Crafty Gifts for Christmas and Beyond : Personalized Child Size Handkerchiefs

Children's gifts can be hard to find despite the multitude of toys available. Most kids have too many, and knowing what they don't have can be tough. Personal, child sized handkerchiefs are an inexpensive, attractive gift with a nostalgic feel.

Start by purchasing plain, white handkerchiefs, which are normally sold at a size sixteen inches square. You will also need fabric in a theme matching the child's interests, ribbon or rick-rack for a border, thread, needle or sewing machine, iron, and an iron-on bonding agent (such as heat-n-bond). Embroidery floss is optional.

One adult sized handkerchief will make four child size hankies. Cut the adult size handkerchief into four quarters, making each child size hank eight by eight inches square (approximately, depending on the size of the adult hank). Once quartered, the handkerchief will have two edges that are finished and two raw edges. Turn the raw edges under twice and iron to make a very small hem. Straight stitch the hem to secure. Iron the hemmed handkerchiefs.

Add a border of rick-rack or ribbon all around the handkerchief and stitch in place. A single straight stitch through the center will hold rick-rack in place, but ribbon, depending on the width of the ribbon you chose, may need to be stitched down each side of the ribbon. As an added touch, you may choose to leave the two ends of the ribbon long, meeting at a corner, and tie them together on the finished project, creating a decorative bow. For those of you who are skilled in embroidery, an embroidered border is striking as well.

For a personalized handkerchief, something that displays initials or an interest of the gift's recipient, choose fabric in any theme or motif with a favorite sport, collection, or hobby. You will need very little fabric; buy one quarter of a yard with a small repeating pattern and you will have enough pictures for several handkerchief projects. Apply an iron-on bonding agent found with sewing and quilting supplies to the back of the fabric according to the manufacturer's directions. (Basically, iron bonding agent to the wrong side of the fabric with a dry iron for ten to twenty seconds and let cool.) Trim the pattern from the fabric to create an appliqué to apply to the handkerchief (for this step, cutting is easier if you leave the bond product paper backing on).

Again, follow the manufacturer's directions and iron the bond-backed appliqué to the handkerchief. Place the appliqué anywhere you like, but generally a picture placed in one corner looks best.

You will now have a fabulous looking child size handkerchief for gift giving. For a final finishing touch, backstitch around the edge of the ironed on appliqué with embroidery floss (an optional step). The initials of the child are a nice personalization as well.

Handkerchiefs have long been given both for the sake of practicality and as a personal keepsake. Personalized child size handkerchiefs in tractor, dinosaur, dance themes and more are a wonderful way to bring back a timeless gift and pass on a bit of history and nostalgia to upcoming generations