How to Use Old Doilies to Make Beautiful Candleholders

May 10, 2010
Melissa Howard

Doily Candleholders - Melissa Howard

Old doilies and thrift store vases can be transformed into beautiful candleholders.

Old doilies are beautiful testimonies to the craftsmanship and passion of women who live before us. Unfortunately, they don’t suit modern home décor styles. They no longer have a place on tables or sofas. However, if you have old doilies from Grandma or if you just love them and would like to find a way to incorporate them into your home décor, consider using them to make gorgeous candleholders.

Supplies for Making Doily Candleholders

Old doilies
Glass vases suitable for holding candles (vases need to be deep enough that the candle will be at least two inches below the top of the container)
Hot glue
Buttons, pearls, tulle, ribbon and other decorative elements for embellishing

Instructions for Making Doily Candleholders

The doilies will be wrapped around the glass container. The easiest way to do this so that you put the doily on evenly is to start at the middle of the doily. Arrange the doily on the vase so that it doesn’t reach below the bottom of the vase. Do not worry if it is taller than the candle.
Start by gluing from the center bottom of the doily. Use a dot of glue to fix the center edge of the doily to the bottom of the vase.
Carefully and evenly stretching your doily, continue to glue the center of the doily along the length of the vase. Once you have glued the center of the doily, the rest is much easier to put together.
Glue the doily along the top edge of the vase. Carefully stretching and making sure that you work in an even line along the doily. If the doily is longer than the circumference of the vase, you can either overlap the edges where they meet or you can glue until it meets and let the edges make a decorative ruffle.
Continue gluing until the doily is securely attached. If the doily extends above the top of the vase, fold down the extra doily to make a cuff at the top of the vase.
Use buttons, pearls, lace or tulle to embellish the doily.

Ideas and Suggestions

Thrift stores and yard sales are an excellent source for beautiful, old, handmade doilies.
Look for repeated patterns in the doily. The centers of patterns make an ideal place for gluing gems or buttons.
If you overlap the doily, glue a row of buttons as a fake button placket that looks as if it holds the doily on.
Tulle or ribbon are particularly nice for running under a cuff and tying where the two edges of the cuff meet.
Make sure that whatever candle you stick in the vase doesn’t reach all the way to the top. You do not want to catch the doily, ribbon, or tulle on fire.
Remember never to leave candles burning unattended.