a bit of a controversial item among some crocheters.
For some people, it’s the most wonderful thing to crochet because of the intricate beauty of the designs, the historical significance of the item, and the joy of working in the round.
For others, the doily is tedious and boring and seen as a useless item.
I’m here today to say that the doily can be whatever you want it to be! If you love creating the traditional doily and using it as the ornamental mat that it’s intended to be, that’s great.
If you’re not a fan of the traditional doily, maybe some of these creative and unique upcycled doily ideas will appeal to you more.
12 Upcycled Doilies
Doilies aren't just for sitting under grandma's candy dish! We're here to highlight a few incredible ways to upcycle those doilies in beautiful and practical ways.
Doilies can be used to embellish everything from garments and accessories to home decor pieces. Check out these 12 examples of upcycled doilies and gather some inspiration for your own projects!
This beautiful custom-made leather bag is embellished with a vintage doily and an antique key. With all three elements together, the bag takes on a really cool, boho look.
This is a perfect bag for a music festival or concert or for dressing up in the summer.
This mandala crochet pattern is a more colorful take on the intricate, round stitchwork of a traditional doily.
The pattern includes instructions for making a clock for the mandala, so this is a perfect way to upcycle a doily you already have or to make one that suits your decor.
This is a new fringed pillow that features a vintage doily for a little extra embellishment.
The color and fringe style of the pillow feels very trendy and modern, and that makes the doily seem cool too.
This is a perfect decor piece for a modern farmhouse or country-chic living room.
This boho-chic dream catcher uses a doily in place of the traditional string webbing in the center. Vintage ribbons and lace are used, too.
This is a lovely way to bring new life to a collection of pre-loved textiles, and it would look great in any minimal or boho-style bedroom.
This vintage doily has been made into a lacy pumpkin, perfect for a Thanksgiving or fall centerpiece.
This white, lacy pumpkin is perfect for modern and country chic decor styles and would make a nice hostess gift for Thanksgiving or other holiday visits, too.
This cardigan is truly one of a kind, as it is handmade from vintage doilies that were also hand-crafted.
The result is a light, lacy, delicate cardigan that can be worn comfortably in the spring and summer.
These doilies have been joined together to create a table runner. The wide variety of shapes and colors lends a fun, quirky, shabby-chic style to the piece.
This would make the perfect piece for your table alongside a mismatched tea set.
This vintage pattern provides instructions for crocheting your own doily and making a starched bowl from it.
If you already have a vintage doily, you could skip to the bowl-making part for a great upcycled creation!
This would be perfect for holiday decorating or as part of your vintage or cottage-core design scheme.
This crochet doily bowl pattern produces a modern spin on the classic doily bowl, which will add a pretty touch to any room.
Use it in the bathroom for holding extra washcloths, in the kitchen for fruit, or on your table as part of a centerpiece. It's delicate and lacy without being fussy, perfect for modern decor or as a gift.
This unique upcycled skirt is created from a variety of vintage lace pieces, including doilies. This would make a great shabby-chic festival outfit or even a wedding skirt for a country, boho wedding.
If you're into sustainable or upcycled fashion, this is a perfect piece to add to your collection.
This handbag is the perfect accessory for someone who loves one-of-a-kind fashion and has a boho or shabby-chic style.
It's made from white and ecru vintage doilies with tassels for extra flair, and the inside is lined with turquoise fabric- what a fun and bright surprise!
This lovely handmade tote bag utilizes crocheted doilies to add feminine, lacy detail to the outside of the bag.
The handles are made from wooden beads and the three pockets inside will help keep all of your necessities organized.
This is a perfect choice for someone who wants the detail and beauty of crocheted doilies but also needs a structured and practical bag.
Wow! Absolutely amazing round up. The earring holder, clock, scarf and bowl are all going on my list!!!
@clrowi Sounds like a great list! I want to make a set of bowls also.