Handkerchief Quilt

Sturbridge Village

Several years ago, I went to a special exhibit at the Lancaster Quilt Museum called "Handkerchief Quilts: They're for show and not for blow." I thought it would be large quilts made out of handkerchiefs sewn together. Instead it was a delightful collection of individual vintage hankies made into wall hangings. Many of them were very clever and all had decorative borders with elements from the original hanky. These decorative hankies with scenes and maps were popular in the 1930s and 40s. I later discovered a box of old souvenir handkerchiefs that had belonged to my grandmother in one of my mother's closets. The above wallhanging was inspired by and features a Sturbridge Village souvenir handkerchief.