Sew and No-Sew Handkerchief Garland Tutorial

After you've dried your tears and wiped your nose, you might be wondering what you could do with your collection of hankies.

Why not turn those handkerchiefs into a garland?  I've got both a no-sew and sew option...so keep on reading.

Don't have a collection of hankies?  Flea markets, Etsy and ebay are great places to hunt for them.  They typically run between $1-$4 per handkerchief.

Since the likelihood is great that the hankies were indeed used to dry tears and wipe noses, I start by washing them in a gentle cycle.  After they've been washed, I iron the handkerchiefs, folded into a triangle across the bias, and apply starch to give the delicate hankies some structure.

First up, the sew version.  *Keep reading for the no-sew version.

Grab some double biased tape.  Open the double biased tape and nestle the long folded section of the handkerchief in between, pinning it into place. 

Continue pinning each hankie into place.  I lined my hankies up so where one ended the next one began.

Head to your sewing machine. Doing either a straight stitch or zigzag, sew the handkerchiefs into place.

When you are done, find someplace to hang them up...

And, enjoy.

Like the look but don't like to sew?

I've got a no-sew version for you as well.
 

Fold your handkerchiefs up and pin them into place on either twine or the bias tape with clothespins.

 

No sewing required.

Don't have handkerchiefs?  No problem.

You can also use some bandanas.  

Another no sew option, just place the bandanas over the twine or bias tape.

Sew or no-sew, this hankie garland is easy enough that it should case any tears.

Of course, if it does, you can always dry your tears or wipe your nose with one of your hankies :)



Originally shared with:

Something Old - A Bridal Shower Gift

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

One of my favorite gifts to give for bridal showers a hand embroidered vintage handkerchief {something old and something new-ish}.

Select the thread color you want to use {I opted for her wedding colors, navy blue and burnt orange}.  I used a stem stitch, which is a basic embroidery stitch, to create the monogram and the flower stems. 

I created the flowers using a lazy daisy, outlining the middle with a lighter orange.  The flower was finished with a french knot center.

On the opposite corner, I continued using a stem stitch for the wedding date.  I separated the numbers using a lazy daisy and french knot stitches. 

 My only hope is that this handkerchief...

Only catches tears of joy.

Off to deliver this to the bride to be...

wrapped in blue ribbon and vintage lace.

Something Old

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

I'm invited to a bridal shower this weekend, for my cousin.

One of my favorite gifts to give is an embroidered vintage handkerchief {something old and something new-ish}.

With either a water solvable pen or, my new favorite, a Pilot FriXion Pen {a swipe of your hot iron will remove any trace of the ink} freehand or trace on the handkerchief what you want to embroider.

I opted for the bride to be's new initials kBr and her wedding date.

Select the thread color you want to use {I opted for her wedding colors, various purples}.  I used a stem stitch, which is a basic embroidery stitch, to create the monogram.

I continued using a stem stitch for the wedding date.  I separated the numbers using a lazy daisy and french knot stitches.

My only hope is that this handkerchief...

only catches tears of joy and happiness.

The only thing left to do, wrap it up and deliver it to the bride to be.