Q&A for How to Make a Handkerchief

Typically, a man's handkerchief is 12x12 inches (about 30cm) square. A woman's is 8x8 (22cm) square.

Lace can be sewn on the unfinished handkerchief, right sides together, allowing a bit of extra to accommodate the corners. Gathered lace works best; if you have a flat piece of lace, you can gather it first by sewing a running stitch either by hand or with a sewing machine.

Iron on fabric tape also works. Make sure it can go through the wash. Do not use temporary hemming tape.

Using a thin cotton as the base fabric, stitch the design in the corner (by the message I just answered for someone else). To completely cover my stitching back, especially if I used a printed fabric or fabric that shows a deeper color of the print on one side, I would cut my square about 1/2 inch larger than needed and put an equal sized backing on it. Leave a section to allow you to flip it. Then, run a stitch around the outside to elevate the quality. Finally, put a few tacking stitches to join the two layers of fabric throughout the handkerchief, or draw a line from the corners to the center and run a large stitch of same color thread from corner to center.

Cut your fabric larger than needed and stitch the design on first. Leave ample room for squaring up. Then trim down so that the design is where you need it. If you use an embroidery machine, hoop the stabilizer, and spray stick the handkerchief fabric to the stabilizer. Choose either wash-away stabilizer or tear-away, depending on how delicate the stitching it. Tear-away puts more pressure on the stitches.

My favorite color for a handkerchief is a deep red, but there is no best color.

You can use whatever color suits you best. You can pick your favorite color, or the color that would match the most options in your closet.

If you're going to actually use the handkerchief on a daily basis, I would go with cotton, as it is more durable, but not scratchy.

Start with a thin bastiste fabric so there is less bulk along the edge when hemmed. With a small hemming foot, stitch it up with a small reasonably close zig-zag stitch over the folded edge. A straight stitch is also acceptable, but may require a little practice to keep it the correct distance from the inside fold.

Soft, good-quality cotton is a great to-go fabric. It's very durable and good cotton even gets better after time and washing.

Yes. Only if fire retardant.

The edge of a handkerchief is known as a hem, or as you have already said, a handkerchief edge.

You will need fabric (cotton or linen), thread, scissors, and a needle or a sewing machine.

You can hand sew using a needle and thread. You could also use fabric glue but this might make a stiff handkerchief and you could not machine wash it.