Hankies! I have used crocheted edged handkerchiefs my entire life. It is undoubtedly a throw back to my Grandma Agnes always having one stuck in her sleeve or bosom, another of her traits that I seem to have inherited. You will be happy to hear that I keep my hankies in my purse, not my cleavage. I’ve amassed quite a collection of these handkerchiefs over the years, and am always on the lookout for more. You can’t just pick these things up at your local department store, but must be on the look out for them at thrift stores, antique shops and other places where vintage objects can be found. I struck gold at a village wide outdoor antique festival in Arezzo, Italy a few years ago. There were dozens of vendors selling what looked to be entire pre-WWII trousseaus, which included a beautiful selection of hand crocheted edge hankies. The ones pictured above I purchased this past weekend at an antique shop in Salinas, CA.
I also purchased this sweet hand cross stitched table runner. Don’t hate me Andrea, I promise I will take you there next time you come to visit.
10 Responses
Wow! You made quite a haul. I especially love the hankies.
very nice! I actually did a couple of crochet-edges on hankies when I was in college. I’m a hankie collector too… and would love to know about the shop in Salinas! (I live in Oakland)
That’s a beautiful collection, Nicole. I have Hanky Envy. 🙂 Years ago, and I do mean years ago I had a small box with a handful of hankies that my grandmother had given me and sadly they were left behind in a sudden move (along with my wedding dress). Yours are darling – beautiful keepsakes!
Oooh – you must take me there (unless you already bought up all the good stuff). I haven’t been finding any really nice hankies with colored crochet edging. That’s what I’ve been keeping my eye out for. Yours are just lovely.
What impresses me most is you actually USE yours. I just pet mine.
Such a lovely runner! And those hankies!!! I collect them too! My favorite find was a trio of three crocheted edge vintage hankies that had my initials on them! =)
How pretty! It isn’t something that is done much anymore. I come from a long line of crochet-ers. My grandmother crocheted me a table cloth in about 1970 or so, (long before I got it) it is so lovely.
Love those hankies! It’s funny, I just posted today how I never find anything good in thrift stores, but if I do go into one I always look for old handkerchiefs. I’d be thrilled to find some like yours!
I just wanted to drop a line to say that I am so impressed with the number of quilts you have done! I’ve been quilting for about 50 years. Yours are all so creative and beautiful.
I love the hankies, and have just a couple from my grandmother too.
Oh Nicole, what a beautiful collection of hankies. I love anything with crocheted edges and embroidery.
Thanks for visiting my blog! I had wax on a doillie one time that I just put plain paper on and a hot iron and it came right off. I’m in the process of trying to starch a few doillies that have those high edges and I’m just not having any success. I need to put my thinking cap on and try something else.
Marilyn in NM
Oh, just love your hankie collection! How wonderful that you use them and just like your Grandma Agnes! The runner is so sweet!
xo,
Kim