What the Hanky Panky Pattern Is
There was a time when everyone carried a hanky in their pocket. Those days are mostly gone, and today pretty hankies have become quite collectible. The Hanky Panky pattern celebrates that nostalgia: it reminds you of stacks of pretty hankies, all neatly folded and pressed, just waiting to be tucked into a pocketbook or an apron pocket. Instead of hunting through antique shops, you can recreate that feeling in fabric — and end up with a quilt you can use, display, and gift.
Hanky Panky is a printed quilt pattern, and it is designed to be approachable. Whether you are a beginner or an old hand at quilting, you will find this an easy quilt to put together. That combination — a charming, vintage-inspired look without complicated construction — is exactly why it earns a place in so many pattern collections.
Why Quilters Love It
Some patterns demand weeks of fussy work before you see results. Hanky Panky is the opposite: a straightforward project that still looks thoughtful and finished. Its soft, orderly, pressed-and-folded look suits both traditional and modern fabrics. Instructions are given for five sizes, so one pattern can serve many projects over the years:
- Baby — 42 inches x 42 inches
- Lap — 52 inches x 62 inches
- Twin — 72 inches x 92 inches
- Full — 92 inches x 102 inches
- Queen — 102 inches x 112 inches
How to Use the Pattern, Step by Step
- Choose your size first. Decide whether you are making a baby quilt, a lap quilt for the couch, or a bed quilt in twin, full, or queen. Starting with the finished size helps you plan fabric and batting with confidence.
- Read the instructions all the way through. Before cutting anything, read the pattern from start to finish so the order of construction makes sense and there are no surprises halfway through.
- Pick fabrics that tell the hanky story. Soft florals, small prints, pastels, and crisp lights echo vintage handkerchiefs beautifully, while brighter contemporary prints give the same layout a cheerful, updated feel.
- Cut carefully and label your pieces. Accurate cutting is the secret to any quilt that lies flat and presses neatly — and a design inspired by folded, pressed hankies rewards that tidiness.
- Piece and press as you go. Sew the quilt together following the pattern instructions, pressing at each stage. That pressed finish is part of the charm the design is named for.
- Layer, quilt, and bind. Once the top is complete, layer it with batting and backing, quilt it as simply or as elaborately as you like, and finish with binding.
Practical Tips for Success
Because this is an easy quilt to put together, it is a wonderful first patterned project for a newer quilter — and a relaxing make for an experienced one. Take your time with pressing, since crisp seams reinforce the folded-hanky look. If you are making the baby or lap size as a gift, add a label with the recipient's name and date; quilts inspired by keepsakes become keepsakes themselves. For larger bed sizes, lay out your pieces before final assembly to check that colours and prints are balanced.
Care and Storage
Store your pattern flat, in a protective sleeve or envelope, away from direct sunlight, so it stays clean and readable for the next size you want to make. For the finished quilt, gentle washing and flat or low-heat drying will help it last. Fold it neatly for storage — just like those hankies that inspired it — and keep it in a dry spot away from prolonged sunlight.
Project Ideas
Make the baby size as a shower gift, the lap size as a cozy reading throw, or go all in on a queen for a guest room with vintage charm. A set of soft, floral fabrics gives a true heirloom hanky feel, while a scrappier mix makes a friendly, everyday quilt. However you sew it, Hanky Panky turns a sweet memory from another era into something warm, useful, and handmade today.
Shop the Hanky Panky at Linda's Electric Quilters.
