In 1982 I received as a baby shower gift it was a lovely Keepsake Bonnet. It was a small gift with a lot of meaning. The poem brought tears to my eyes. As I read it out loud at the shower I looked at the guests and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. How on January 26, 2008 my son’s bride used his hanky “once worn upon his head” as the poem suggests as her something old. I how have pictures of my son’s beautiful bride using the handkerchief during the wedding to wipe away tears of joy from her eyes. It has become the gift that keeps on giving.
Since that shower in 1982 I have made numerous hanky bonnets for family and friends. They are always received the same way that I did so many years ago. They are simple to make and economical too. I thought you would enjoy the directions for making the bonnet, so you can be the one who brings the gift that will be remembered always at the next baby shower you attend.
How to make a “Keepsake Handkerchief”
Supplies:
Handkerchief
1 yard White ribbon 3/16” (5mm) wide
White thread and Sewing needle
Ironing board and Steam Iron
Card stock paper to print poem
You need to purchase a handkerchief that will look good as a bonnet and be just right to use for a wedding. I get the ones I use from two places. The first and easiest place is from the internet. I like Lartisana and have gotten some very beautiful handkerchiefs from there. The second place is from the Festival Flee Market in Pompano Beach Florida. I go to Mary’s Linens in booth 1301. I like her handkerchiefs the best but if you are not near by, Lartisana’s has a great selection too.
First iron the hanky out flat. Make sure you have it wrong side up. 
You then fold one side to the center iron in crease. 
Then fold opposite side to the edge of the other and iron in a crease.
Open one end that will now be the back of the bonnet. You then sew a running stitch along the crease made when you ironed it. Leave a least a two inch tail on the thread from the knot. 
Holding the both ends gather the material together to form a ruffle back. Hold together and tie the two ends tightly together to keep the ruffle. 
Fold the ruffle material back over the head part of the bonnet. You how have a hat!
Take the ribbon, on one end and cut into a slant at end. Then fold twice to form two loops. One loop in the back larger then the one in the front. Tack the two loops together to the side of the bonnet to create the ties to hold on the hat. Then take the other end of ribbon and do the same to the other side. Cut the ribbon in the middle leaving two long strands to be tied under the child’s neck to keep on the bonnet. 
How you just need to print the poem on cardstock paper. It can be what ever size you want or what ever makes the presentation look nice to you. 
The Poem is as follows:
TREASURE HANDKERCHIEF BONNET POEM
by unknown
I’m just a little hankie
As square as can be
But with a small stitch or two
A bonnet I will be. I’ll be worn from the hospital
Or on my christening day
And after that be folded
Then carefully put away. When on that future wedding day
So we’ve always been told
The well dressed bride must always
Wear something that is old. So what could be more fitting
Then to find little me
And with a few fine stitches snipped
A wedding hankie be. And if perchance it’s a boy
Someday he’ll surely wed
Then his bride can have the hankie
Once worn upon his head
I hope you enjoy giving this gift as much as I have had.
I thought I would do a little post script:
This is our new little granddaughter wearing the bonnet home from the hospital that I made her:
Hi Mom,
This is such a special post. I hope that you send a link to Emily Ann so she can read it too. I remember when you received that hankie at the shower and when Pete wore it at his baptism. It’s hard to believe that he is all grown up now!
Love, CC
I AM ON THE WEB LOOKING FOR THESE BONNETS. I THINK THAT IT WILL BE EVEN MORE SPECIAL IF I MAKE IT FOR THEM. MY OLDEST SON’S WIFE IS FIXING TO HAVE OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD, A SON. WHEN I PREGNANT WITH HIM I HAD NEVER SEEN THESE, BUT WITH MY OTHER SON AND DAUGHTER I HAD MY DAD AND STEPMOM BUY THEM SO IT WOULD BE FROM THEM. THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS FOR EVERYONE.
IS IT BETTER IF THE HANDKECHIEF IS MADE OUT OF A SPECIFIC MATERIAL OR WILL ANY BEAUTIFUL HANDKERCHIEF THATS OF GOOD QUALITY DO. I WOULD RATHER FIND ONE IN A STORE.
