What is the piece of material called that looks like a hankerchief?

[lady serena]

What is the piece of material called that I see some Noble Ladies carrying, it looks like a hankerchief? And Ladies who dress as Nobles do you carry one? I have seen them given to knights at the joust also in movies. Im hoping to get a noble set of garb and Im wondering what is appropriate to wear and not wear.

[isabelladangelo]

A handkerchief.   

Sometimes, ladies will give possible suitors or others they hold dear a favor.  This favor can take almost any form, from a small handkerchief to a veil or a ring.  It was rather common for even a piece of hair to be held in some small locket or charm in which someone could remember the lady by.  Remember, they didn't have pictures and portraits were expensive.  Think of the favor as a picture in a wallet - you aren't going to give your photo to just anyone but friends and family might have one. 

[Rowan MacD]

   I agree with Lady Isabella.
  I have never heard or read of any other reference other than 'handkerchief'.  A plain 'kerchief' was generally worn on the head or around the shoulders and was much more utilitarian.      
  Some small, decorative handkerchiefs, veils or ribbons with the lady's colors or heraldry could be given to a knight to wear as a favor for a joust or other public combat, but what ever the favor was it would stand to reason the item would need to be easily carried and displayed while in combat if the lady and the gentleman wished the favor to be publicly acknowledged.    
  I imagine rings, miniatures, lockets and other jewelry would be more private tokens, and like Isabella said; more expensive.
 
Edit: To answer your other question:  I carry a handkerchief very rarely.  If I have one, I keep it inside my sleeve or tucked into my bodice. I tend to put things down and forget them. 

[Adriana Rose]

I have read more about giving little trinkets like ribbons.

[McGuinness]

Wearing handkerchiefs seems to be one of those fashion things that varies from faire to faire, but I'm not sure of the historical accuracy of it. At my home faire, we nobles ALWAYS have at least one hankie on us, but in a pouch or something and just as a sweat-blotter or finger napkin or the like. At another faire I visited, almost all the ladies had a folded embroidered hankie pinned to their bodice or sleeve but it seemed like far more of an ornament or token than anything to be used. Just like any other fashion "trends", each faire has a different vibe and popular styles.

[DonaCatalina]

Handkerchiefs and kerchiefs were common in the period covered by all renaissance fairs.
The higher the rank and estate of the person, the more dsiposable they seemed to be. One entry from the Medici files has the Duchess (Eleonora) instructing her steward to purchase handkerchiefs in large quantities. There were silk ones for Mass and ceremonial occasions that seemed to be more decorative than useful, and fine lawn cloth for everyday use.
Even so, I rarely carry one because I have a tendency to lose things that are not tied down.

[Adriana Rose]

Some people at Corf give them as favors. I dont muck with them because well they would be lost in like a minute and well they would be dunked in buckets, and all sorts of other stuff so yeah I try to keep things simple.

[Rowan MacD]

Handkerchiefs and kerchiefs were common in the period covered by all renaissance fairs.

That sounds like fun!

[stonebiscuit]

I always always always carry a handkerchief--usually two or three, tucked into various pouches and up sleeves. I sweat and sneeze and eat and sometimes bleed while I'm working a faire, and I'd rather have handkerchiefs to wipe my grody fingers on than my costume. Of course, they're, er, working handkerchiefs, for snot and things of that nature, not for decoration or giving as favors (I do have a fancy one, given to me by my mom on my wedding day, but it's obviously too precious for me to carry onsite.)

[Sir Michael Geare]

I carry two hankerchiefs with me at faire.  One is a small, semi-fancy one on my sleave purely for decorative purposes as it accents the Queen's Medallion I wear.  The second is a standard hankerchief that I use for practical purposes like blotting sweat and the such.  Most I know carry for similar purposes as previously described.  Better on a hankerchief than on the outfit.

[amy]

I am never without one or more handkerchiefs for all the reasons listed above.  But don't feel you need to over indulge to carry a lovelypiece.  I have often found beautiful Irish Linen handkerchiefs by the dozen on Ebay sometimes even mistakenly listed as napkins.  I ususally start with a handful of plain mens then decorate a few for fancy and keep the rest for practical uses.

[Anna Iram]

I came upon this recently and had to share. Such pretty things.

http://www.margaretroedesigns.com/extanthandkerchiefs.html

From a very informative article. Love the idea of the mini tasseled love hankies.

http://www.margaretroedesigns.com/handkerchiefhist.html

[lys1022]

I always have several on me during any given costumed faire day.  There is always one that is folded and neatly tucked into my belt or someplace visible that is my "show" handkerchief.  I use that one for dropping (to allow a gentleman to pick it up and return it to me, of course) and other flirtatious random acts.  Then I usually have three or four tucked in various places that are my working handkerchiefs for wiping hands on, blowing my nose as faire dust overtakes me, or whatever.

They're all made of linen, and I decorate all of them with lace or jacquard edging and sometimes I bead the ribbon as well.

I also make them large, so that I can use them for hiding period inappropriate objects, such as if I've forgotten my bowl and need to carry my food in the little paper boats that they serve potatoes or stir fry in.  They're also good for hiding a plastic water or soda bottle til I can get the liquid into my mug.