World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of October 2, 2000:
Our question this week comes from Laurie
I have many handkerchiefs of all different types and sizes and would love any suggestions on putting them into a quilt somehow...any ideas?
Mary Eckard :
I too have a collection of my Grandmother's handkerchiefs, and my plan for their use is in Nancy Martin's Tea Party Time book, where she uses them as "basket liners" for a series of basket blocks. This shows off a triangular corner of each one which is where the best design is usually found.
Gerri :
To Maria, if you haven't already found the magazine, it's in the March 1998 issue of "Quilt World," starting on page 30 with the photograph. If you need a copy of the article you can email me at Iam4quilts@cs.com.
Debbie :
You could put them all together like quilt blocks and then attach them to a flannel backing. Use lace between the blocks for a saching effect. The quilt could also have lace on the outside border. I have been saving handkerchiefs for this purpose also!
CS :
Three ideas.
1.If there is lace and embroidery on the handkerchiefs, why not make a crazy quilt; the foundation fabric will help to stabilize hankies in thin fabric.
2.Use them as the centre piece of cathedral windows.
3.As the handerchiefs are already hemmed, stack them, at random and slightly overlapping onto a foundation. You can place batting underneath some of them and then stitch them down creating a 3-D effect.
I hope this has inspired you to come up with idea number four.
Dianne from CT :
For inspiration and wonderful ideas, look for the book "Handkerchief Quilts" by Pat Long Gardner, EPM Publications, Inc. copyright 1993. It inspired me to start collecting handkerchiefs; the more unusual and colorful, the better. The simplest wall hangings use a square hankie as a center block, then add borders around it choosing fabric with the same color or design scheme.
To Maria in PA, please send me your e-mail address; at the NEQA Festival a woman from CT made the exact quilt you are describing; I'll see if I can contact her as she also said she saw the idea in a magazine.
Maria, PA :
I hope someone comes up with a good answer for me too! I one saw a pattern in one of my magazines, about 3 years ago. Each handkerchief was cut on the diagonal and folded to look like a butterfly. The handkerchief was embroidered on background fabric adding antennae. I bought a bunch of handkerchiefs last year at a yard sale. I've been through every quilt magazine I have TWICE and now I can't find the pattern.
GJ :
I saw a lovely quilt once made of a variety of handkerchiefs. Each one had been stitched to a background square so that the blocks were uniform size. Some of the larger ones were "square" on the block and some of the smaller ones were "on point" on the block. Have fun!
World Wide Quilting Page * Question of the Week