How to Make Handkerchief Pockets

Simple Hanky Pockets are Beautiful and Versatile

Feb 21, 2008 Melissa Howard

This is a simple no-cutting, no-sewing method for making a pocket from a hanky.

Handkerchiefs are popular today. However, people most people do not use them for their intended purpose. Why not pull those pretty hankies out of storage and make a pretty little pocket to show them off. This project requires no cutting or sewing of the handkerchief.

Supplies

a clean square handkerchief
liquid starch
iron
ironing board
buttons, beads, thread, needle, embroidery floss, etc. if making pocket into a purselet

Instructions

Soak handkerchief in liquid starch. Squeeze out excess fluid. Spread the handkerchief out to dry.
Iron hanky smooth on the ironing board.
Lay the handkerchief point down (so that it looks like a diamond).
Fold it in half, bringing the bottom point up to the top point (You should have a right angle triangle with right angle as the top point). See Figure 2.
Fold the bottom left hand point over to meet the opposite side. See Figure 3
Fold the bottom right hand point over to meet the opposite side (it will cross over the previous point that you folded).
Fold the top point down to the front. See Figure 4.
Fold the back point down to the back.
Now you have a little pocket.
If you want to make the pocket into a purselet, sew a button or bead to each top corner of the pocket to anchor it (make sure to capture the side points when you sew the button or bead down).
Cut a length of embroidery floss slightly longer than you want the handle of the purselet to be.
String beads onto the embroidery floss.
Tie each end of the handle to a button.

Suggestions and Ideas

It works well to fold the pocket while standing at the ironing board. As you make a fold, iron the crease in with the iron.
Make a purselet to use as a May Basket.
Tuck some rose petals into a purselet and hang it in your bedroom as a sachet.
Sew the pocket to the front of a child’s dress (would be particularly pretty on an Easter dress).
Sew the pocket on the front of your own apron.
Use an heirloom hankie to make a pocket for the ring bearer’s pillow at a wedding (something old).
It is possible to make a pocket with a handkerchief that isn’t perfectly square; however, it will require some fussing to make it look nice.
Make a purselet to use as a gift bag.

More No Cutting and No Sewing Ideas for Handkerchiefs

Make a Handkerchief Angel for your Christmas tree.

Make a Handkerchief Bunny to celebrate Easter or the return of spring.

The copyright of the article How to Make Handkerchief Pockets in Crafts is owned by Melissa Howard. Permission to republish How to Make Handkerchief Pockets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.