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.
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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.
Roberta Bellemare says
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
Francese M Mills says
Hello….what a wonderful idea using pretty hankies…..makes me
want to get out my sewing machine again….thanks
carol kelsey-kolojeski says
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?
Kathy Smith says
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!!!
Dorothy White says
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.
Peggy Young says
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.
Sibylle says
this is beautiful whimsical!!
Bron says
Thanks for these beautiful gift ideas…….I had a little twist with tea for mine. Thanks for sharing.
Shoebox Seamstress says
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
Cathie says
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
Kathrin says
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
beth Moore says
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 🙂