It’s sew easy to turn button-down shirts into crafty hankies that won’t blow your budget. Old clothes often hold fond memories long after their styles have come and gone. This project was inspired by a good friend who refused to get rid of his flannel shirts. Rather than sending them to the thrift store, we recycled them into these quick, easy handkerchiefs. This way we can hang on to our past a little longer and look stylish while we’re at it.
You will need: Old button-down shirts; serger, sewing machine, or needle and thread; iron (optional); fabric scissors; ruler
1. Cut out a square. Choose your shirt and cut squares from the flat areas. Flannel and cotton shirts work well. We cut ours to about 12"× 12".
2. Reinforce
the edges.
If you’re using a serger, use
your scissors to round the
edges of your square. Then,
serge around the perimeter.
To use a sewing machine or
needle and thread, fold in
each edge of the square ¼".
Then fold in again another ¼".
Iron around the edges. Use a
straight stitch to sew in place.
That’s it!
Handkerchiefs are making a comeback. They’re Earth-friendly and very fashionable. By making them yourself, you create your very own personalized tissues that can be washed and used again and again.
Trash Fact: The global tissue business is worth more than $30 billion annually. Reusing handkerchiefs reduces the amount of landfilled tissues, which should help wipe your conscience clean.
Illustration by Tim Lillis
Tiffany Threadgould is a design junkie and the author of the This into That books. Her business, RePlayGround ( replayground.com), sells recycled goods, features DI Y projects, and accepts donations of your unwanted items.
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