Nostalgic DIY Handkerchief Wreath with Vintage Pins
Looking for ideas for old hankies? This vintage handkerchief display idea is an easy DIY project. Repurposed vintage linens and old jewelry are beautifully crafted into a unique wreath idea.
Do you have a relative’s stash of old hankies? And/or a collection of their vintage jewelry? I happen to have both. I love these nostalgic items because they’re so pretty and I’m sentimental. But I hate that they’ve been hidden away in storage, not being enjoyed. Today’s repurposed project is a great way for you to get out those old collections and enjoy them in a fresh way; which checks all the boxes for me! I hope this Nostalgic DIY Handkerchief Wreath with Vintage Pins will inspire you to enjoy your pretty old things on display, too!
I’ve joined my monthly Pinterest Challenge friends today, hosted by Cindy at County Road 407. For something different, we’ve all come up with Mother’s Day ideas for you! I’m so excited to see what these creative ladies have made:) If you’re visiting from DIY Beautify, don’t you love Cindy’s teacup candle idea? All the rest of the inspiration will be at the end.
Nostalgic DIY Handkerchief Wreath with Vintage Pins
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Handkerchief Display Idea
I’ve had a sizeable collection of old hankies for awhile. They’re from several family members. I love their beautiful patterns and colors, but I’ve never known how to enjoy them. I’ve never taken the time to surf Pinterest; they’ve just been hiding out in storage till the perfect inspiration hit.
The other day a reel popped up on Instagram from Itty Bitty Cottage. You can see it HERE. She made a super easy wreath out of old hankies and it was so cute! What a great handkerchief display idea. And what a great way to enjoy a loved one’s collection. This would be a great gift idea for Mother’s Day, too. Who wouldn’t enjoy a beautiful wreath made from their loved one’s handkerchiefs?
Of course I had to go the extra mile on the idea…like I usually do. Over the top, my hubs says. Yep…I’m extra. And this project took the whole handkerchief wreath idea to the next level. Because I’ve got stuff. And a project that turns the stuff into something pretty that I can enjoy checks all the boxes for me!! Here’s the easy how to.
How To Make an Easy Handkerchief Wreath
Gather your old hankies and any vintage pins you have. (If you need more, you can always find them HERE and HERE)
If you have a lot of handkerchiefs, you may want to organize them by color. For a 6″ embroidery hoop, you’ll need at least 12 handkerchiefs. They can be of varying sizes.
Chances are your handkerchiefs will already be folded into the usual four quadrants. You can iron them if you want a more crisp looking wreath. I just went with the slightly wrinkled ones for a more shabby chic look (& way speedier beauty).
Fold two sides of the folded handkerchief in, like a paper airplane. Make sure the design you want to see is on the bottom. Sometimes there are different designs in each corner.
Then you have a couple options. I first used white hair binders to tie the hankies to the embroidery hoop. They are definitely heavier weight than you need for the thin hankies. But they came in handy when I decided to attach the vintage brooches.
You can also make your handkerchief wreath without vintage jewelry all around. I’ll show you both options. If you’re only using hankies, clear plastic binders will be perfectly fine.
Simply pull the tail, pointy end under the hoop, fold it back over the hankie and wrap a binder around. You can adjust from the front after.
Add An Extra Nostalgic Touch with Vintage Pins
Once you’ve tied the handkerchiefs all around, you can be done. You could add a pretty bow at the top if you’d like. Or a single vintage pin if you have a nostalgic one available.
Here is a vintage handkerchief wreath made with clear binders. I added one color coordinated vintage jewelry pin at the top. You can hardly see the clear binders. They don’t interrupt the beauty of the repurposed fabric wreath.
But if your stash of vintage brooches is as sizeable as your collection of old hankies…you could go all extra, like I did;)
Talk about Springtime beauty! It’s like a garden bursting with blooms! I can finally enjoy all these pretties on display! And still make a few as gifts for my loved ones:)
This project was so easy and so satisfying. I hope it encourages you to get out your nostalgic old things and enjoy them in a new way, too. And you can always pick up more if you need!
For more unique wreath ideas:
“A Year’s Worth of Seasonal DIY Wreath Ideas”
“10+ Brilliant Places to Hang a Wreath”
For more Mother’s Day ideas, visit Michelle at Thistle Key Lane next; her Buttermilk Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe sounds divine!
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Mother’s Day Ideas
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I love this! However the handcherchiefs droop when I try to hang it on the wall.
Maybe iron them with spray starch to crisp them up?
I have many handkerchiefs from my Granny and an adopted Granny. My daughter calls them my Funeral Hankies because I would always take a couple to funerals to wipe tears. I’ve seen the quilts made with them, but I don’t quilt. This is something I can do and I will add the brooches because I have a ton of those from my Mom and MIL. thanks for sharing. BTW – I have some of the hankies shown and some of the pins!!!
