Finding Old Lace in Vintage Hankies

One of my favorite memories as a child was watching my paternal grandmother crochet and tat lace edges for hankies. I always wondered how she could maneuver such a small hook or shuttle and make something so beautiful out of simple little threads. My aunt later taught me how to crochet, but I learned on granny afghan squares and then progressed to crocheting throws. I never did learn how to tat. I believe it's a dying art, and there are likely very few gals that know how to do it in this day and age. I did recently buy a book about how to get started, along with a shuttle, but somehow I have not found the time to try it.

I remember using many of the hankies that my grandmother edged, and even when carrying Kleenex became "the norm" I still loved my lace-edged hankies and always carried one with me. There is something so beautiful about seeing the delicate work created by someone long ago that will always strike a chord with me. And unlike Kleenex, they leave no lint in your purse.

Since my foray into fabric art began, I have always looked for various kinds of lace that I can incorporate into my work. Vintage colored lace is not easy to find, so I started to look to old hankies as a source. Often they fetch a pretty high price, even when bidding on eBay, especially if you buy a group that are in the same color family. Often they fetch upwards of $3 to $5 dollars a piece. So, imagine my excitement when on Etsy I found "Ninety four lace-edged hankies" for sale. They looked pretty good in the photos that the seller provided, and she stated that they were clean and ironed when she bought them, probably from an estate sale. They were grouped by color, and I imagine that the lady who owned them stored them in her drawer this way, so that they were ready to go whenever she needed them.

What do you think?

This is how they looked when I opened the box...

 The work is exquisite.

Beautiful blues...

Some with embroidery...

Some with a touch of black...

...and some in nice Autumn colors...

Don't you just love these butterflies?...

The one on the left is tatting,

and the one on the right crocheting...

Gorgeous greens...

...with this one tatted in two colors 

being one of my favorites. 

It also has some cut work on it...

Several used multi-colored threads...

I love the crocheting on this one.

It looks like an edging of delicate seashells...

Some with applique as well as lace...

The pinks are just beautiful...

...with this one so unusual...

...not to mention the delicate pink tatting on this one...

More lovely butterflies...

...and delicate lavenders...

...with a punch of red...

I am so happy to have all of this beautiful lace to use in my art. Or not to use in my art. I think I will just look at them for awhile, admire their beauty, and respect the time and efforts of those who walked before us, my grandmother included. 

Do you have collections of beautiful things that you like to look at?