Saturday 4 January 2020

Vintage Handkerchiefs

Hello Friends!

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Happy New Year!

I am not going to write much today, I am feeling rather lazy having greedily devoured a surfeit of chocolate which now forms a large part of my blood group.  I am still not sure what day of the week it is, feeling as if it is the eighth or ninth Saturday since Christmas.  The days seem to run into one and I shall be glad when normality, whatever that is, returns on Monday.

The chocolate is eaten; the cheese is all gone.  Please send reinforcements, we're going to a dance. Or is that "send three and fourpence, we're going to advance"?  Can we survive without chocolate until Easter?  But wait, there's Valentine's Day soon, but is it soon enough?  I think the chocolate withdrawal is getting to me.

Recently, I found a box full of handkerchiefs, vintage ones, so really lovely things to look at.  Some have patterns woven in to the fabric {see the green check one, at the bottom} others have beautiful embroidery, drawn thread work, or lace adornments.   One is worked in cross stitch, and the back is almost as meticulous as the front {as good embroidery should be!}











I am laundering all I have found and thinking of what use I can make of them.  Some are far too delicate to use now, so I must find a way of preserving them.  Others, such as the green check one, are fine and sturdy so can be put to their intended purpose; there is something genteel about an embroidered, cotton handkerchief, and I do so like to use a proper handkerchief, relics of a bygone age and saving the planet one sneeze at a time.

Until next time
Deborah xo

25 comments:

  1. I have a lovely metal box that I think chocolates came in years ago filled with handkerchiefs. And like yours some are embroidered and some have crocheted edges, some are brand new, I mean never used. They belonged to my paternal grandmother. The first time I opened the box I swear I could smell her. I think they are so lovely to have.

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    1. That is a lovely thing indeed to treasure, Chris. Thank you for stopping by today.

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  2. We were always given handkerchiefs by Great Aunts back in the 60s. I can't remember using them or where they all went - now they would be classed as vintage!

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    1. Yes, some of these are from the 60's and 70's, so classed as vintage, but some are from the 1920's and earlier. So many more yet to look at.

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  3. Happy New Year. The embroidered handkerchiefs are just exquisite - so very very beautiful. Recently when sorting out a cupboard I found an embroidered tray cloth and table cloth that my mother had given me when we got married.

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    1. A wonderful treasure. Our forebears did so much by way of embroidery, and I also have tray cloths and table cloths that were worked by my great grandmother. I hope you use them on special occasions?

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  4. Really gorgeous hankies! I’ve got a few that belonged to my grandmother but they don’t have a delicate design like yours. Wonderful heirlooms...I’d add them to a junk journal, maybe sew one as part of the cover!

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    1. Thank you. Oh, they wouldn't fit in with my style of journaling, but I do have some ideas!

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  5. I love these old works of art, Deb! Each piece done with hours upon hours of work by someone that excelled in needlework. They do remind me of days gone by. On the delicate ones maybe you can put them under glass-- Either in a frame or if you have a glass top table to slip them under. xoxo

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    1. I am sure you have similar things in your lovely home, Martha Ellen. Yes, a gentle reminder of bygone days, and in truth amazing that such commonplace artefacts in such regular, daily use survive. Deb xoxo

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous. I do love a proper hanky. I have seen them used in patchwork.

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    1. Thank you, and yes, patchwork is on my list of things to consider.

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  7. So many tiny stitches. So fragile! You could frame some or piece them together into a small wall quilt with a linen backing. I have one or two from my grandmother and an aunt. What a beautiful find.

    And I know what you mean exactly. Too many Saturdays, too many Mondays. I have a hard time knowing what day it is and look forward to getting back into a routine!

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    1. I have several ideas in mind for using the more delicate ones, Jeanie, so I am sure I will {eventually} make up my mind and share it on here. Normal routine {whatever that is} can start today, the first Monday of a new decade!

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  8. I have a stack of vintage hankies that I use daily. The Devon Air Ambulance have a shop selling vintage goods and has been a good source of beautiful handkerchiefs for me. I love putting a nice ironed handkerchief in my handbag (or up my sleeve!) every day :)

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    1. How wonderful to have a vintage charity shop for a wonderful cause too.

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  9. I love these! My mom had a group like this-some of mine when I was a little girl, some of hers, and some of my grandma’s ( mother’s mom). They are treasures I hope to use this year! The one you have with the cross stitch is truly a work of art ! ��

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    1. I think as long as they are not too fragile then we should definitely be using them.

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  10. Thank you for sharing these pretty handkerchiefs. I inherited many from my late husband's family; the older generations of women would embroider them and tat the edges, but his mother never used them. I use them all the time and still collect nice hankies if I can find them. Once I made a dozen large ones for my husband out of an old plaid skirt of very lightweight cotton; now I use those, too!

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    1. I think it is a shame to do all that lovely work and then not use them. I use a lot of man size handkerchiefs, for as I say, when I get a cold there is nothing ladylike about it!

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  11. Embroidered hankies are very pretty but remind me of sore noses.

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  12. Such pretty hankies. The embroidered ones are gorgeous, but I think the green one is my favorite. Something about it catches my eye. I used to cross-stitch, but I don't think my backs were ever that neat!

    I am still trying to find my routine for this New Year.

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    1. Of course, the green one is my favourite too! Kindreds even in handkerchief preferences!

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  13. A lovely collection! Hope your chocolate withdrawals have abated!

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