Craft ideas for women's handkerchiefs?

Question

I found maybe 10 oldish-looking printed women's handkerchiefs when I was going thru my mom's belongings. They are all different sizes and prints, some with irregular or scalloped edging. I'm not much into quilting; what else could I do with them?

Answer 1

I love old handkerchiefs. I've seen (and made) cute valances with them by laying them out partially overlapping with a point at top and bottom, and tacking them together. Then the top point folds over the rod and you tack that as well. You can add some cool old buttons or bows, etc. where they're tacked together.

If that's not suitable, you can use them as pillow fronts, either leaving them as they are or adding some embellishment. Since they're probably thin and maybe frail, I'd mount them on sturdier fabric.

If you're lucky enough to have some truly gorgeous ones, they can be beautiful framed, or even used as a mat behind another work of art. Have fun with them!

Answer 2

Turn them into sachets by folding them in half lengthwise and sew around the perimeter leaving an opening for turning and then filling with lavendar seed or potpourri before whip stitching closed. Then gather the top and tie a pretty ribbon around it and voila! Hang em from your door knob in your bathroom; scatter them in your dresser drawers or even fill a wooden bowl with a collection of them.

Answer 3

ok since the forth of july is coming up... have them come up with a "new" design for the american flag. the only other thing it would require was some glitter glue or fabric markers. or if you want to REALLY work with them and depending on their age.. you can make pillows all u need is two hndkerchiefs and some stuffing... we did this alot when i was a kid!

Answer 4

You can loop them over a curtain rod for a pretty valance, or place them along the edge of a shelf.
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Answer 5

Here's a few ideas:
http://home.att.net/~dleddy/Handkerchiefs.html

Answer 6

um, you could sew them together and make a rug or a towel or something