What to do with pretty handkerchiefs

[llnmaw]

Besides blow our noses on them??!

I have about 10-12 of them and most are 13x13" and some a bit smaller.

They are feminine and lovely...and I want to do [I]something fun[I] with them but what?

They don't go with our home decor, so no pillows. What I really want is to make something for dd out of them.....but I'm not sure what. They are not all the same, a few could coordinate I guess.

Ideas?

[courtenay_e]

Could you quilt with them, even if they don't go with your decor? Or, how about a patchwork skirt for your dd? I have a bunch of calico scraps I've decided to make into a patchwork skirt for dd for this summer. She's excited!

[Whistler]

My mom had some like that that she let me use as doll blankies. Somehow I always knew they were special and took good care of them.

[llnmaw]

Maybe I could do a quilt of sorts with them...though I've never made a quilt. If I made it for dd (2yrs.) to have as a doll blanket she would think it lovely and not notice my novice skills!

Mulling it over......

Thanks for the ideas!
~L.

[HappiLeigh]

You could sew strips of a coordinating solid between them and make a little skirt for her, or you could use one to make the front bodice part of a dress or shirt.

[llnmaw]

Originally Posted by HappiLeigh

You could sew strips of a coordinating solid between them and make a little skirt for her, or you could use one to make the front bodice part of a dress or shirt.

THIS is what I was hoping for! I could make one the bodice of a dress and use coordinating fabric for the dress.

And the skirt idea is a good one too.

I'm ruminating still......

THANKS!
~L.

[hibana]

My mother made a baby's summer dress out of pretty vintage hankies. I don't think she used a pattern, just worked with the dimensions and cut them into rectangles or squares as needed. The finished garment used all the pieces.

[velcromom]

I recently saw a tutorial for making shorts out of bandanas... I think pretty hankies would make adorable bloomers for a little one. Elastic waist, a cute ruffle... to wear under a skirt or tunic. Sort of a cuter alternative to the leggings the little girls always have on.

[txgal]

Check out the Miss Madeline pattern here. It has the option of adding an apron using vintage tea towels/handkerchiefs. It was the first dress I made and very easy for a novice sewer.

Here's are the dresses I made for DD.