How to Make Vintage Handkerchiefs with Crochet-Lace Edging!

aroundTheYear — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:23:00 +0000

My grandma used to tell me, how in her day (i.e the 1940s and 50s), blank handkerchiefs with perforated edges could be purchased, so the girls and women could crochet their own lace-edging. Amazing right? This technique was taught as part of their sewing classes in school. I do have a couple of her hankies, although I’m not sure if she made them herself, or if these were bought as is.

I don’t think hankies with pre-made holes are still available for purchase, so here is a workaround to create the handkerchiefs of your dreams using only some plain white cotton and embroidery thread!

You will need:

White cotton fabric (or a pastel color if you prefer)
Embroidery-cotton
Embroidery needle
Fine crochet hook

Depending on the thickness you’re going for, you can bi-sect the (usually 6-standed) embroidery cotton and only work with 3 threads.

First things first, hem your handkerchief using a blanket stitch. Make sure to get it as even as possible. Alternatively, you could also use a whip-stitch.

Now it’s time to crochet! Create a row of double crochets all around your hanky, using the loops of the blanket of whip-stitches on the hem. That will be the sturdy base for your lace design. Now find your favorite crochet lace edging pattern, and add that onto your base. Check out the video below, for a step-by-step demonstration!

Pro-tip: embroider a simple flower design or your monogram onto a corner of your hanky!

The post How to Make Vintage Handkerchiefs with Crochet-Lace Edging! first appeared on Around the Year.

How to Embroider a Monogram by Hand – Great for Vintage-Style Hankies!

aroundTheYear — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:22:50 +0000

Hand-embroidering a monogram can seem daunting the first time, but they’re so much fun! Obviously, you will need to decide on your design first, so I recommend looking at some examples online. I personally love using calligraphy-style fonts, so it could also be a good idea to have a look at some of those.

Once you’ve decided on your monogram, it’s time to embroider! For thread, I recommend bisecting a 6-strand piece of embroidery cotton (you know the thick kind you can get at craft stores), leaving you with 3 threads on your needle.

Start by chain-stitching your entire design. The key here is to keep your stitches small and short, especially if your design is curvy.

Go over it again, just wrapping thread around the chain-stitches. So, pass the needle under and around your chain stitches, without actually going through your base fabric. Repeat 2-3 times per chain stitch. This will pull the chain stitches together into a neat line, and give your monogram a more pronounced 3d effect. Watch the video below for a step-by-step demonstration.

TRY: make monogrammed crochet-lace hankies!

The post How to Embroider a Monogram by Hand – Great for Vintage-Style Hankies! first appeared on Around the Year.

handkerchief - Around the Year

How to Make Vintage Handkerchiefs with Crochet-Lace Edging!

You will need:

How to Embroider a Monogram by Hand – Great for Vintage-Style Hankies!