You are looking at 150 hankies. I counted them. First I petted them. Then I separated them into four categories; printed, crocheted trims, embroidered and then my favorite category – the white on white ones. Look that stack is the biggest too.
The printed ones are admittedly the most cheerful of the lot, don't you think?
Look at this one – I don't think I've ever come across a round hankie.
There are two of these in my new collection, just slight color variations. The design is signs of the Zodiac. And it is gossamer soft. In fact so many of the them are so incredibly delicate that you can't imagine anyone using them for the rather violent act of blowing ones nose.
Sigh – I do wish I could crochet. I really need to apply myself and just learn. It's hard finding a left-handed teacher though and previous attempts learning from a right-handed crocheter (my Grandmother) were not successful. In fact my Grandmother finally threw up her hands and said I was too tense to crochet and to take up boxing or meditation instead.
Look at this one – another one I haven't seen before but I think it is a mourning hankie:
Yesterday I spent the day happily hand washing lace. I'll save that post for another day. But the house is festooned with drying doilies and lengths of hand crocheted lace. I think I'll just end each post from now on with a big "thank you Kelly!"
Speaking of which – I'm trying to talk her into starting her own blog. Her home is so charming. She has her collections so nicely arranged and her decorating style is the perfect blend of vintage and traditional. She loves white painted furniture so her home has a comforting brightness to it.
Here's an example of her decorating ingenuity ~ We both have cats. Cats that like to claw furniture. At our house we have old bath towels (that have been relegated to car-washing towel status) that we have draped over the arms and backs of all the upholstered furniture. It's really ugly. Kelly has vintage tablecloths covering her furniture. Way more charming.
So much fun to “discover” each one of those hankies and laces isn’t it? I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Wow, what a great collection you have! I love the white on white too and I think I only have one of those. I must get more!!!
Oh my, I’m still trying to catch my breath at the site of all those gorgeous hankies! What a collection. Can’t wait to see your lace and the other goodies you have. ~Adrienne~
All the hankies are gorgeous.
Oh, you are killing me with all those hankies. The purple edged ones especially. I do blow my nose into them, and beleive me, it elevates that activity into a realm unto its own.
I am so JEALOUS!! I love old hankies……that’s the first place I head at a flea market. Someday I’m thinking I might make a blanket/quilt out of all of them – someday – when I don’t have any thing to do??? Love your blog.
They are so beautiful I love the hoop skirt pillowcases. I have used vintage tablecloths as window coverings with tension rods and clips. I like the idea of using them to cover furniture, too.
I’m left-handed and I learned to crochet from my mother, who was right-handed. Thinking back, she must have been incredibly patient with me as I struggled to work the stitches. Sometimes she’d sit opposite me so I could mimic the motion. What finally helped was having a mirror!
Now it’s my turn to teach her; knitting for her is hilarious–two sticks instead of one hook–but it’s so much fun to share a craft with my mother.
HI Andrea,
You are one lucky duck- what lovely linens- I have seen a pattern or two that you could make a quilt with the hankies. You are handling them so lovingly – they are being truly treasured- I am sure that your friend knew how much you would value and love them.
Keep enjoying them..
Regards,
Anna