How To: Lacy Ditty Bags with Vintage Doilies

 
I started making these lacy bags after I got a huge box of doilies and lace from Lisa- Tarnished and Tattered and another box from my sister in law on the same day.  Getting both boxes on the same day was a real motivator to make something.

To make the bags you need lace and/or doilies:

 
...a basketful

 
....or a bowlful

 
...or a milk crate full.

You really don't need much lace or doilies, just a few snippets.

 
The base for the bags are these $.59 canvas bags from Michaels.

 
I start at the bottom of the bag, and find a piece of lace or a snippet of a doily...

 
...pin it on and then start stitching.  I'm not especially neat about my stitches, but I do try and make sure that I'm not leaving big gaps between the stitches.

 
 
I sew these by hand, so I slip a piece of cardboard into the bag to keep from accidently stitching the lace all the way through to the back of the bag.

 
Just keep on trying different combinations of lace and doilies.  You can plan the whole bag ahead of time, or pick and stitch and then pick your next layer of lace like I do.

 
Don't be afraid to take your scissors to a worn or damaged doily to make it fit.

 
I don't worry too much about the color of the lace or doily-it all seems to work itself out when you coffee or tea dye the bag.

 
After a little playing I finally ended up adding a narrow piece of lace and then a larger piece cut from a doily.

 
The doily that will go on top is just a little bit too big, so I trimmed it to fit.  Here's the before and after:

 

Once your lace is sewn, it's time to tie everything together with some dying.

I usually only dye one or two pieces at a time, and I just use a 4 cup Pyrex measuring cup and the morning's leftover coffee.

 
Put the bag in the cup and pour on the coffee.

 
Let it soak- and if it isn't as dark as you'd like it, you can add some hot water and a couple tea bags to the mix, or some instant coffee granules.

 
When I take my bag out of the coffee/tea mix, I blot it and then roll it up in a towel I keep just for tea staining.    I let it dry on the towel, or if I'm in a hurry, I'll wrap it in the towel and throw it in the dryer to set the coffee/tea.  Adding the towel keeps the bag from staining the inside of my dryer.

 
When the bag is dry, I snip off the bungee looking drawstring cord that came with it and replace it with seam binding.

Another bag option is adding an image you've printed on fabric, or  some crinkled seam binding.

 
Have fun stitching and let me know if you have any questions.

 

Comments

[angela]

Muh Donna. Muh Donna. Your comments on the photos made me laugh. The "Muh Donna" opener here is from a Saturday Night Live skit years ago...think it might have been Wayne's World...where they were joined by Madonna, the singer, and I believe she might have been wearing the iconic cone bra you mentioned. Thanks for the laugh. Kidding aside, your ditty bags are gorgeous, and you are oh so kind to share a fabulous tutorial! And thanks for the extra tips, I could totally see the owl before you edited one of the designs. Funny girl! ~ Angela

[Nancy Stone]

Beth: The bags are so cute. Thanks for the tip of putting cardboard inside the bag while stitching. I am an old sewer (lol), but I don't think I would have thought of that.

[LiLi M.]

smiles!

great project!

[Dorthe]

Beth they are adorable, love them-and the last one the most, so sweet with all the layers, and the old image.
And I must admit, --I would not have thought of the cardboard -eighter-THANKS.

Hugs,Dorthe

[Lori]

I love them!!! Maybe also to do this on top of a canvas apron that Home Depot has for
.99c would be cute!! I will do this, thanks for the tutorial!!!!

[Donna Layton]

Absolutely brilliant. Love these:)

[Sarah]

Great tutorial Beth! I love it! I am going to have to give this a try!

Hugs,
Sarah

[Sandy]

Beth,

Great How-To! But, I prefer to buy the bags from you, you have the touch to make them look so beautiful, love mine! I got the little piece of art I ordered from you and LOVE it! Yep, am going to have to start a special "Beth" collection. Also, got the Cuttlebug, can you say "addiction"? I am enamored and spent the whole afternoon embossing and cutting anything I could think of to shove in there. Love it! Have a great week.

[Sarah]

What a fabulous way to use up all of those little pieces that are just taking up space in the closet. Great idea, Beth! Thanks for the tutorial, too.

[Vick Cotnoir]

Thank you for sharing the info...off to the sewing machine

[karen]

I love them! Sooo pretty! I'm glad you didn't go with the cone bra..LOL!
karen....

[Maija lepore]

Thanks Beth!! They are lovely and you are so clever!!

