Making a Hankie Bonnet
Little baby bonnets made out of handkerchiefs have become very popular baby shower gifts. Often times these hankie bonnets become family heirlooms as the bonnet used on the baby's christening day are used once again as "something old" for their wedding day. Making these baby bonnets is easy to do. Our lace handkerchiefs, white embroidered handkerchiefs or color embroidered handkerchiefs can be easily folded to create these great looking heirlooms with only a little bit of sewing skill required!
Materials Needed
Directions How To Make A Hankie Bonnet
- Iron the handkerchief flat
- Fold one edge approximately one inch (this will be the back on the hankie). Depending the size of the hankie or the way you would like the bonnet to look, you may want to adjust this fold anywhere from 1 to 2 inches.
- Fold the opposite edge toward the first fold approximately 3 inches. Again, this length of this fold may depend on the size of your hankie. Make sure to leave some space between the two rows of lace.
- Press both folded edges with an iron. (Figure 2)
- Open the hankie and hand stitch running stitches along the first fold. Do not knot or finish this stitch off.
- Refold the hankie along the pressed line.
- Now with the first fold, pull on the thread to gather the hanky into a bonnet. (Figure 3)
- When the desired size is reached, secure the thread and finish the bonnet off by adding ribbon at the back of the bonnet. (Figure 4)
- Now with the second fold, take each corner and fold a small edge into the hankie (this will form a small triangle inside the bonnet) (Figure 5)
- Add a length of ribbon for tying onto each corner of the front of the bonnet. If desired, add small embellishments to add a decorative touch. (Figure 6)
- Congratulations you have made a wonderful hankie bonnet
Hankie Bonnet Poem
I am just a little hankie, as square as can be;
But with a stitch or two, they've made a bonnet out of me.
I'll be worn home from the hospital, and on special days,
And then I'll be carefully pressed and neatly packed away.
Then on the wedding, I have been told,
Every well dressed Bride must have something old.
So what would be more fitting than to find Little Old Me,
A few stitches snipped and a wedding handkerchief I will be!
And if per chance, it is a boy, someday he still will wed.
So to his Bride he can present the handkerchief once worn upon his head.
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