Frugal home decorating: Framing vintage handkerchiefs

Framing my grannie's handkerchiefs wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

Years ago men and women carried handkerchiefs like we carry cell phones today.  Various squares of fabric embellished with initials perhaps for the gents or lace for the ladies were placed in pockets or purses for practical hygiene purposes.  Blotting noses, eyes or waving to a friend handkerchiefs were once essential accessories.

Today carrying a

on your person is more uncommon than common.  Blame it on the advent of the disposable tissue or any number of reasons, handkerchiefs are now reserved for special occasions.  Would the average young adult even know how to properly fold a handkerchief?

While handkerchiefs may seem unsanitary they are quite clean if you know how to properly use, fold and store them.  I will also point out it's more "green" to use a handkerchief than facial tissue.

My grannie had a collection of what I'm calling vintage handkerchiefs that are ornate and interesting.  Years ago when my husband and I bought her house and were cleaning out some of the dressers, I found her collection.  Donating it wasn't an option so into storage they went, until yesterday.

If you have a stash of vintage handkerchiefs and don't know what to do with them here are some options:

1.  Store them properly, rolled or laying flat between tissue paper.

2.  You can hand wash them and lay flat to dry.

3.  Iron them on low heat if you need to.

4.  Finding out what your collection is worth, will be hard, but there is a market for 'collections' on ebay. Do an advanced search to price compare similar makes and brands.

5.  Crafts - You can frame them, stitch them to a pillow, make a quilt, create a patchwork skirt or shirt, save them for a future bright idea.

Here's what I did:

Cleaned up an old frame.

Cut foam board to size as the base.

Created a pinwheel design with the handkerchiefs folding them like a tie.

I couldn't figure out a way to get them to stay in place so I used masking tape to secure them as I prepared them for framing.  (I probably shouldn't have done that, but at least there are no holes.)

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