In message <c5e3e108.9890%[email protected]>, Randolph Lyon
<[email protected]> writes
I am wondering what is the best way to hem handkerchiefs. It sounds like
the lace would be sewn onto the fabric of an unfinished hanky and then the
hanky would be hemmed by hand. How should that be done?
The answer to Ruth's question is what I have just this afternoon sent
to Sue, as I think it might be the most appropriate method for her to
attach her lace, too. There are several different methods of applying
lace to fabric, and I believe at least one book has been written on the
subject - also I think there is something in the back of one of the
beginners' books - maybe one of Pam Nottingham's? Without going to look,
I can't say, but this (quoted below) is one of the methods I have used.
We also had to produce samples of the three and four sided punch
stitches - great for finishing off the fabric with no chance of it
fraying, but I found it difficult to get my tension right, especially
going round a corner (we had to mount a rectangular insertion into
fabric), - it would need a lot of practice!
This is what I wrote to Sue:-
Doing C&G, we had to produce samples showing various methods of mounting
onto fabric. One, which in this case may be the best, was to sew the
lace onto the fabric first and then trim the fabric and sew the hem
afterwards.
Pulling a thread gives you a straight line to follow - so making sure
your lace lines up, pull out the threads required to form a square - you
then know that your finished fabric will be a straight square (though
depending on the quality of the fabric, it may look more like a diamond!
In this case, it needs dampening, pulling into shape and drying before
you go any further) as we were taught in preparing fabric for
dressmaking etc at school many years ago!
Use the lines produced by the drawn threads to stitch the footside
(sewing-edge) of the lace to the fabric - make sure both right sides
face upwards. The hankie may not have any slubs (where new threads have
been joined in) that would need to be on the back, so you may not have
to worry about right and wrong of fabric - normally you would look at
the selvage on cloth to see which side the ends ended up.
Then, trim the fabric back to 1/2 inch (pulling a second row of threads
out will help you get this straight) - giving enough to produce a 1/4
inch double hem. Working with wrong side up, fold the fabric along a
line half way from the edge to the stitching attaching the lace, (the
edge of the fabric should then lie along the original stitching line)
then fold again along the original stitching line and sew the hem neatly
using either a very fine running stitch or hem-stitch. You will need to
mitre the corners, (do trim off the excess of the triangle) but these at
least now should be 45 deg and much easier than when you do curtain hems
with uneven sides!
--
Jane Partridge
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