Turn Your Thrifted Handkerchiefs Into Beautiful Vintage Garland

Old handkerchiefs can be surprisingly easy to find at thrift stores, especially shops with a wide selection of vintage items. These handkerchiefs often feature delicate embroidery, lace, and colorful patterns that reflect a charm rarely seen in modern textiles. Since handkerchiefs are generally no longer used for their original purpose, many people don't see a use for them at all. It can seem a shame to leave these beautiful items sitting on a shelf to possibly end up discarded. Fortunately, there are so many creative upcycling projects that involve this common item found at thrift stores. A fun and festive idea for thrifted handkerchiefs is using them to create a DIY wedding garland. This straightforward project involves a sewing machine, binding, pins, thread, and — of course — a gorgeous collection of thrifted handkerchiefs.

Depending on the length of the garland you are making, this can be a labor of love; however, when you are through with the pinning and sewing, you will have stylish garland decor that will add a vintage touch to your special day. One of the great things about this project is that it can be customized to suit the colors and theme of the rest of your wedding reception decor. There are also some fun ways you can give this idea different twists. Whatever direction you choose to take this project in, you will end up with a one-of-a-kind wedding (or any special occasion) garland. 

For this DIY, choose a selection of handkerchiefs that go well with the theme of your wedding or event. Vintage handkerchiefs can be found at yard sales and antique shops in addition to thrift stores. You may also be able to find them online from websites like eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace. Using a family member's old handkerchiefs would be great if you want to add an extra special touch to your wedding day.

To start the project, measure where your garland will hang and cut your binding. Measure the handkerchiefs and calculate how much space is needed between each one. Then, use sewing pins to attach one side of each handkerchief to your binding, ensuring they are spaced correctly. Then use your sewing machine to secure them to the binding. When you've sewn on the final handkerchief, hang it up and you're finished.

If you like the idea of a handkerchief garland but the exposed binding between the cloths doesn't appeal to you, you can replace the binding with decorative bias tape. This also provides another opportunity to personalize the project. If you have an abundance of handkerchiefs, there's also no need to put any space between them. Sewing on the handkerchiefs at the corners instead of the sides is another way to customize this project. For a no-sew option, you can simply tie your handkerchiefs together at the corners. This is perfect for those who want to be able to repurpose their wedding decor into home decor.