I just recently came across a box full of my grandmother's handkerchiefs, most of which were never used (they must have been gifts). I had seen somewhere that handkerchiefs could be incorporated into quilts. Does anyone know of any pattern or book that I could get or a website that might be of any help to me? Is putting old handkerchiefs into a quilt a good thing or is there some better way to preserve/display them? Thanks!

I have a pattern in a book..it cut the hanky into 4th's. then put each piece in the corner of the block, then each block was put facing each other, with sashing around it..it, or i thought it was beautiful, do you want me to find it and post a picture of it here for you?

I would love to see that pattern!

Lucky! If you could only see my sewing room.. :roll:
i will see if i can search and find the pattern on line..the book was purchased at one of those fund raisers at a hospital..a few years ago...Kim

Oh Oh Oh! I love that!! I started collecting hankies when I first got the quilting bug. Now I know exactly what I will do with them! :mrgreen: :thumbup:

tammy tadd is the author of the book..
Titled "Cool and cozy coverlets"
i looked all over the internet, and the cheapest i could find was for 14.99. i paid 20 for it for the fund raiser.

Here is a link to another discussion here about handkerchief quilts :D:D:D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-23080-1.htm

What a neat way to use old hankies! That's beautiful!

I have two old hanky quilts that used the whole hanky and love them. They were given to me years and years ago by someone in Florida who used one to cover her outside bushes in the winter. She didn't like them.

Forgot! I like the idea of using four corners...might try it as I have boxes of those old hankies.

Thanks - I would love to see it!

Love the hanky quilt. I have some old hankies that were my mothers and I didn't know what to do with them or now to make a quilt with them. Glad you posted that picture. Now I have an idea for them. I need to know something else too.

On the Christmas Ball Ornaments, I cannot find any 3 inches balls to use. I can only find 2 1/2 inch ones. I would have to go at least 100 miles to Des Moines to a craft store or a super wal mart to find them. My question is, what size do I cut the material to make the stars or whatever you call that, the 3 inche balls takes 2 1/2 inches of material but with my little pea brain, I can't figure out how big to make them for the 2 1/2 inch balls.

Thanks P.J.

A hanky quilt would be beautiful!! Welcome to the board from Southern California!!

Welcome Fatcat (pj)..
Joanns or Michaels didn't have the 3" balls? or a try hobby lobby or hancocks..

Loretta you are so organized. Mine were just put into boxes and never thought to organize them. Like my fabric room...I get it all sorted and then because time is my enemy I will put my fabric on the ironing board and before you know it the elves come in and move the piece I want someplace else! :

Do you have that problem to granny216. I thought I was the only one that had elves. I put something somewhere and when I go back to get it, it isn't there. Those little elves really do a number sometimes, don't they?
P.J.

Wait fatcat....I'll look for something else and can't find that and lo and behold I find what I was looking for a week ago...I look at this problem with those elves borrow it and then decide to hide it on me. My daughter told me to chuck all that fabric and just keep a few pieces...she must be kidding. You know where they go when they want a piece of fabric?

Well I don't have that problem witha daughter. I don't have any of them but I have daughter-in-laws and they are none of them interested in what I do so I just keep stacking in the fabric. Someday it will be their problem then to get rid of it. Know anyone I could will it to? lol.
Good talking to you. P.J.

I just thought of something else. I would like to make one of those hankerchiefs quilts because I have my mother hankies but now I don't know what those doggon elves did with them. Will have to start looking. They put things in the darndest places.

P.J.

I think in January, i will start a "clean you sewing place" thread..complete with before and after pictures! that will give us some motivation if we do it together!

Well, I surely need to follow that thread!

i did it one year on HGTV..it was a hoot..those that could post a picture..did. do we kinda gave each other a bunch of "atta girls"! mine is a mess right now..as usual..when i start a project, i pull fabric and patterns out, and it never gets put back the right way...

I was fortunate too get many of Great Grandma's hankies . Fot the past two Christmases I used some and some 8 by 10 and 4 by 6 frames. Quilted an appropriate background for the size frame and then appliqued different baskets on each. From the baskets and on the handles I was able to hang and hand tack many corners of the hankies........3-5 depending on the size of the frames. I did not use the glass. They were given to all the granddaughters and great granddaughter sas Xmas gifts. Was a lot of fun and very meaningful. If i can figure out how to send my husbands pictures i will post them. Sue

I made wall hangings for all my sisters and daughter 7 in all I found different tea pots and cups and saucer patterns applicade them on. then made shelves for them with stripes put the corner of a hankie under each tea pot it looked like a dolliy under each one.

I found the book at my local library.

what a great idea. I have some old handkerchiefs I could use.