A Pocketful of Hanky Upcycles for All Your Op Shop Finds
- Words by Emma Mulholland
The humble handkerchief is well and truly due a comeback: it’s reusable, peak #DadCore and so much prettier than a boring old box of tissues. So! If you find yourself inspired by these nifty makes, we suggest you get thrifting and stitching (or adding these beauties to cart) before the handkerchief revival comes for us all…
above LULU FLUX
HANDKERCHIEF CURTAINS
Oregon maker and grower Hannah (@SleepingWillowFarm) might lay claim to the world’s prettiest bathroom drapery. As for kitchen curtains, we’ll call it a draw: we’re rather taken with this floral gem by Florida’s @JStepura and this all-white wonder, created by English smockmaker (@LuluFlux). If you like what you see, head on over to Janome’s website for a free handkerchief curtain tutorial.
HANDKERCHIEF QUILTS
What could be hand-ier than a glove-embellished handkerchief quilt? This clever piece is the work of Californian stitcher Kerri Anderson (@LittlePrairieSparrow). We also love this hand-stitched make by Washington quilter @WyldwoodCreative (if you love it too, head on over to her Instagram Stories for details on the process). For another great hanky blankie tutorial, take a look at Kentucky quilter Melissa Mortenson’s website, Polkadot Chair.
Forget the Dishes! Put Your Tea Towels to Work With These Crafty Upcycles
HANDKERCHIEF TOPS
“Hankie tops are my absolute favorite thing to wear right now. The lightweight cotton drapes so beautifully and gathers so nicely,” writes Seattle sewist Katie (@PlaydateVintage), who wears a self-drafted design.
Next, we have halter tops by Californian store @3WomenCo, made with hankies from the 1940s and ’50s, plus flour bags from the ’30s and deadstock shoelaces from the ’50s. We’re also rather taken with the simple style created by Oregon sewist Laura Harper Jaffe (@GeminiDressed), which was crafted with just four hankies – including straps!
HANDKERCHIEF DRESSES
Proving yet again she’s the queen of make-do, Brisbane’s Sue-Ching Lascelles wears another of her upcycled frocks, this one created from 90 vintage hankies (to see her incredible tea towel make, head on over here). There is no pattern, Sue says, “it was more of a calculation of squares, adding a few more for each layer”.
In other dreamy confections, we have the Ruthie dress by New York’s @Proche_Studios, which the label customised with a sentimental hanky, plus this summery number by LA label @Caro_Uccellino, featuring pretty straps made with pillow case lace. Thrifty!
SIMPLE HANDKERCHIEF UPCYCLES
First up, we have bunting. That’s because bunting is ALWAYS a good idea. Not only does it produce instant cheer and merriment, bunting (like the fine example by @Emily.Retro) is simple to sew – especially when you use hankies (hello, ready-made seams!). In other simple makes, we’re getting festive feels from this lovely wreath by @BuyTheSeaDesigns, a purveyor of vintage hankies in Massachusetts, US. Source a frame and some ribbon and you’ll be decking those halls in no time.
Last but not least, we have the sweetest needle book by Dutch sewist Hannie (@Hartelijks). Granted, the embroidery on this one is no simple sew, but the case itself is a nifty (and portable!) project that will have you busting scraps and boosting your hand-sewing skills.
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“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
