Vintage Craft: Magic Bonnet, The Gift For Generations

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In case you aren’t familiar with The Magic Bonnet – it is a vintage craft in which a handkerchief is converted into a baby bonnet with a poem that accompanies the bonnet explaining its purpose . I love giving such a unique gift at baby showers and they have been popular items for me at craft bazaars and consignment shops.

It’s Carolyn Wainscott, back with another vintage craft. Here are the poems to include with a magic bonnet gift:

The Girl’s Poem

I am a little bonnet as cute as I can be.
But could you guess a handkerchief is what I used to be?
Wear me home from the hospital and again on Christening Day
then keep me safely tucked away to be with you on your wedding day.
For good fortune, all brides must wear something old.
So just clip a couple of stitches and a wedding hanky will unfold.
To carry down the aisle with you or tucked somewhere discreet
or among the flowers in your bouquet, now wouldn’t that be sweet?
But if the one who wears me is a baby boy
I’ll be his bride’s “something old” on that day of joy.
Then stitch me back into a bonnet to be worn home once again
and keep with me this sonnet a gift for generations is what I am.

““““““`

The Boy’s Poem

I am a little bonnet as cute as cute can be.
But could you guess a handkerchief is what I used to be?
Wear me home from the hospital and on Christening Day
then keep me safely tucked away to be with you on your wedding day.
For good fortune, all brides must wear something old.
So just clip some of my stitches and a wedding hanky will unfold.
From his birth, I’ve been with this blessed baby boy.
I’ll be his bride’s “something old” on that day of joy.
She will be proud on the day they are wed
to use the bonnet he once wore upon his head.
Then stitch me back into a bonnet to be worn home once again
and keep with me this sonnet, a gift for generations is what I am.

After wearing, the bonnet it is put away to be used on the wedding day. Girls’ bonnets are worn as something old or incorporated into their bridal bouquet. Boys’ bonnets are given to their bride to be worn as something old or into the bridal bouquet. I like to showcase the bonnet in a stationary box. The poem was printed on transparency sheets, cut to fit into the lid.

I have used purchased handkerchiefs and ones I made from linen like the bonnets above. Both were made using a wing needle and the entredeux stitches on my machine but you can just use any stitches on your machine and appropriate needle if not using a wing needle. Linen gives a rich, classy look that is hard to beat and several bonnets can be made from a yard or even 1/2 yard and don’t forget those coupons.

Sew or entredeux stitch lace all around the edges of a 11″ square of linen or other chosen fabric mitering corners as you go. For the boy’s bonnet, I used 1/2″ white satin ribbon stitched together with blue thread to create 1″ wide trim to sew around the edges.

My plans for this tutorial changed when I ran across a beautiful handkerchief in Ambassador’s Antiques in Lebanon, Ohio with an embroidered C for my great, granddaughter, Charlotte, that I had to have.

Materials:

• purchased or custom made handkerchief
• ribbons for ties-pictured is 1/4″ satin
• other laces and trims, buttons-the choice is yours
• fold back edge 1″ towards bonnet forming casing, fold front edge 2″ back towards bonnet

Instructions:

1. Sew back casing trimming with lace.

2. Gather 2-6″ strips of lace into rosettes.

3. Sew lace along folded front edge, attach rosettes to each side of bonnet.

4. Cut 2-30″ strips of ribbon-tie cute bow on one end of each, attach to corner for ties.

5. Run 30″ strip of ribbon through back casing, gather, tie bow.

Voila! Charlotte’s bonnet – I love it

I know this post is kind of long but I just have to show you photos of Ambassador’s Antiques that I actually went back the next day to take. No, I don’t even know the people but whenever we get the chance, we take a stroll through and this time my sisters, Shirley & Jackie, and I were playing tour guide for our brother, Jim and his wife, Shirley, who were visiting from Roanoke, Va. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time as we always do when we are together.

If you are in the Lebanon, Ohio area and get a chance to look around, have lunch at the historic Golden Lamb and visit the quaint shops. You will be glad you did.

May the joy of crafting be upon you

Carolyn Wainscott

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Carolyn Wainscott

Blogger at Carolyn's Canvas

I am a 75 year old widow of 3 years after 55 years of marriage whose main focus in life has been my family and homemaking. I love designing, creating, and re-purposing. I was very involved with my children and their activities, then my grandchildren, and now with my great, grandchildren. My first love in crafting is in textiles, mainly quilting. The first quilt I designed was for my grandson over 30 years ago and that pattern will soon be available online. I am loving the internet world where I can market my designs, publish tutorials and talk with crafters all over the world from my own little corner of the world even though never having a lesson on the computer or internet networking I do have to call on my grandchildren at times for help. They still think I rode in on a dinosaur but that's ok, I'm having a great time. I have enjoyed a great deal being able to share my love of crafting on FaveCrafts and FaveQuilts.

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