THANK YOU AGAIN
Someone sent me your pattern and information. I am (was) looking for the bonnet pattern for our first g’daughter, expected in the next couple of weeks. My M-i-L
gave a bonnet to each of our 5 children at birth/baptism and I returned them at the wedding showers to be carried by our daughter and 2 D-i-L’s. also had the same effect–everyone in tears….. I want to continue the tradition! Something to add to the bonnets is tatting from MY grandmother….So thank you very much. Your G’daughter is beautiful!
God’s Blessings,
Dianne
My mother recieved one of these when I was born and loved the idea and packed it away as said in the poem. When I was three years old we had a house fire and she throught it was gone forever. Years down the road my mother and I were in the basement going through boxes and found this ratty dirty looking hanky. Instantly she recegnized it by the bit of pink bow hanging off it and began to cry. I asked her why and she read me the poem and told me how she though it was gone. That Christmas she gave me my hanky, and the paper that still had my poem placed in a frame. Still full of soot and tattered. I still have it, but obviously can’t use it for my wedding.
I thought I would share the storry because this little hanky has touched out lives so much.
God Bless
How large is the square hankerchief?
Susan
It really doesn’t matter how large. The larger the square the bigger the hat. I like the larger squares because you can see the design better and it can fit a baby with a large head. However if you know the baby will be small you can make it with a small size. The edging is the important part of the square that is what you see the most.
good luck
EM
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Thank you so much for this information. I was given a Hanky Bonnet by my Mother (who is now deceased) at my Wedding Shower. I carried it in my Wedding and made it into a Bonnet for my Daughter, who wore it on her Christening Day. My daughter will be getting married this year and I wanted to give it to her as a Shower Gift. Somehow I had lost the directions on how to make it into a bonnet and did not want to take it apart for fear we could not make it back into a bonnet, but your web site helped so much. Can’t wait to see my daughters face when she opens this gift!!!
I have been looking and looking, finally found your’s and a couple of others. Our oldest son and his wife will be having their first daughter in July. I received the hankie hat for my youngest son, and his wife carried it in their wedding. I want my new little granddaughter to be able to do the same thing with her sweet hat that I will make. Thank you so much for sharing this. Tears of joy!
I am 82 years old and for years and years made these for my own children, friends, neices and nephews.
They were always a hit. I changed the poem somewhat (since I write poems) I took that liberty. Of all the little bonnets I made, I only ever heard that one was used in the baby’s wedding. Maybe others were but I did not know about it. My daughter wanted one for her first grandbaby and I could not remember how I made it. I had disposed of the stock many years ago. Your’s is not exactly the same as mine but it is very very nice and we are going to make it. Thanks for sharing. yvonne, julie and little brooke
I just wanted to share that I made an order to Lartisana on May 17th, Monday. After several calls that were not the company phone number and three emails later, as of June 2nd, I still do not have my order. So now I have to go through the pain of calling my Credit card company and canceling this order. Just thought you might like to know, it cost me also after doing their 10/15/15/888 number to get their non-new phone number, $5.29 and still no one answered the phone. I hope I can get back my 48.00 I spent with my ordering, I know that the 5.29 is gone as well.
Probably best to take your business someplace else and not with this company anymore. I know I’m telling my friends/family, don’t use them.
Judy
Thanks for sharing your wonderful patterns and instructions….
I have been looking for how to make these. My Mom and my Aunt used to make them for every baby baptized at our church. What a beautiful gift. I now want to make them for a special friend’s daughter who is pregnant with their first grandchild!
I received a hankie bonnet in 1990. It was extra special because the ladies that made it for me got a handkerchief from my grandmother’s collection.
My son wore it home from the hospital and then I gave it to my daughter-in-law for their wedding in 2009,
Thanks for printing this for others to enjoy.
I have given these bonnet/hankies for gifts and I do one thing more. I buy plain hankies with one row of pierced hemstitching. Then I tat all around the edges. This makes a very special bonnet and, hopefully wedding hanky. I am making one now and had to find the poem again.
What size hankie should be used and where would I find a nice quality hankie? I’ve seen the little caps and they are adorable. I would like to make one for my best friend’s granddaughter who is expecting her first baby.
Thank you so much for putting this post out there. I’ve been looking for a pattern for a couple of years.
the size of the hankie can be different with the size of the hankie you find. Just don’t get one reallllllly small. I get my hankies as I find them. the places on the internet has changed over the years but a google search will usually find a place to get them. Good luck