Lace vests

Pictured are two vests showing a front and back view, each made from an old lace antimacassar set.

Crocheted lace was a popular way to decorate 50 plus years ago. Doilies, table clothes and runners were used to protect tables and other furniture as well as to be decorative. They were also used as antimacassar sets, arm and headrest covers, on couches and chairs. Most were made with cotton crochet thread. White and ecru were the most popular colors used.

Lace was also crocheted onto bed linins and towels. Embroidery was also added to these items as well.

A lot of time was spent on making them as well as on the up keep of them. They had to be washed and ironed on a regular basis. Those that were well used also needed worn spots repaired.

As the pace of living life moved into the fast lane there was neither time to make them or keep them in nice condition. Today they may be seen mostly in museums or tucked away in boxes at the back of a closet or attic. Some lace items such as tablecloths are used on special occasions today but even that is a rare event.

We came across some well used ones recently. They had old stains so we tried several whitening agents but none were successful at removing all the stains. There were several sets of arm and headrest covers. After thinking about what we could use them for today the idea to make them into vests came up.

First we decided to dye them a dark green to hide the stains. We just followed the directions in the package for the dying process. After they had been dyed it became obvious that several had been repaired in the past with polyester thread that did not take up the dye. We removed all the old repairs and redid them with thread that matched the new color.

It takes one set of arm covers and one headrest to make a vest. The headrest becomes the vest back and the arm covers are the two front sides. The front sides are attached to the back at the shoulders and under the arms. When worn the shoulder seams fall to the back of the shoulder as seen in the picture above.

The front sides overlap the back about one inch starting at the outside shoulder and taper up to just the edges overlapping at the neck. The sides are only sewed together about two inches beginning at the bottom edge. We stitched them together by hand to hide the stitches.

It does not take long to stitch them together. The dying process, though not complicated, is what took most of the time for the two vests we made.

Other ideas to use old doilies include sewing smaller ones to articles of clothing as decoration accents to attaching them to throw pillows or quilts. Some have even framed a single doily behind glass to be displayed on the wall.

We are always looking for new ways to use old things. It is not only challenging but fun. The closet also has a little more room for another item waiting to be rediscovered!