Recycling Doilies: 10 Useful and Original Ideas

How to recycle old crochet doiliesRaise your hand if you don't have at least one at home, a legacy of a nonna or an elderly aunt. Quite common until a few decades ago as decorative objects, they were made and used at home as an expression of creativity and manual skill. Today, not everyone appreciates them as they once did, but to ensure they don't get lost, they can be used to create new and interesting objects. Below we leave you with 10 ideas for recycling doilies that you have available.

What to do with old doiliesWith a little creativity, they can be used to create a variety of objects: from cushions to curtains and chandeliers. It's a shame to waste them, especially when you have lace and embroidery, which still have their old-fashioned charm. Let's see how to recover them from drawers.

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Index of topics

Chandelier

With some glue and a panel you can make a nice DIY chandelier. The old doilies, in a number appropriate to the size of the object to be created, should be glued onto the panel through which the string and light bulb are then passed to illuminate any room and enhance it to the maximum.

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Candle holder

In perfect style shabby chic It is this idea of recycling crochet doilies that sees them transformed into a magnificent candle holderSimply get a balloon and place the doily on top, then brush it with plenty of PVA glue. Once it solidifies and the balloon is removed, you'll have a rounded shape perfect for holding candles of any height and thickness.

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Dream catcher

Nice idea of thedream catcher, to be made by placing the doilies inside a wooden circle under which you can drop some fabric threads and also adding pearls, feathers and anything else that can increase the magic of this object. If you are familiar with the crochet, instead, let yourself be inspired by the proposal you see in the photo and which uses metal rings as a base.

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Bags

Le bags with old doilies They're definitely a cut above the rest. They're incredibly easy to make; just glue them to whatever you'd like to update. In this case, it's a jute bag, but it could just as easily be cotton, straw, or even denim. You're free to go wild.

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Curtains

You can also enhance a curtain: just choose the right ones and sew them onto it, to create truly original decorations. Or, with a good number of doilies, you could create a very short but charming one like the one in the image above. If you're wondering... how to glue doilies, in this case they are simply pinned together with needle and thread.

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Squares

Framed doilies: why not make some check? Just lay them out in a cornice Protected by glass, it creates a refined object that also makes a lovely gift. Play with the contrasting colors between the frame, doily, and passe-partout to create highly designed furnishing accessories.

Runner

Il runner with old doilies This is one of the simplest and most effective options. Why not sew a large number of them together and display your creation prominently on the table? An original and affordable idea that offers the chance to have a truly one-of-a-kind object.

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Clock

A chic idea that of thewall clock Made of doilies. Simply get a base to glue the doily onto—or carefully starch it—and then insert the hands, the mechanism, and the numbers (the latter are optional). The object can also be colored as desired.

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pillows

What to do with grandma's doilies more useful than valorizing the old pillows Are you a little tired of them? Just sew them onto your favorite pillow to easily transform it into a truly elegant piece of furniture. The result will be unexpected.

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Trash can

The idea of the basket is also interesting, a very useful object that can be placed in different rooms of the house and used as an emptying pocket or a chocolate holder. How to turn a doily into a basket? Placing it on an upturned bowl and brushing it generously with vinyl glue or starch (Follow the advice in the last paragraph.) Once it has solidified, remove it from the bowl and enjoy your creation.

How to wash and dry doilies properly

If machine-washing, doilies should first be placed in a laundry net to prevent the threads from being pulled during the wash. Use a delicate detergent and a low temperature, with a low spin speed.
If washed by hand, which is advisable given that it is a very delicate fabric, stains can be rubbed away using a Marseille soap before soaking them in a basin of warm water; rinse without wringing, to avoid deforming the fabric.
When yellowed, doilies should be washed with water, a tablespoon of baking soda, and a tablespoon of mild liquid soap. This mixture should be boiled and then placed over the yellowed fabrics for about 45 minutes.
Doilies should be laid out to dry on a drying rack, never hung up with clothespins, otherwise they'll lose their shape. It's best to place them on a styrofoam surface, perhaps at a slight angle, and secure them with pins.

How to starch doilies

Once washed, doilies should be ironed while still damp, preferably covered with a handkerchief. Starching helps maintain a certain stiffness in the doily, which lasts a long time. To make them even stiffer, you can soak them in a solution of water and a tablespoon of starch before they dry completely.
Doilies can also be starched with sugar dissolved in water. Boil the water for about two minutes, stirring constantly. Then let it cool, and then dip the doilies in it, then lay them out in their usual shape to dry.
Doilies can also be starched using PVA glue; just add three tablespoons of glue for every tablespoon of water. Stir the mixture together, then dip the lace into it. The doilies are then hung out to dry.
Starch also works well; just dissolve a spoonful in 10 cl of water and then dip the doilies in it.

Recycling Old Doilies: 10 Useful Ideas