Thursday, May 17, 2012

Heap of Hankies ~ Bringing them Back and How to Use Them


"Marianne came hastily out of the parlour apparently in violent affliction,
with her handkerchief at her eyes…"
~ Jane Austen, Sense & Sensibility

Handkerchiefs, once a necessity in days gone by, are still a favorite of mine. Do you remember those lovely pieces of cotton? I have a small collection and am always looking for ways in which to employ them. One day it dawned on me, I could use them just as they were originally intended but with a slightly modern twist.


"...and covering her face with her handkerchiefElizabeth was soon lost to every thing else…"
~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

I placed a "heap of hankies" in a small dish and displayed them in the bathroom where they would most likely be needed. As you would a box of tissue, just take when needed. The only difference would be that the used product goes into the laundry basket instead of the waste basket. Thus, this is very beautiful for the budget and a pretty way to practice good stewardship.


That's like you, dear! What will we get?" exclaimed Jo.

Everyone thought soberly for a minute, then Meg announced,
as if the idea was suggested by the sight of her own pretty hands,
"I shall give her a nice pair of gloves."

"Army shoes, best to be had," cried Jo.

"Some handkerchiefs, all hemmed," said Beth.

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women


Thrifty Thinking: Handkerchiefs, the reusable tissue...



Some Other Uses for Hankies:

Use in place of a doily (or under a vase of cut flowers).

Cover your ferments with them (such as your kefir and kombucha jars).

Frame your favorite designs as works of art.

Sew a grouping together to make a table runner.

Attach a row of them to your cafe curtains to make a pretty valance.

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10 comments:

  1. i too have a collection of hankies from days gone by and i use them too =) not when i'm especially sneezie or suffering from hay fever but i almost always have one in my purse. whenever i get a sideways glance for using one i simply tell people, "their really is an art to properly using a hankie" :) i love your idea an just may employ it myslef, thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thanks for visiting! :)

      I have hay fever right now and my stack goes down daily :(

      To every season…

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  2. What a great idea! I can put my late grandmother's hankies to good use.

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    1. That would be excellent! I bet they are beautiful! The older the better I say :)

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  3. I, too, have a small collection of dainty, feminine hankies given to me by my sweet mama. I love them! I keep one in my purse for weddings, funerals, etc. Love the idea of using hankies instead of tissues. :)

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    1. It looks like hankies are more in use than I thought. I love that we are still embracing these little treasures from the past. Thanks for sharing Lisa :)

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  4. I have a few hankies (about two I think) that were given to me by a dear blog friend. I like the patterns on yours. The colors are very soft and feminine. :)

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    1. Thank you. Some are estate sale finds from my earlier years. I plan on making a quilt with them but the project is still half finished. We shall see...

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  5. I often wonder if the handkerchief will make a comeback. I have a few vintage and a few new ones.

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    1. Well, they have made a comeback for me :) at least… Thank you for your visit!

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