How to Make Handkerchiefs for the Mother of the Bride

Delicate handkerchiefs are a traditional gift for a bride to present to her mother as well as other members of her bridal party. Although this time-honored custom is not always continued today, monogrammed or delicately embroidered hankies are still a lovely way to honor the bride’s mother and give her something beautiful to dry her happy tears on your wedding day. With a few common sewing tools, you can whip up this easy project in no time.

Things You’ll Need

1. Linen or sheer cotton fabric (preferably white or ivory)
2. Measuring tool Scissors or rotary cutter
3. Iron
4. Pins
5.Sewing machine with matching thread
6. Water soluble fabric marker
7. Embroidery needle and thread

Step 1: Cut out your pre-washed and ironed linen or cotton fabric to measure 12 x 12 inches. Linen is a more traditional handkerchief material, although a delicate and sheer cotton can be used instead if you find linen difficult to work with.

Step 2: Fold down and iron each edge ¼-inch. Repeat this step to create another ¼-inch fold, and secure with pins. This will ensure that there are no raw edges on either side of the handkerchief when you are done.

Step 3: Use your sewing machine to sew a straight or zigzag stitch along the edge of the fold you created. You might prefer instead to use a more decorative stitch depending on what your machine is capable of and the style you want for the hankie. The thread for the edge should typically match the ivory or white material you are working with, but a pastel blue or even one of your wedding colors can be equally appropriate.

Step 4: Using your fabric marker, draw the letter, word, or even phrase that you want to embroider on the hankie. Traditionally, this should appear on one of the corners so it is visible when folded. Your mother’s first initial will make a pretty monogram. The word “mother” or the phrase “mother or the bride” spelled out is even more special but will take a little more time to complete. You might even decide to include the wedding date.

Step 5: Thread the embroidery needle with the embroidery thread, preferably in a color that matches or coordinates with the thread along the edges, and stitch out the monogram, phrase, etc. that you have drawn out.

Step 6: Lightly wet over where you have embroidered to remove the ink markings. Once dry, run a warm iron over the completed handkerchief, and fold to where the embroidery shows in the corner.

Tips

As you sew down the folded edges, make sure that the fabric at the corners does not hang over. This might require you to fold under the corner edges before you sew.

Instead of a monogram, word, phrase, or wedding date, a bridal handkerchief can alternately be embroidered with a pretty flower or other simple design depending on your mother’s style and your embroidering skills.

If the thought of hand embroidery is too intimidating or you simply don’t have time, complete the hankie and take it to an embroidery shop to have it done.