Handkerchiefs

My Daddy and Grandaddy alway carried handkerchiefs. You know those nice little squares of cotton material that each man carried, just in case. They could be used to wipe a tear from a little girl's eye, or keep a sneeze under control. It seems like current generations have forgotten about this simple and precious little piece of cloth. Wome used to carry handkerchiefs as well. In fact, no well bred lady of Victorian times would be caught without one. Of course, while men's handkerchiefs were practical and plain, women's hankies were quite beautiful. They very often sported the latest embroidery skills practiced each evening after supper by the fire. With the invention of paper tissues it seems the handkerchief was put by the wayside. I think you can still by men's handkerchiefs in the stores, but ladies handkerchiefs can only be found where vintage linens can be had. However, our family has brought back the handkerchief. We have many made our of scrap pieces of cloth for everyday use, but our crowing glory are the delicate embroidered square pieces of cotton muslin that my daughter and I now carry in our purses. We have several of these and have quite enjoyed this project. Besides, it is just one more paper product not purchased and one more thing that we do for ourselves. Handkerchiefs can be as plain or as decorative as you like. As I said we have quite a few for everyday use in the house (we all have allergies) made out of scraps of fabric too small to really do anything else with. Then we have those that are a bit fancier for carrying with us. Hnadkerchiefs have definitely seen a revival in our home.