I’m so glad to hear the idea was helpful, Shirley! It will be a sentimental decor piece for you to enjoy those special relationships:)
I wish I saw this before I donated a box of these! Such a pretty idea!
Me, too!
Absolutely delightful!!! I love them.
Thanks!
That is sooooo cute. 🙂
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it:)
Lora, Love your handkerchief and vintage jewelry wreath!! So pretty and perfect for spring and summer! Your step by step instructions look great – Can’t wait to make one! – Patty
So glad you enjoyed it, Patty! Have fun crafting:)
Such a unique and lovely idea, Lora! I’m delighted to be featuring your post at the EXTRA BIG Tuesday Turn About this week! Pinned!
Wonderful; thanks,Julie!
This is such a cute idea. I have a small stack of hankies ready for a sweet craft!
Happy creating, Gina!
Lora this is absolutely gorgeous! I had to share in my weekly Nesting post this morning. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Thanks for sharing, Nicolle; glad you enjoyed it!
OH! My! Goodness! This is brilliant. My vintage loving heart is about to burst! The hankies & brooches are fabulous on their own, but you just elevated them to a whole other level. You now have enabled me to hunt down every hankie and brooch I can find. lol. Thanks for the inspiration as always. XO- MaryJo
So glad you enjoyed it, Maryjo! Think I’ll be making more; my stash is pretty sizeable! One for every season, maybe;) Happy hunting!
Beautiful project, tutorial, and result!
So glad you enjoyed it, Jeanne! Thanks:)
Just popping back in to say I’m featuring this tomorrow on Farmhouse Friday. I love love love it Lora. Thanks for sharing it with us. pinned again.
That’s wonderful; thanks, Cindy!
Oh, Lora, these wreathes are so pretty. My late godmother crocheted colored edging around white hankies. They would so lovely mixed with patterned hankies and a pin(s) or bow. Even stained or torn hankies could be used as they could be folded just so! What a lovely idea!
I’ve got some pink and green ones like that, Kathy. Was definitely thinking the same thing; I’m making more!
I have a stack of hankies from my gran and love this idea, Lora! Thanks for sharing the quick and easy tutorial!
Glad you enjoyed it, Beth!
Your wreath is absolutely beautiful Lora! Such a great way to enjoy some pretty hankies and the brooches too. Love it!
Thanks, Tuula!
Lora, I am head over heels in love with your handkerchief wreaths! You have an amazing collection, and those adorable pins! I’ve got to dig through my mom’s old costume jewelry I kept to see what I can come up with. Love this post!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Michelle! It’s a great way to enjoy those things from loved ones we have a hard time parting with:)
This is so pretty, love, and a wonderful way to use hankies and pins. Thanks and I pinned it, would love to make this for myself out of my mom’s and an aunt’s old hankies and pins.
I hope you do, Marlene! Such a pretty way to enjoy them:)
Very lovely and creative. I would expect nothing less from you! I often frame my hankies and then change the hankies as the seasons or my current tastes deem necessary.
Sounds like a great display idea for them, Kristin! I have so many I’d have to cover the walls;)
This is absolutely the most beautiful wreath I’ve ever seen! In my whole life and will ever see again! I love the colors, the pins, how the ends turned into a fun shape, everything! Now I’ve got to find more handkerchiefs! And pins! Because you know I want the extra fabulousness! Thank you for joining in. Seriously, stunning.
So glad you enjoyed it! I think each of your bedrooms at the farm needs one of these; I was seriously thinking of you when I was making it:) Thanks, friend!
Wow Lora, I’m in love with this sweet idea! I’ll have to be on the lookout for some vintage hankies, I only have a couple. I’m sure any mom would love receiving this as a gift!
They’re usually pretty easy to find and fairly inexpensive; everybody had them back in the day!
What a treasure, Lora! This would make an amazing gift for family heirlooms like hankies and brooches that people don’t know how to display. My Granny’s brooches have been really easy to use but the hankies not so much so I’m super excited about this post. It feels like they’re finally going to get the recognition they deserve. The details are just too pretty to keep in a drawer, you know? Sending you lots of hugs, CoCo
Yes, I’m so happy to be able to enjoy their beauty out in the open!
This is so cute and clever Lora! I have all of the elements to create this and plan to do so very soon!
Have fun, Laura!
Well! If this isn’t the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!! Adorable, Lora!! SO pretty for Spring!!
Thanks, Rachel! Think I’ve got enough to make several more;)
You know our mom would say that she ‘needs’ one! ❤️
Oh, definitely!
OMGoodness, this wreath is so adorable. I have a stash of old hankies so I may try this project myself. SO cute!
They’re so easy; definitely make one!
Hi Lora ,they turned out nice . I especially like it placed with the wood.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, chippy painted wood makes everything look good, I think;)