by Lisa McGee

Created on: July 27, 2008   Last Updated: November 25, 2008

The idea of a lady carrying a beautiful handkerchief in her purse has gone the way of her hat and gloves, as well as her foundation garments. Handy packs of tissues have replaced the need for cloth hankies, but not their great style. When looking for a new collection, that won't break the bank, consider hunting for a few of these lovely memories of days gone by.

Handkerchiefs come in all colors and designs. If you are starting a new collection, take some time to surf the web and see what appeals to you. You can find hankies that have been embroidered by hand, mass produced, come in every color and/or fabric, are decorated with applique or cut out designs, even hankie given as promotional items. Given the choice, it is likely you will be able to find one that suits you.

Once you have decided to take up the hunt, the next question is where to look for them? This is the fun part, the hunt. The best part of making a collection is the treasure hunt to add to it. You can look online for handkerchiefs, especially if you are interested in finding a specific example of one, but prices will probably be at the higher end of the range. Save this resource as a last resort.

Consider going to flea markets, second hand stores, estate sales and garage sales to look for your hankies. When found at these places, you will be able to get beautiful pieces at very low prices. Look for garage sales that are listed as "cleaning out Mom's house" or even better grandma's house. These are good hunting grounds for handkerchiefs.

When considering a handkerchief for purchase, carefully examine it for condition. A seller will sometimes bring down the price if you can point out a flaw. It also might be the case that you don't want a handkerchief with any flaws either. In any case, when possible look at the cloth in sunlight.

Once you have your collection, another consideration is how to display them. Here there is a choice to make. Are you looking at them as an investment? In that case, keep them folded, the way you purchased them, and out of direct sunlight. If you purchased them for your own enjoyment, you have other options. You might display them by lining a shelf with them, or on the backs of furniture, use them as a doily on a table. If you are more creative, you can go online and look up directions for using them to make crafts from. Some collectors might even decide to use them for their intended purpose.

Isn't it funny, carrying a hankie used to be the norm, now it would be down right shocking!

Learn more about this author, Lisa McGee.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.