This blog is all about saving bits and pieces and making the most out of a ragged edge dresser scarf. There are 28 pictures below, most all have information in the picture captions. My intention is…
I would love to make a gorgeous quilt like this someday...
Writing 101 – Today’s twist: write the scene from three different points of view. I’m not into fiction yet. A lot of these Writing 101 prompts seems to be focused on fiction. The them…
So you want to make a handkerchief quilt? There are so many different ways to use all those beautiful vintage hankies you’ve been collecting. I’m in the process of finishing my qui…
Turn handkerchiefs from a loved one into a keepsake that you will cherish forever. This men's handkerchief memory quilt tutorial will show you how.
This is my first tutorial and my first multi-size handkerchief rag quilt. I usually collect hankies until I have enough of the same size and simply put them together in the normal way for a rag quilt but I had so many hankies of various sizes that I was not using because I didn't have enough of a particular size. I wanted to figure out a good way to make the quilt using all the different sizes. I thought I could put a small size next to a big size and it would all work out in the end but the seams didn't match up and I didn't like the look so here is what I did instead. Step 1: Sort and organize your hankies as to size. I have an 11" pile, a 12 - 12 1/2" pile, a 13 - 13 1/2" pile and a 14" and above pile. Step 2: Iron each hanky and inspect for yellowing. The ironing will help you get the correct measurement. . If your vintage handkerchiefs look yellowed you can try a trick I found on Pinterest that really worked. I found it here. I wish I had taken the "before" picture of this hanky I tried it on but here is the "after." It looks amazing! Step 4: Layout your hankies in the array you want them to be in for your quilt alternating the sizes. Step 5: Take a picture of your layout. You don't really have to do this step but I find that my cats love to mess up my layouts. The pictures have saved me many times. Pick up the hankies by row so it will be easy to sew in the right order. Step 6: Select the largest size hanky and cut your flannel that same size. I am using flannel and fleece for this rag quilt. I like to use fleece with the very delicate hankies to give the quilt a nice weight. I cut my flannel and fleece squares 13 1/4". (The 1/4" was just my insurance.) Step 7: Layer the hanky and the flannels (and fleece if you are using it). I've made hanky quilts with just a hanky and two slices of flannel and it turns out beautifully. For this one I layered hanky, flannel, fleece and flannel. If the hanky is close to the size of the flannel squares then simply sew your traditional X through all 3 or 4 layers. If your hanky is smaller than an inch from the edge of the flannel like this: Pin it Sew it onto just the first layer of flannel Like this Then layer the other fabrics and sew through all the layers with the traditional X like this Step 8: When all the smaller hankies are sewn onto flannel and layered and all the hankies are sewn with an X, now you can begin to assemble the quilt. Alternate the small hankies with the large hankies as you did in the original array and sew them together in a row. I used a one inch seam on mine for a very fluffy look. Step 9: Sew all the rows together matching the seams as you go. Step 10: Sew around the perimeter of the quilt. I do a double perimeter seam for added strength and I think it looks pretty too. Step 11: (Gently lift cat off quilt) Clip all the seams as you would any rag quilt. Step 12: Machine wash your quilt. With Hanky quilts I use a delicate setting and dry on low. They wash up beautifully and this last step helps to give a nice full fluffy look to your seams. Admire your results: Update 2/23/14 I have sometimes cut through the hanky edge as part of the fluffy seams but if you don't want to cut into your precious hankies, make all your flannel squares 1" larger than your largest hanky. Sew down each of your hanky edges onto the first layer of flannel. When you sew the squares together you will only be snipping the flannel, not the hankies. Most of my hanky quilts are made with 3 layers of white flannel. Update 10/18/15 I recently made a vintage hanky quilt for a customer and I tried something different that I will continue to do. I sewed the hanky onto white muslin instead of flannel and then layered that square with the normal middle and backing in white flannel. I loved the look and the feel of the muslin and it didn't change the fluffy seams at all. It gave the whole quilt a nice fresh sheet feel. Here's a picture: Update 4/3/16 Check out the revised Step 12. Thank you to Judy for reminding me of this very important (previously missing) step. Update 4/23/16 Here is my latest hanky quilt. This one I made a heart design with the hankies. I'm posting it to show what the back looks like. Update 8/1/19 I just read through this post to see if what I had written way back in 2013 was still the way I make these quilts. I have made sooo many since then and I do everything almost the same way BUT now I find the largest hanky and I cut my muslin 2" larger. This ensures that I will not cut into any of the hankies when I cut the seams. I also always do my hanky quilts with 4 layers - hanky, muslin, flannel, flannel. No more fleece unless someone asks for that.
