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lace handkerchiefs

My parents are in the process of moving, and in going through their stuff, they found a bunch of women's handkerchiefs (something like these:

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asked me to see if I could figure out what to do with them. I only thought of 3 things, either give them away, either to someone locally or to someone on this list, sell them on ebay, or just throw them out.

If I decide to give them away, though I guess the final decision is my parents, not mine, I would have to ask whoever I give them to pay shipping.

Based on the prices that I see on ebay, I am not sure though, that selling them would really be worth the trouble.

Finally, it would be just a shame to throw them out. I just dont know what to do with them.

Incidentally, I cannot really picture how to use them to make a quilt, or even if they can be used for that purpose.

Cutting them all to the same size would cut away some of the lace or fancy embroidery that might be around the edges, which would be the point of using them in the first place. I also can't picture sewing them down to muslin, or ironing them to fusible interfacing as being much more satisfactory.

Brian Christiansen

Reply to
Brian Christiansen
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Brian PLEASE don't throw them out!

Get your hands on a book called "Hanky Panky" - it really has some great ideas on what to do with old hankies.

Also, with your permission, I will send you a photo of a quilt made with old hankies. I'll have to send it as an attachment, and it will be from my work address, as that's where it's stored.

I know there are 2 or maybe 3 books on making quilts, etc, from old hankies. They are indeed, wonderful treasures. Hold on to them!

Let me know if it's okay to send you the photo.......

Patti in Seattle

Reply to
Patti S

First of all, Brian, they certainly could be made into a quilt - though it would probably be best to make a wallhanging, so that they didn't get wear and tear. Your parents might like to have it in their new home?

Please don't cut them to the same size!

I have seen some beautiful 'arrangements made with lace hankies. The most effective have been when the hankies have been placed onto a background of a rich, deep colour, so that all the beauty of the lace is visible. If you cut the background blocks to the same size, the hankies could all be 'centred' on the backgrounds and the result would be same-size blocks. The hankies need not be set square on - they could be, or the be set at a jaunty angle, whatever takes your fancy.

The hankies could be fixed to the background by small stitches or even fabric glue or spray adhesive (like 505 which is used to spray baste batting).

The quilting could be restricted to the plain centres, and any strips of background left uncovered by the smaller hankies (unless you made sure that they all had some background round them, even if narrow).

I believe there are examples of handkerchief quilts 'around', though I have never kept a note of them.

You could try our own Google Archives, as I'm sure we have spoken about this before at some time - but when?/ Sorry.

Hope something there helps! . In message , Brian Christiansen writes

Reply to
Patti

Brian, I have a book called Hanky Panky that shows how to use hankies like that for a quilt. I want to use what I found in my mother's things (they were my grandmother's), but don't have enough to do it justice. I would be MORE than happy to pay the postage for the hankies. Please ask your parents if they would care to combine their find with my grandmother's hankies.

Karen, Queen of Squishies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Never hurry, never wait.

Reply to
Karen, Queen of Squishies

I won't ask as Karen, QoS already has.....

BUT...... if any of you reading this have any that you don't want----I need about 10 more to have enuf for the quilt I have been collecting for.......I'm collecting both kinds-those that have one embroidered corner and those that have all over prints. not fussy on edgings.lace, crocheted or tatted are all ok for this go round. Thanks ahead of time. I'll be happy to pay postage

Reply to
Butterflywings

I just used one of my mother's collection of hankies on a crazy quilt postcard. At the quilt show, there was a quilt of baskets that had hankies folded diagonally coming out of the basket. There is a book that has patterns for using then. Gen

Reply to
Gen

Hey there, Ms. Butterfly! (waving from Central IL) If Brian can give these away, I don't need them all honey. Brian, you just see what you can do, okay??

Karen, Queen of Squishies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Never hurry, never wait.

Reply to
Karen, Queen of Squishies

Another pattern for handkerchiefs is Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli's Saucy Senorita. You can see it here:

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In looking at the page, it also seems like Precious Angels and Bandanna Ana may use handkerchiefs as well. You can probably e-mail her and inquire for sure. She was a guest at my guild some years back and she seemed very friendly and approachable.

Reply to
Mary in Rock Island IL

There's also a book called "Hooked on Hankies." (It has the butterfly hanky pattern I want to use.)

Reply to
Kay Ahr

You might not be much interested in sachets, not really a guy thing, but a small handful of dried lavender in the middle of the hanky, pull up all the sides and tie with a pretty ribbon makes a nice little gift. Just don't throw them away, you will never hear the end of it and our spirits will haunt you long after we're gone! Roberta in D

"Brian Christiansen" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:QArbi.13587$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

That's one of the patterns that I'm collecting for (all over print) and the other I'm using the lace edges/ single embroidery for is in the shape of hearts (for my sis's quilt )

Butterfly

Reply to
Butterflywings

I saw a very pretty wall hanging with baskets once that were made with lace hankies, the baskets were made (the triangle shape things) but were the basket handle part and the "basket" part was, was a half of a hankie (cut on the diaangle), it floated free,

Reply to
Tami

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