Oh how I love vintage hankies!!! Last year I made a quilt with them and had a few left over. I like to throw them into projects when I get the chance…. One day while I was thinking about what else I could make with a vintage hankie… it dawned on me… “a burp cloth”… I mean they are designed for cleaning up messy faces right???
To make them a bit more absorbent I backed them with chenille. It only takes small squares of chenille so it was great use of some scraps I had.
Here’s what you need to make them!! They are SOOO easy, this is a good project for a beginning sewer.
Vintage Handkerchiefs- to find some in your area, try antique stores, junk stores and thrift shops. Many stains can be removed after a good soaking, but many can’t- judge accordingly.
Chenille
Ric Rac
Okay, I’m lazy and normally don’t pre wash ANYTHING… This project is an exception… besides the obvious germ issue with a used hankie, you need to pre wash and dry (in the dryer) the chenille. TRUST ME. If you don’t you’ll have a hot mess on your hands.
After you’ve pre washed your hankies and chenille, you need to cut your chenille to the size of the hankie you are working with.
Next stitch your ric rac to the edge of the right side of the hankie. Pin as you go. Stitch right down the middle of the ric rac.
Lay your hankie on top of your cut piece of chenille, right sides together. Stitch together, along the stitching line you just made to attach the ric rac. Leave a 2″ opening on one side to turn the hankie right side out.
Clip corners and turn right side out.
Press well and pin opening closed. Hand stitch or use seam tape to close the opening.
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Sharon B says
April 25, 2012 at 7:45 AMWhen I saw this fabric yesterday, I never would have thougt you made burp cloths – it is such a cute idea for a little girl!
Cynthia says
April 25, 2012 at 10:11 AMWhat a great idea! I am going to look for some handkerchiefs and make some burp cloths. Thank you!
Laurel says
April 25, 2012 at 2:10 PMTotally cute idea.
~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ says
April 25, 2012 at 3:39 PMI love these!! So cute and seem kind of easy. I can’t turn down a pretty hankie! I just love them, I’m your newest follower, Hope you have a lovely day! xo Holly
MosaicMagpie says
April 26, 2012 at 10:35 AMThank you for sharing this with us. A really great idea and cute too!
Deb
Amber Sargent says
April 26, 2012 at 10:43 AMI adore this idea! Thanks for sharing such a great idea!
janmadeit says
April 26, 2012 at 11:11 AMWhat a great idea! And I have a brand-new baby niece I can make some of these for!
Thanks for sharing!
Jan
laurareid says
April 26, 2012 at 9:43 PMoh, i love those! i have some hankies that look like that from the dollar store. i will use them to make some….
Laura says
April 27, 2012 at 5:02 PMI love those so much. Thanks for the tutorial.
Gabrielle Krake says
May 1, 2012 at 7:26 PMawesome idea, I have a box full of these!
{northern cottage} says
May 10, 2012 at 7:10 AMeeeek – completely darling! makes me want to have a baby or my friends to get prego now! pinning for future present idea! thanks for sharing! xo
http://www.NorthernCottage.net
Sabra says
May 10, 2012 at 10:24 AMI love these!! I *need* some vintage hankies!
Justine of SewCountryChick says
May 11, 2012 at 1:59 AMI have so many hankies I have collected . Now I just need a baby! Super photography BTW!
Carol Stuttgen says
January 16, 2013 at 4:40 PMI just cut the fabric for these, but used flannel and some thin cotton batting. They are just adorable and I’m sending them to my niece who just had a baby. You are very clever and I just love these!!
Becky says
July 25, 2016 at 4:13 PMWonderful idea! Have you tried this on cloth diapers instead?