[lenna young andrews]

Thanks so much for the wonderful how-to. I want to try making one (or 2 or 3 or 4!). I appreciate the time you took to show us how!! Yours are gorgeous.

[The Polka Dot Closet]

I think it is darling, and for .59 why would you even try to make a bag.

Carol

[tara]

Hi Beth,just found your blog and I'm definetly going to give the bag a go . Am now your follower..xx

[Heidi Meyer]

I just LOVE these! I am doing a white wed post this week and it is all about crochet love. This is the perfect project for those piles of crochet. Thanks so much for sharing!
xxoo
Heidi

[Rachael]

Loved your tutorial, was I supposed to laugh all the way through it? Snort! Happy 2011! Rachaelxo p.s that pot full of doilies looks suspiciously like a chamber pot!

[lisa]

I love this Beth!! I'm totally stealing this idea. What amazing gift bags these will be. Lisa

[Yvonne Welty]

Thanks for such an informative and entertaining tutorial. Love your creations!

[Annette]

I love this!! I am not very creative but with your tutorial I think I can actually do this and I have some other ideas, too.....like old hankies that haven't sold or old fabric etc. Thank you so much!!
Annette

[fairyrocks]

WOW those are so wonderful!!
I swear one of these days I am going to dig my sewing machine out!!
Thanks

[Kathy]

Love the tutorial. I especially love your little quips that you've added. These turned out absolutely charming. - Kathy

[pamq]

I only have one question....

Why is it called a DITTY bag???

[Dawn Edmonson]

Hey sweetie....this tutorial is just WONDERFUL!!! First, I love that you've used a pre-made bag as a foundation and Second, you are such a HOOT!!!!! Not only are you showing us how to create your ditty bags but you are so down-to-earth as well. We all LOVE it when we get down-to-earth instructions that make us smile ~ they are gorgeous girl...and now I want to make one!! hugs and love, Dawn

[Kim]

Wonderful project...I just happen to have loads of doilies, just need to get the little muslin bags. Thanks so much for the instructions and inspiration! xo

[Rose Brier Studio]

Beth,
Those are great little bags! I loved following along as you made decisions about size and shape and avoiding a Madonna look!
I want to make some of these!

If you want a pinkish tea dye (one that scents the bag a little), Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger is great. You need to leave the item in a bit longer and the water must be HOT.
~Marilee

[Lena]

What a great eye you have Beth, to have seen both those things, before stitching. I think I'd like to experiment with these too, and maybe add a couple of other elements, as well. Great inspiration, Beth. Thank you for sharing.

I like Marilee's idea for the Raspberry Zinger tea, too.

[Susan Reaney]

Really nice, Beth. I haven't heard of the term " ditty bag" since I was growing up in Mitchell, South Dakota! I think it was a Girl Scout things but ours were not half as pretty. I did a lot of coffee and tea dying when I was preparing my sachets for Silver Bella. I practically dyed everything I could lay my hands on, I was having so much fun!
Hugs,
Suz

[Nancy Stone]

Beth: I searched the Michaels store near me for the ditty bags, but they didn't have any, so I am going to make some. About how big are the ones from Michaels? Also did you decorate both sides? Thank you

[Diane Knott]

Great tutorial, Beth! :-)
Diane

[suzeeez]

What a great idea. The end result is adorable! Thank you for sharing.
:o) Sue

[Pattie]

Thanks Beth!

Great tutorial!! Easy to follow instruction are awesome! Excellent job!!

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

[Charlene]

LOVED the bag & the tutorial! Thanks for sharing! And when you cut the doilies they don't ravel or come apart? It is getting harder & harder to come by the great lace now don't you think? Hope you are staying warm up there. It's been too darn cold for potty training puppies here. When your belly drags in frozen grass... you don't want to go outside! HUGS!Charlene

[Ruth Hower]

Your ditty bags are lovely, Beth! However, as an old lady who's been crocheting doilies (and using them) for more than 40 years, I have mixed feelings about cutting up any vintage pieces. If they have holes in them, or stains, that's a wonderful way to repurpose them. I hope nobody cuts up a perfect one - let those for the collectors. There were hours spent in making the thousands of stitches in order to bring a bit of beauty into the home at little cost during the years when deprivation of necessities was something I hope no one will ever experience again. Please don't take this as sour grapes - I love what you've created. I only hope your followers will think twice before cutting into someone's legacy.

[Mitzi Curi]

I'm all geared up to do some winter crafting, and your project is so adorable I'm going to give it a try! Thanks for all of the helpful tips. I think I've got some little muslin bags I ordered years ago and never did anything with.