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Handkerchief Sachets

Posted by  ·  April 21, 2010  ·  Last Updated: April 21, 2010

Mother’s Day Gift Idea

I have a few hankies saved from my grandmother and decided to turn them into something useful. I think these would make the sweetest Mother’s Day Gifts.

No worries if you don’t have handkerchiefs. Antique stores usually have a great selection for about .50 cents to $2.00 each.

Take one handkerchief and lay it out flat.

Fold the handkerchief in half and then half again. Line up all edges and press.

The handkerchief could have been cut, but I just couldn’t bear to cut into the hankies. I also liked the sachets thicker and didn’t want to have to finish raw edges.

Machine stitch around the handkerchief about a half inch from the edge (on larger hankies I sewed 1 inch from the edge). Leave a one inch opening on a side that can be filled. I left the opening on the first fold adjacent to the last fold (see picture).

Fill handkerchief with dried lavender (I found mine at Save On Crafts). A funnel makes this go quickly.  If you don’t have a small plastic funnel a piece of paper rolled into a cone works also. Don’t overfill as it will make it harder to sew sachet closed.

Close opening by finishing stitching line. The stitching line could also be embellished with hand embroidery.

33 COMMENTS
Filed Under: Gifts for pampering, Gifts for the home, Gifts for women, Handmade Gifts, Mother's Day, Sew

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Comments

  1. Roberta Bellemare
    Monday, June 26th, 2017
    I started making small items for a craft show that we have in the development were I reside. Found these sachets hankies and fell in love with the idea. I have at least 40 hankies that were my Mom's and I will use them as they are doing no one any good stored in a drawer. I intend to use Lavender to fill them and some I will decorate w/silk flowers and ribbons.
    I am 82 yrs "young" and do all kinds of crafts. Thank you for such a wonderful idea
    Reply
  2. Francese M Mills
    Saturday, August 27th, 2016
    Hello....what a wonderful idea using pretty hankies.....makes me
    want to get out my sewing machine again....thanks
    Reply
  3. carol kelsey-kolojeski
    Saturday, April 20th, 2013
    Love this idea for my preschoolers to make for their Mom's for Mothers Day. Now just need a cute poem to attach to it. Got any ideas?
    Reply
  4. Kathy Smith
    Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
    Thank you for these great directions...I have hankies, grow lavender, and am in a "pay it forward 2012" group for which I needed something I could make myself for gifts...this is perfect!!!
    Reply
  5. Dorothy White
    Thursday, April 12th, 2012
    I love this idea with the hankies. I have many very old hankies I have been questioning what to do with them. Thank you now I know.
    Reply
  6. Peggy Young
    Sunday, September 18th, 2011
    You have solved my problem! I am 75 years old and I have many handkerchiefs that belonged to my Great Grandmother! I also have many Granddaughters! What a wonderful gift to them! Something personal that belonged to their GGG Grandmother that they can actually use! I also have two little new Great Granddaughters! Something of their GGGG Grandmothers!
    Thank you so much. I have have been wanting to give them to my girls but wanted it to be in a keepsake form.
    Reply
  7. Sibylle
    Thursday, May 5th, 2011
    this is beautiful whimsical!!
    Reply
  8. Bron
    Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
    Thanks for these beautiful gift ideas.......I had a little twist with tea for mine. Thanks for sharing.
    Reply
  9. Shoebox Seamstress
    Sunday, October 17th, 2010
    What a brilliant idea. I got busy immediately. I also think my mother would love this. We both have a small collection of antique handkerchiefs, but they are simply kept in a box and admired once in a while. This way I can enjoy them even more!

    You can see them here: http://picasaweb.google.com/shoeboxseamstress/Sewing#5529011684272222498
    Reply
  10. Cathie
    Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
    I made some of these, and any hankie that was stained I just tea stained it to cover the mess. Super nice and vintage/primitive. Filled them with the lavender, but I like the idea of rice and essential oil. Love this site too....I find Im not as creative as I used to be so I come here to get my thoughts flowing again. Hugs & Kisses.....Cathie
    Reply
  11. Kathrin
    Friday, April 30th, 2010
    Just wonderful, thanks a lot for this simple and lovely idea.
    I collect old Hankies, have quiet a lot and as you say, it's not possible to cut them, but with your idea it's not neccessairy and the hankie could be opended again one day.
    Just great !!!
    Have a wonderful day, Hello from Switzerland, Kathrin
    Reply
  12. beth Moore
    Friday, April 23rd, 2010
    I can't bear to cut them either.... don't know if I can sew them though either.... At least they'd get used and seen more. I'll think about it :)
    Reply
  13. belinda
    Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
    Ok I have ALOT of old, pretty hankies! This is so cute. I had to TWEET about it! Thanks!
    Reply
  14. noel
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    "I have a few hankies saved from my grandmother and decided to turn them into something useful"

    Um, handkerchiefs aren't useful?
    Reply
  15. Maria
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    So very, very pretty!
    Thank you for the great ideas you always have!
    ~Maria
    Reply
  16. Amanda
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    These are really beautiful! You did a wonderful job!
    Reply
  17. Tiffanee
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    What an incredible idea! It won't cost me a ton to ship either!! Love it!! Thanks!!
    Reply
  18. Melissa Howard
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    These are so sweet and simple!! I love it...

    Isn't funny -- I have a variety of crafts that I do with hankies but I always, always avoid cutting them - isn't that funny!!
    Reply
  19. Stacey Lokovic
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    Great idea! I have some from my grandmas as well. I think I will make one for my mom for Mother's Day...I never know what to get her and this will be a nice sentimental gift. :) Thanks!
    Reply
  20. TammyM
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    This is a very gorgeous project! Beautiful!
    Reply
  21. pamela ponder
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    those are lovely!!!
    Reply
  22. Silvelaine
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    Que delicadeza de presente! Muito delicado!
    Reply
  23. Adin
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    That is really nice! :) I love visiting your blog!

    ADin B

    http://itssewtasticmama.blogspot.com/2010/04/green-bag-ladys-40th-earth-day-freebie.html
    Reply
  24. Shorty
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    I love this idea! And I happen to have some antique hankies!!! Thank you for the inspiration and the tutorial.
    Reply
  25. [email protected]
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    These are just beautiful! Thanks Cindy!
    I stumbled the post :-)
    ~Liz
    Reply
  26. Sarah
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    That's such a great use of handkerchiefs -- I hardly know anyone that actually uses them for their intended purpose anymore!!
    Reply
  27. Jamie
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    Wonderful, simple idea for Mother's Day gifts and teacher appreciation gifts! Thank You!
    Reply
  28. grandmaof7
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    Love your idea. I bet you could find hankies at yard sales! Thanks for sharing.
    Reply
  29. Janine
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    So pretty! I'd have to find a different filling as lavender gives me a headache...I'll have to do some research...I'll let you know what I find! Great idea!
    Reply
    • cindylouh
      Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
      I would think you could use something like rice scented with an essential oil of your choice. They would be heavier but I don't think it would matter.
  30. Beverly
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    Great idea! I have many - will give this a try - putting them in drawers differently than they are in the drawers now. Thanks for the idea.

    Bev
    Reply
  31. Barbara H.
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    That is so, so cute. I like not cutting into them, too.
    Reply
  32. Kim @ Homesteader's Heart
    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
    I love this idea. I have some hankies that I got from a box lot at an auction and didn't know what to do with them. Now I know!
    Reply