Brielle's Avalon

Or a bandana or a squarish piece of cloth about that size. So. You’re out, it’s hot, no shade and you need something on your head. This is just one reason you should always carry a cloth handkerchief…or bandana…or something of that sort. I first saw a hankie hat in a skit on Monty Python’s Flying Circus. I’ve always used them bandit-wise to keep dust out when cleaning or doing yard work.

So. Take a handkerchief

or a bandana

or the cloth that you hemmed up to work as a bandana when there were no masks to be had for love or money!

Tie an overhand knot in one corner, wrap the corner around a finger,

poke the end through and pull tight

Then do it again on the next corner

and repeat til all 4 corners are knotted. If it’s too small, make the knots smaller and closer to the corner. If it’s too big, make the knots bigger and further from the corner.

now do it again on any others you want to make today.

and try it on, corners at the sides, while the parrot ignores you

corner at the front while the parrot snickers

or chickens at the front. Never mind what Paco says, we all know it just looks silly no matter how you wear it.

Tie it over your head to tame your long hair. This is more traditional, at least for women and Paco seems to approve.

So what else can you do with hankies? I’ll think on it…

Need a mask for yard-work, cleaning, a dust-storm hits (yes, in Arizona haboobs happen) or you left your real mask at home. No problem, you have a hankie/bandana/cloth in your pocket/glove compartment/purse.

Or it’s just a fashion statement as a neckerchief to keep your neck warm…or cool in the summer if you wet it.

You can also tie it into a pouch to hold herbs (bay leaves) to keep bugs out of your chicken feed. You can do the same thing with sweet-smelling herbs to make a sachet for your drawers, too.

Use it as a towel, napkin, wrapping up a few cookies and a sandwich for later, flirt (drop it so one hopes the intended picks it up to return it to you as an opening for conversation), temporary bandage, tourniquet, blindfold, magic tricks, waving to attract attention (or surrender), filter and even to blow your nose.

There’s also a way to make a sweet little baby bonnet out of a lace-edged hankie, but I’ll have to find a fancy one to try that so it’ll have to wait for an update.