Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Yesteryear--Vintage Doilies

If you love vintage, you probably have/and-or love doilies!  I have a sentimental place in my heart for doilies, because I watched my aunt crochet them and my grandmother used them in her home.  They were originally used  as toppers for a chest of drawers,  and sometimes even used to cover the divan arms to keep them from soiling or to cover a worn area.  I find myself admiring them, still, in the second hand store.  This one I couldn't resist and is available in my shop.

They are lovely, with all the intricate stitching and designs.  But, what do we do with them?  If your home decor style is not romantic or early traditional, you probably don't have a place to use them.   I recently ran across a pattern for showcasing and using them in a  crib size quilt. 

This quilt was made up of 10 to 12 inch squares, each with a doily attached in the center.  Instead of the traditional three layers of a quilt the patchwork top, the batting and the backing, this quilt called for a fourth layer of organdy.  It was laid over the top of the doilies, then the whole thing was quilted with the quilting circling the doilies.   I'd like to try this!  It's a neat way to preserve the past with a creative future!

5 comments:

Marlene said...

I love old doilies, my mother, grandmother, and aunts used them extensively in their homes. I have a lot of my mother's which do not "fit" into my home. Great idea for the quilt. I do not sew but maybe I can think of some way to use them in a project.

storybeader said...

I bet if you made a doily with crazy colors, you wouldn't need traditional home decor. Otherwise, they are so... vintage looking! {:-D

TiLT said...

that sounds neat! I have some frilly frou-frou things from my grandma that are just not me...I'll have to see what you come up with and maybe give somehting like that a go for myself :)

mandy said...

I love doilies. I pick them up anytime I see them at a garage sale.

Memories for Life said...

So pretty :)
My grandma makes doilies and ornaments that look like doilies...I always think of her when I see one :)