My Mom keeps these on hand to give as gifts. I love the poem.
How to make your Lace Handkerchief into a baby bonnet
Hanky Bonnet Poems:
THE MAGIC HANKY
I am just a little hankie, as square as can be;
but with a stitch or two, they've made a bonnet out of me.
I'll be worn home from the hospital, and on special days,
and then I'll be carefully pressed and neatly packed away.
Then on the Wedding, I have been told,
every well dressed Bride must have something old.
So what would be more fitting than to find Little Old Me,
a few stitches snipped and a Wedding Handkerchief
I Will Be!
And if per chance, it is a boy, someday he still will Wed.
So to his Bride he can present
the "Magic Handkerchief" once worn upon his head.
AN HEIRLOOM
A tiny square of linen
And a dainty edge of lace,
Designed into a bonnet,
To frame your baby’s face.
After baby’s worn it
Fold and tuck away...
And it becomes a hanky
For your daughter’s Wedding Day.
Or if the baby is a boy,
On the day he marries
This can be the “something old”
His joyful bride will carry.
TREASURE BONNET
This bonnet at first seems small in your hands,
A treasure of lace and ribbon bands.
But this gift is more than linen and charms
For the sweet baby who rests in Mother's arms.
From boxes long sealed, she will search for the hat,
Snip off the ribbons, and after that
Hand over this handkerchief with a smile
To her grown-up daughter, who will walk down the aisle.
Or to maybe her son, a young handsome groom,
She will hand him a gift, a family heirloom.
He will give it to the girl who holds his heart
To have and to hold, till death do they part.
To begin, you will need a LACE EDGED 10 x 10 (inches) hankerchief.
Or you can make one for yourself out of hand made bobbin lace, tatting, crochet or store-bought lace.
Once the hanki is completed, lay the hanky flat on an ironing board
Fold one end of the hanky back about 2/3, and press the fold (protect with pressing cloth)
Then fold the again about half the distance. The result is a little accordion fold (see
picture for help). Fold other end back about 1/2" to form a casing. (see left of diagram)
Press this through a cloth as well.
see photo here
Now you will need a needle and white thread (assuming your hanky is white).
With a very long basting stitch, sew through the half inch fold at the base of the lace(or edge)
Gather the fabric tightly and tie the threads together in a knot.
This makes it easy for the mom to snip the thread later.
(or insert fine ribbon to gather instead)
Then you can sew little ribbon rosebuds to the double fold at the front of the bonnet.
The ribbon ties are secured with a quick "X" stitch, then tack the rosebuds over the ribbon ties.
Leave a longish thread after you knot it so the baby's mom can find it later.
And that's it! It's quick and easy and well-appreciated for baby's baptism,
christening, or trip home from the hospital.