Handmade Handkerchief 81

Materials

Handkerchief Linen (Chap. I, Par. 46).

1 piece handkerchief linen 11" square.

6-strand D. M. C. embroidery cotton No. 25.

Fine steel crochet hook.

Thread No. 80.

Needle No. 9.

Introductory Statement

There is a notion that a dainty spotless pocket handkerchief is one of the marks of a well bred woman. If you wish to carry a clean handkerchief on all occasions, it is quite necessary that you have a considerable number of them. Although it is possible to buy them at reasonable prices, many girls enjoy making at least some of their handkerchiefs.

Handmade handkerchiefs may be made of fine, soft lawn, but fine handkerchief linen is preferable although it is more expensive. Linen handkerchiefs wear better than cotton ones.

Many people prefer to buy plain hemstitched handkerchiefs and either finish the edges with lace or crocheting; or make an embroidered initial or design in the corner. This saves the time otherwise spent in hemstitching the handkerchief by hand. The handkerchief shown in this lesson is finished with a dainty crocheted edge. It is made entirely by hand.

References:

Linen Trade-Ancient and Modern, Warden. Longsmans. Chats on Old Lace and Needlework, E. L. Lowes.

Suggestions For Optional Modification

Suggestions For Optional Modification 82

Hemstitched Handkerchief

No. 1. This handkerchief is finished with a narrow hem hemstitched by hand.

Fancy Handkerchief

No. 2. This machine embroidered handkerchief is finished with a narrow lace edging sewed on by hand.

Fancy Handkerchief

No. 3. This handkerchief is made similar to the one shown in the lesson, except that the machine-made hem is cut down to half its width and the crocheting done over the remaining half of the hem.

Fancy Handkerchief

No. 4. This handkerchief shows a more elaborate crocheted edge than No. 3.

Hemstitched Handkerchief

No. 5. This hand hemstitched handkerchief is also decorated in two corners with two rows of double hemstitching.

Scalloped Handkerchief

No. 6. This handkerchief is made with hand embroidered scallops and a hand embroidered design in one corner.

Working Directions For Fancy Handkerchief

Preparing Material

If necessary, straighten two adjoining edges of the material. Measure on each edge 11" the width and length of the handkerchief. Draw one thread crosswise, another lengthwise; cut on the lines.

Preparing Hem For Crocheting

The crocheted edge on this handkerchief is made over a tiny hem laid around the edges. This hem should be very narrow (about 1/8" to 3/16" wide) to give the crocheted edge a dainty appearance. As one thread is to be drawn to help you to keep the bottom of the hem straight and the crocheting even, measure down about 3/8" from one edge and draw a thread. In the same manner draw a thread 3/8" from each of the other three edges. On one edge fold a hem with a narrow first turning even with the line left by drawing the thread. Fold and crease a similar hem on the other three edges. Baste the hems in place with even basting (Chap. II, Par. 103).

Crocheting The Edge

While very fine crochet cotton may be used to crochet this edge, a fine mercerized embroidery cotton is preferable. The 6-strand D. M. C. cotton suggested in the materials will be found very satisfactory. Before using it, unwind it from the skein and wrap it on a small roll of paper, or an empty spool. You are to use but one of these strands for your crocheting. This strand should be saparated from the others and wound on a separate roll before you begin to crochet.

The crocheted edge suggested for this handkerchief consists of about 12 double crochets drawn through the line at the bottom of the hem over the edge, one picot (a loop of chain stitches), 12 more crochets, another picot and so on around the four edges of the handkerchief.

To make this crocheted edge, insert the point of the hook through the material on the line left by drawing the thread; draw a loop of the crochet thread through the material; draw another loop of thread through this one at the edge of the hem; then make 12 double crochets (Chap. II, Par. 157), drawing the thread through the line at the bottom of the hem and finishing the stitch on the edge of the hem each time; make a picot. To make the picot, make 4 chain stitches (Chap. II, Par. 155) and fasten the last chain stitch into the last double crochet with a slip stitch (Chap. II, Par. 156); continue making the double crocheting as before until you have made 12, then make another picot. Continue in this manner around the four edges of the handkerchief. Fasten the last stitch by drawing a loop of the thread through the first double crochet, then the end of the thread through this, thus tying a knot.

Crocheting The Edge 83