Inside: DIY embroidered handkerchief ideas and patterns for you to personalize those handkerchiefs.
This might be a hot take, but I think a personalized handkerchief will always be a timeless and classy piece. Whether it’s a gift or something you buy for yourself, it will never go out of style. While it’s not very common to see people using them these days since everything is so disposable, it’s still an elegant piece to have on hand or give as a gift.
If you want to personalize and embroider a handkerchief and you need some inspo and ideas, you’re in the right place. I’m here to give you tips and tricks for stitching on this kind of fabric as well as inspire you with designs and different embroidery patterns to use on your handkerchief personalization journey.
This is a project you will keep with you for a long time, or whoever is receiving the gift. Enjoy it and know that it’s a heartfelt project!
What Really Is A Handkerchief?
Handkerchiefs are essentially reusable tissues.
Sounds super nasty in the day and age of disposable anything, and maybe it is, but really it’s just something that used to make a lot of sense to have on you. Sometimes it was simply part of an outfit for men, having the kerchief in the suit pocket.
Now I do feel like it’s only older generations that still carry them around and use them to their fullest extent. However, they’re still a classy gift to give and nice to have on hand, just in case! You never know when you’ll break into tears.
Put it in your coat pocket or display it with your wedded initials next to wedding photos. It’s little things like an embroidered handkerchief that really makes life feel like luxury. The devil is in the details, no matter how small.
Finishing The Edges
There are a couple of ways you can go about creating an embroidered handkerchief. You can buy a plain one and add all of your own embroidery details, or you can wholly create your own. Either is a phenomenal choice.
If you choose to create your own, all it is is a square of fabric of your choosing that usually makes sense for a handkerchief. All you have to do differently when you’re making your own is that you ought to finish the edges. Not totally mandatory but definitely recommended.
There are a few ways that you can do this, you can stitch a small hem around the edges of the fabric square you’ve created, or you can use something like a fabric glue or tape. Whatever floats your boat.
Either way, it’s usually a very small hem. Maybe a quarter of an inch, if that. Obviously, you can do whatever you want with it, but if you want it to be like traditional handkerchiefs, they’re very dainty. They don’t have heavy or thick seams.
If you have access to the correct machine, you could also surge it to finish the edges. Just enough so it doesn’t unravel but not doing too much. This takes a special machine that weaves three threads together to create a finish.
Finishing the edges will give it a classy and expensive look that you want. So go ahead and finish those edges! Don’t let all of your hard work unravel on you while you blow your nose!
Why Are These Popular Wedding Gifts?
Embroidered handkerchiefs have become a really popular and traditional wedding gift.
They’re an easy sentiment. New last name, new initial. A groom could have a letter to the bride embroidered onto a hanky. Someone could gift her one with her new last name on it in blue for her something blue. The possibilities are endless, and they only get more personal as they go on.
Presenting a personalized embroidered handkerchief as a wedding gift is generous and a beautiful gesture.
A handmade wedding gift is so special, especially something that’s so timeless and will be kept in the family for generations. And to think they received it on their wedding day? Priceless.
Wedding Handkerchiefs
Alright, so now that we’ve talked about why you should embroider a handkerchief for a loved one for their wedding, let’s talk about what you should embroider on said handkerchief.
Here are a few different ideas that really hit the mark. There’s different styles too, if the couple you’re making it for are more traditional or more modern, you can change fonts or styles of the design to make it something really special and personal to them. That’s the most important part anyway when you’re working with a personal gift.
Look through some of these ideas and see if any jump out at you for the couple you’re creating for.
1. Date And Initial
2. Letter
3. To Mom And Dad
Vintage Aesthetic
Again, these DIY embroidered handkerchiefs are timeless. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a certain vintage aesthetic to them.
Let’s appreciate the vibe that comes with using a handkerchief and call it like it is: kinda vintage! But it’s a vibe. And always having one on you is the kind of classy move that no one would expect, so it’s a cool move to have.
If you’re all about those vintage aesthetics, you’ll love these embroidered handkerchiefs that are totally a vintage aesthetic.
They’re cute and fun, and I just know there are really some floating around that look like this from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s.
Have fun creating these vintage aesthetic embroidered handkerchiefs.
4. Red Rose
5. Mother
6. Vintage Lace
DIY Embroidered Handkerchiefs
Everything is so much better and so much more special when you do it yourself. I love to look at skirts and tops that I had made back in my clothing construction courses and just think, “I really made that.” It makes me want to wear it that much more!
I think you’re going to enjoy all of these DIY embroidered handkerchief ideas. They’re fun and stunning and going to be so beautiful when they’re done.
There truly is nothing classier than the simple details of your outfits.
7. Hand Embroidered Tutorial
8. Decorated Initial
9. Daisies
I would think that this is so outdated if it weren’t for my grandparents. Typically saying that your grandparents do something or use something does make it dated, but my grandparents are some of the classiest people I know. If they do something, it’s cool. No questions asked.
So maybe this post is inspiring me to do this as their next Christmas gift, though I know they already have all the handkerchiefs they could ever need. But you know that family always love hand embroidered gifts!
It’s a cute idea of something the newlyweds will keep forever. It’s just one of those things, you know? Embroidered initials with the new last name? Precious.
On an unrelated note, I’ve been obsessed with moths lately and think you should be too! Try these moth patterns for some really cool vibes.
I’m Victoria Hudgins and I believe in learning embroidery to express all the fun and joy that is within you. With the right instruction you can be sure your next threaded project is one you’ll love to keep or gift.