Huh? What do you all quilt with vintage hankies? Someone here was just selling off a bunch of vintage ladies hankies. You know, the kind with lacy borders, or embroidery in corners, little scenes, etc. Some of them in pale pastel colors...

Do you make quilts or other items out of them? How so????

I was thinking to use one to embellish the front of a cloth purse, like a Miranda style purse or something. Maybe fold it and sew in place to make a flap for a pocket... or...

Let's hear some ideas!!!!

there is a butterfly quilt pattern where the butterflies are actually the hankies. Do a search on here, there should be some pictures!

i've used them as (doilies) sitting under a bouquet in a vase- in the center of a quilt-
they make wonderful aprons- in fact in our little sewing group one of the ladies brought us in a cute pattern for 1/2 aprons made out of them-
i've used them appliqued to blocks----the first time i cut one of my great grandma's hankies in half- it was very (tramatic!) but then it all turned out so great it was ok...after that first one i found it easy to start using them...they have also become parts of crazy quilt blocks-
if they are very thin you can add a lightweight stablizer-

Blow vintage noses?

I have ladies I embroider and use them as skirts...

I'm working on a butterfly quilt now and maybe someday I will get to a angle quilt.

I just can't bring myself to cut up any of my grand- and great-grandmother's hankies - they are just so beautiful! I wonder if there is a way to display them in quilt-like form without having to stitch permanently.

this is one quilt I just finished. I sew the hankie onto my square then am able to sew down the fine lace by hand join the blocks
for the quilt. I starch the hankie because the top will be on the bias. Iplaced thm all the same way but patterns are endless.

another quilt I hand sewed each whole hankie in different shapes folding them. remember when women had folded hankies in their breast pockets?

I just can't bear to cut them, they are just folded in triangle. some are not true squared. that is fine by me

I love your answer. :D

I love your quilt but like you I could not cut them.

Here is a link to one of the butterfly quilts that auntpiggylpn was talking about.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-151655-1.htm

It is a wonderful quilt where the hankies are folded but not cut, I believe.

sew them together for curtains!

I've made valances for the bedroom windows. Set them on point.

Now that's funny! :lol:

hobbycat1955, you must have very tiny friends! :lol:

lol lol lol lol

I've started a butterfly quilt with them. I have made a promise to myself to finish it by summer next year so I can put it out to use then.

I am always amazed at the different ways folks put hankies into works of sewing art!

Great idea - your quilt is adorable!! I have seen vintage hankies used in a table runner - very pretty.

Um.... <laughing>..... I actually KNOW a lady who uses real 'hankies'. She's English, living in the states. She, er, 'never leaves home without one'. lol.

Jacqui.... Very nice way to use a whole lot of them. Pretty! I don't think I could bear to cut some of them, even though I find them at garage sales. For some reason, I have like 50 of them. That, and vintage embroidered pillowcases. I don't use em... I just HAVE them.

um.... like for Barbies? I mean, like, um...... I'd need a LOT of hankies to cover MY essentials....

Maybe a bikini? Two for the top, Two for the bottom (unless you're in Argentina or the French Riveria)... and little bits of string???? No, no.... the mental picture is revolting!!!! <giggle>

Wow...never seen that one before. I had been wondering if I could fold them as points, or even cut them, stitch to a foundation and make a large Victorian fan for a medallion quilt. Like each stave of the fan (a large one) would be a different hankie pattern. I just thought they might be too fragile (the hankie cloth that is) for such a thing to work- even on a foundation. If it was a wall quilt - no wear, little to no washing - then maybe.

Like that Butterfly quilt, though. Nice.

Here's a poor photo for which I apologize, of a dress made from vintage hankies!

And if any of you Floridians or Georgians were at the Florida Folk Fest, you will surely recognize the best band to come along in a long time, Jubal's Kin!

Wow! What a creative person to make that dress. I realize, it would only look good on a 'skinny' person. :-)

Definetly make a quilt either a butterfly or cut in half and use another half to make a square.

great idea and lovely dress.


how about collecting christmas ones( i hear they are the most collectable) making mantle scarfs on point, tree skirts or just as point edging on them.
I also have vintage embroidery tea towels crocheted doilies from now gone family.

Some day i'll post ugly 12'' + crochet doillies the worst combo of colors. (what were these people thinking ) ahhh what to do with those?

I liked this quilt. It was so pretty when I saw it and would love to make one like it.

There is a book called Hanky-Panky Crazy Quilts by Cindy Brick. Also on Flickr there is a Cathedral Window done with hankies and old linens.

If you google hanky panky crazy quilts ....scan down to quilted or quilting therapy. It is not a tute but some of us will enjoy and can adapt. Amazon has used books for 18$+

Got some saved and plan on making a quilt with a hanky blanket stitched in each square.

for Marilyn who asked how else I folded some hankies.
I hand sewed these onto squares.