Doily Craft Table Runner

This doily craft table runner is a meaningful way to reuse vintage lace that might otherwise be forgotten.

This doily craft table runner began as a forgotten box of vintage linens tucked away in a small town thrift store. I felt a mix of excitement and sadness when I found them. Excitement at their delicate beauty and craftsmanship, and sadness that they had been overlooked and undervalued. The shop told me I could take the entire box for five dollars because it had been sitting there for years. They were hidden out of sight, and if I had not asked about them, they might have remained that way indefinitely.

Some of the doilies were yellowed with age, some were crumpled into tight little balls, and all of them were dusty from what must have been many years of storage. Still, their intricate stitching and fine patterns told the story of patient hands and careful work. I brought them home hoping to give them a second life.

How to Make a Doily Craft Table Runner

You will usually find affordable boxes of doilies that need some work, while already cleaned, starched, and beautifully arranged ones tend to come with much higher antique store prices. My thrifted, unloved doilies were yellowed with age, some crumpled into tight little balls, and very dusty from what must have been many years of storage.

Begin by soaking your doilies in warm water with OxiClean. If you are using white and cream doilies, you can soak them all at once. If your doily stash includes colored doilies, it is best to wash them in smaller batches with similar colors. Let the doilies soak for at least an hour to loosen dirt, dust, and yellowing.

After soaking, gently scrub each doily by hand using laundry soap. Once washed, take a few minutes to check each doily for any remaining stains or discoloration. If needed, re-treat stubborn spots with a little extra OxiClean or a gentle stain remover. Rinse the doilies in vinegar water to help remove any dusty or musty scent, then give them a final wash with fabric softener before hanging them to dry.

I was excited to see that most of mine came out looking almost brand new. I set several doilies aside to use just as they were, and selected seven for this project, including three that needed minor repairs.

Step 2: Iron the Doilies Flat

Before arranging your runner, iron all of the cleaned doilies so they lie flat and are easy to work with.

If the doily edges are ruffled and uneven, it becomes much harder to sew them together in a way that looks neat and lies flat. Ironing helps relax the lace so everything lines up more smoothly.

For this project, I chose a mix of white and soft cream doilies to keep the look light and neutral. If you prefer more color, you can absolutely use pastel or colored doilies for a brighter or more playful finished look.

Step 3: Repair Weak or Broken Chains

My grandma taught me that the most delicate, feather light doilies, while beautiful, are often the most fragile. The long, decorative chains that give them such an airy look tend to be their weakest point. If you look closely at damaged doilies, you will often find the unraveling begins in those long chain sections.

To repair them, thread a needle with a double layer of matching thread. Sew into the nearby crochet stitches and pull the thread through, hiding the loose ends within the lace so no knots or tails show. Using that same thread, weave through the chain stitches on both sides of the break and gently draw the two broken sections back together.

Do not worry if the repaired chain ends up slightly shorter than before. Small differences can easily be hidden later when arranging and sewing the doilies together into the runner.

Step 4: Layer and Arrange the Doilies

Start with one large doily in the center of your runner, then place one doily of a similar size on each side. Working by eye, continue adding doilies outward until you reach the length you want, keeping the overall look balanced on both ends.

Remember to place any small stained or repaired areas underneath another doily so they remain hidden. Layering the doilies helps strengthen the runner for regular use and adds beautiful variety to the finished doily craft table runner.

Step 5: Sew the Doilies Into a Runner

Once you are happy with the layout, begin sewing the doilies together along the touching edges using a needle and matching thread. I used an easy running stitch, working along the edges to join each doily together. Keep your stitches small and subtle so they blend into the lace rather than standing out.

After sewing the top side, flip the runner over and stitch along the underside edges as well. This adds extra strength and helps keep the doilies from shifting over time. Working on a flat surface, it took me about two hours to complete my doily craft table runner.

Using doilies as a long table runner down the center of the table adds vintage charm and texture without dating your dining room. A longer runner feels more current than using one large doily in the middle, which can sometimes look a bit outdated. While I personally still love the drama of a heavily starched doily with big ruffles, this crochet project feels just as feminine and special, while blending more easily with today’s home decor.

Pin this so the next time you find some unloved doilies, you will have a fresh and beautiful way to use them.

I am working on a few more posts using upcycled vintage doilies, and I will link them here once they are finished. In the meantime, here are a couple of crochet tutorials you might enjoy.

Crochet Flowers for Beginners

Beginner’s Guide to Crochet

I hope this doily craft table runner inspires you to look twice at vintage linens and see their potential. Sometimes the most meaningful projects start with something simple, a little time, and a fresh perspective. I would love to see vintage feminine crafts become appreciated. Thanks for stopping by.