Transform your fabric scraps into beautiful new scrappy quilts by making string quilts. A tutorial from NewQuilters.com #stringquilts #stringquilttutorial
My newest pincushions covered with vintage handkerchiefs. I absolutely adore them! They remind me of my grandmother. :)
It's quite a while now since I wrote the post about cutting up old, hand-embroidered tablecloths, the one that caused a certain amount of adverse comment. I looked for the post but couldn't find it which make me think I...
Our grandmas and grandpas used handkerchiefs all the time but with paper tissues being available everywhere it’s now become a more common habit to just
My colorful Slashed Half Hexie Quilt, using the Missouri Star pattern and half hexie template. The fabrics are Calypso Batiks by Moda.
This quilt “save/rescue was one of the most challenging projects I’ve worked on in a long time. I had offered the quilt to 2 of my different retreat groups and with no takers I decided to work on t…
While I was admiring pillowcases with crocheted edges yesterday, I found this elegant fabric/crochet quilt. It's from The Whoot in Aus...
If you have purchased a custom quilt jacket, pullover, etc, upcycle the leftover quilt scraps for a matching bow! These giant quilt bows are perfect as a hair accessory or even clipped onto clothing.
Celebrate March as National Quilting Month and sew a super-easy quilt, with six fun fabrics, and Nancy Zieman’s I Sew For Fun Two-Piece Quilt Block Tutorial
I know the title sounds a little weird but that is exactly what I'm going to do. I am giving one of my lucky readers 26 hankies. Why 26? Because that is how many I have :) You may be thinkinging "What the heck am I gonna do with 26 vintage hankies?" I am so glad you asked. Make doll dresses out of your vintage hankies. Attach the hankies to canvas or frame them and use them as wall art. Turn the hankies into butterflies for a quilt. Make a quilt out of them. Make a table runner. Use them for banners or bunting. Make a wreath out of your hankies with felt flower embellishments. Give gifts some elegance with some vintage hankie gift wrapping. place hankies in embroidery hoops and hang them on the wall or place them in a container for display. Make pillow covers. Make an ordinary canvas tote more interesting. If you don't consider yourself the crafty type but you like to look at the beautiful design then put them in a jar on your shelf. I have to admit I never would have come up with this idea in a million years. Make Heirloom Bloomers. How cute!!! If you go to the site it has a tutorial and a pattern. Here is an easy to make little girls dress. It is also reversible! Do you know someone who is getting married soon? Display the hankies at the wedding with a sign that says Take one for tears of joy. Then the guests can have a hankie for the ceremony. What a great idea. I think it is a lot better then butter-mints. Now that you know what you can do with vintage hankies.Below are pictures of my...maybe soon to be YOUR hankies. Want to win them? There are several ways you can enter. 1. Follow I hold all the cards. Leave a comment telling me you did. If you are already a follower just leave a comment telling me you already follow this blog. 2. Post about this giveaway with a link back to my blog on your blog. Make sure you leave a comment telling me about your post. 3. Share this post on facebook. Again...be sure to leave me a comment telling me you did so. You must leave a separate comment for each entry. Please keep it honest folks. I will be checking to make sure you did what you said you did in your comment. I will be choosing the winner on Monday November 21st and then announcing who the lucky person is the next day. I will ship anywhere in the USA. Sorry people from different countries.What would you do with the hankies if you won?
Cheap and easy fabric crafts and quick sewing ideas with fabric scraps for home decor, DIY Christmas gifts, bags, cute accessories & stocking stuffers.
Faced with the dilemma of needing my Vintage Linens Quilt #1 (VLQ#1) for a presentation to the Alamo Heritage Quilt Guild earlier this month and knowing it wouldn’t be back in my possession until t…
I’ve been collecting Pansy Doilies for years and years and decided they could be used in as a collection in a quilt. I sorted them by general color as I have those with white or very l…
Learn how to make a simple handkerchief wreath using your vintage colorful ladies hankies and an embroidery hoop in less than a minute.
Top US quilting blog, Diary of a Quilter, features an Easy Fat Quarter Quilt tutorial that takes now time to make! Click now for more details!
Things to make with vintage hankies. upcycled handkerchief crafts.
