Doilies: The Forgotten Art Form We’re Learning to Love Again
Once a cherished symbol of patience, skill, and domestic pride, traditional handmade doilies now often sit forgotten in dusty drawers or second-hand shops — if they haven’t already been tossed out during a spring clean.
These delicate, lace-like textiles were once a staple in homes across the world, lovingly crafted by hand, often passed down through generations.
In decades past, making doilies was more than a pastime — it was an art. Women, and occasionally men, would spend hours crocheting or knitting intricate patterns from fine thread, their fingers guided by inherited techniques or time-worn booklets. Each doily told a story, representing the personality and care of the maker. Displayed on dining tables, dressers, or armrests, they added elegance and warmth to any room.
But somewhere along the way, these textile treasures lost their luster in the eyes of the mainstream.
By the 1980s and ’90s, doilies became the butt of interior design jokes — especially when they were perched atop televisions or used to decorate nearly every surface in a house. The once-proud crafts became symbols of old-fashioned clutter, and slowly, they began to disappear from modern homes.
Fast forward to today, and the handmade doily is almost a forgotten relic. Yet in a world that’s increasingly saturated with mass production and digital overload, a quiet revival may be on the horizon.
Crafters and creatives are now rediscovering these intricate pieces, seeing in them not outdated kitsch, but raw material for something new and beautiful. Vintage doilies are being transformed into everything from boho-chic dreamcatchers and wall art to cushion covers, lamp shades, and even upcycled fashion accessories.
Baby Lasagna Sparks Fresh Interest in Vintage Lace
A striking example of this resurgence came recently from none other than Croatian Eurovision sensation Baby Lasagna, who surprised audiences by incorporating doilies into his stage performance. The delicate lace pieces, creatively styled into his costume and set design, paid subtle tribute to traditional craftsmanship while adding an unexpected artistic twist to his modern, high-energy act. It was a bold blend of heritage and pop culture — and it worked.
“Each doily is a tiny masterpiece,” said a local artist who incorporates vintage lace into her contemporary art. “They’re made with so much care — it feels wasteful not to honour that.”
Online platforms like Etsy and Pinterest are also contributing to the doily revival, offering inspiration for how to breathe new life into these vintage pieces. Creative minds are dyeing them in bold colours, stitching them together into table runners or curtain panels, or framing them like works of art — which, in many ways, they are.
As tastes evolve and the value of handcrafted items gains new appreciation, perhaps it’s time to take another look at that doily tucked away in grandma’s cabinet. What was once dismissed as outdated may soon find its way back into our homes — not just as decoration, but as a connection to a past full of patience, artistry, and meaning.
Photos: S.Fantov