Making Your Own Vintage Style Lace Ribbon

This article walks you through the steps for making your own vintage style lace ribbon using some basic supplies from your kitchen.

If you are new to this blog: Welcome! My name is Anna and I share information on collecting antique/vintage items, refurbishing furniture and making small crafts/projects. The purpose of this blog is to show you how to use creativity and vintage items to make your home beautiful. In addition to information on the blog, you can also follow me on the following social media accounts Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.

Handcrafted Society

Welcome to the Handcrafted Society! This is a group of talented bloggers who come together monthly to collectively craft creations using a shared medium or theme. This month’s theme was “ soft and romantic lace”. Each blogger created a project that incorporated or was made using this element.

The projects by the Handcrafted Society are fun and inspiring because we see the varied perspectives and interpretations of the theme by each participant. These women are amazingly creative in making projects for each month’s theme. Towards the conclusion of this post, you’ll find images and links to the projects made by each blogger. I hope you enjoy browsing through all the ideas these ladies have created. Simply click on the image or blog name to view their full post.

Back Story

As someone who loves antiques and “old things” – ribbon with a vintage look is appealing to me. The aged appearance of old ribbon brings soul and charm to any object it adorns. While organizing my stash of crafting and sewing items, I came across a spool of lace and burlap ribbon. I had not used it for projects or gifts because the burlap was too scratchy. However, this time when I saw the spool of ribbon, I knew exactly how I could use it.

DIY Vintage Style Lace Ribbon

As previously mentioned, for this craft, I used what I had on hand. I found a roll of lace backed with burlap, I had purchased a number of years ago from Hobby Lobby. This technique should work on any new lace. (Assuming the lace is white)

Supplies

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I used the supplies I had on hand, however there are a variety of things you can use to “age” your lace. I provided links to online supplies when possible.

• Spool of Lace
• Instant Espresso (I used this kind)
  • or drip coffee
  • or brewed Lipton tea
  • or instant coffee
• Large Coffee mug(s)
• Spoon
• Paper towels

Separate the Lace

This step is not necessary if you already have some lace . However, in this case, I had to separate the lace from the burlap backing. Using some scissors, I trimmed the edges of the burlap and pulled the lace apart from the burlap.

Age the Lace

Brew your coffee, instant espresso or tea as instructed. Then place the lace into the mug with the hot coffee or tea. Ensure the lace is fully submerged in the coffee or tea. Let the lace sit for an hour.

The longer the lace remains in the brewed beverage, the more it will absorb the color. After an hour, or more, remove the lace and rinse it under cold water.

Blot it dry with a paper towel. The lace should dry quickly. You can see below how the coffee bath changed the color of the lace and gave it an aged appearance.

Adorn Objects with Vintage Style Lace Ribbon

Aside from using the vintage style lace ribbon to decorate wrapped gifts, there are a number of other ways to incorporate it into your decor.

Here are a few ideas:

• Use the lace ribbon to adorn a basket
• Tie it around the neck of a decorative horse, swan, or bust
• Add it to an urn
• Tie it on the handle of a vintage pitcher
• Tie it on the back of some wooden chairs

The lace has a beautiful soft drape which imparts a romantic feel.

These are just a few ideas as to how you can incorporate vintage style lace ribbon into your decor.

Similar Projects from the Handcrafted Society

Below are other projects using the same theme created by the ladies in the Handcrafted Society. These ladies are all tremendously talented so be sure to visit their sites for more inspiration!

In Closing . .

This vintage style lace ribbon is easy to make and affordable. It doesn’t require fancy supplies or perfect technique — just a little time, a cup of coffee/tea, and some lace. If you make some vintage style lace ribbon, I would love to know how it turns out!

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