I know a lot of you have been waiting for this quilt-as-you-go tutorial, so here you go! You can find a video tutorial below which I had the privilege of filming at The Fat Quarter Shop with Kimber…
Update: The pattern is complete! You can purchase a copy at my Etsy Shop: Inventive Denim So I finally finished clipping the jean quilt, then brushing, washing and drying and here are the finished results! I love the way it turned out. I thought I liked it before I clipped it but I really like it now that it's been clipped and washed. I've made this type of quilt in the past and this time I decided to "prep" the raw edges prior to washing and drying. I've noticed that sometimes these kind of quilts need to be washed several times to get the full fraying effect. So, this time I "brushed" the raw edges with a hard bristled plastic brush- think of your toliet bowl brush- the kind with really stiff bristles (I didn't use a toliet bowl brush, however!). Here's what the quilt looked like as I progressed. I scrubbed the edges backward and foreward before it ever went into the washing machine. It was really frayed and oh-my-gosh it sure shed! It seemed to do the job, though, because it came out of the dryer (first time) perfectly frayed! I just love this type of quilt and I love that I am using up someone's discarded jeans to make a whole new creation. Thanks so much for stopping by! Heather :)
Time just flies by, doesn't it? Here are a few 2021 highlights. I designed Father & Farmer with my dad in mind. He wore bib overalls and a blue chambray shirt and carried a red or navy bandana handkerchief nearly every day of his life. This quilt appeared in Fons & Porter's Quick + Easy
Vintage embroidery patchwork quilt
A luminary in the world of textiles and quilting, Kaffe Fassett has inspired quiltmakers all over the world to work with color in an instinc...
How many of us have doilies and linens that we have inherited from our mothers and grandmothers? I (Kara) have accumulated quite a few over the years. Whether they were given to me as gifts from my grandmother or whether I picked them up on my thrift/antique store adventures, my pile is quite large. My collection But the question is, what do I do with them all? My grandmother and great-grandmother, and even my great-great-grandmother spent a lot of time and energy on creating these beautiful works of art. Even if I used them in my home decor on a rotating basis, I would still not be able to adequately show them off in a way they deserve. So instead, they languish away in drawers, boxes, and cedar chests. A tablecloth my grandmother started It's been on the back of my mind to do something with them all, but lack of time and energy has prevented that from happening. Recently, I became a member of the Facebook group, Quilting Vintage, and have been inspired by the amazing things that machine quilters and long-armers have been doing with vintage linens of all kinds. I have also searched through Pinterest for doily re-purposing ideas, and I was bit overwhelmed at all the creative options I found. Doily pillow from "Ode to Inspiration" What a gorgeous use of color for these doilies by Sadie Seasongoods This lovely quilt can be seen at "V and Co."and in the book Make It Sew Modern: Gather, Twist, Pleat, Texture The above ideas are just a few creative ways that I've found to use doilies, but I think I will put my inherited doilies in a quilt. When I came across these inspirational quilts from Suziqu's Threadworks, I was in awe. I love the use of velvet as a background The neutral palette is beautiful So many different types of needlework were used in this quilt Now that I have some inspiration, I will need to sort through my collection and plan. I really like the idea of a neutral background in taupes, tans, and beiges. I think that this project will be one that has to be fluid and dictated by the doilies themselves, since they vary so much in size, color, and style. What a variety! The doily on the right is a classic pineapple design My great-great grandmother made these adorable filet-crochet animals. Handmade crocheted trim A lovely cuff made by a friend A sweet bib Do you have vintage linens stashed away somewhere just waiting for new life? I love the idea of using these doilies, made by my grandmothers' hands, and giving them another story. Hopefully you will be inspired to create something with your collection and visit some of the pages we have linked here. If you have already re-purposed your doilies and vintage linens, please share your creativity. We'd love to see it!
Three cheers for a LONG overdue finish. This is a quilt that has been on my bucket-list for a long time. It's based on a Sandy Klop pattern called Merry-Go-Round. It's one I've wanted to make for years and was way excited when my sister-in-law choose it as the pattern she'd like for their wedding...Read More
a catalog of visually interesting found and created items.
I know there are several quilters that are well into the process of creating their own Vintage Linens quilt! Thank you for sending pictures of your awesome progress! Recently Elaine Marie on Facebo…
Ever since completing the doily quilt top some, oh, nine months ago (I really have to get on top of this too many unfinished projects at once thing) I have been umming and ahhing about the sashing - to sash or not to sash. About a month ago I was pondering the use of decorative machine stitching using perle 8 cotton and, having indeed located the correct shade of green in the meantime, last night I finally got to it. Rather than sewing a whole new nine-patch square or risking making a mess of the completed quilt top I just mocked up an edging using some spare embroidered doily blocks. I sewed the green lines (on the wrong side) and pinned them to the quilt top to approximate what effect this sort of accent sewing might produce. I am delighted to have come to the conclusion that the quilt would not be enhanced by adding the stitching. There is a lovely flow at the moment between the blank blocks and the embroidered blocks; any sashing or stitching would break that up and instead strengthen the geometry of the quilt. So, no extra stitching - hooray! Now I just have to quilt and back the whole thing. Actually, after nine months what I need to do is iron it.
I recently bought the Cindy Needham " Design It, Quilt It " class on Craftsy (I say "bought" because you own it for life and can refer to i...
