Fancy Crochet Edged Hankie - A Tutorial

Do you know how you can pass yourself off as a refined lady?  Carry a hankie with a lacy edging.  Where do you get such a thing in this day and age?  Well, your old friend Sarah is here to help with this tutorial!  All you need is a square of fabric, some crochet cotton and a little know-how.

Crochet edged hankies for the refined crafter.

I recently made my Auntie Carol some white pillowcases with a frilly edge for her birthday.  I had a bit of the 100% cotton fabric left over from that project and I decided it would be perfect for handkerchiefs.  In other words, this is a great scrap buster project.

These will make an inexpensive, yet fancy-pants gift for someone in my life.

The supplies you'll need.

Materials Needed:

·         Large scrap of fabric that can be cut down to 10 x 10 inches

·         Crochet Cotton

·         US 1 Crochet Hook

·         Sharp Chenille Needle with Large Eye

You start by cutting a 10 x 10 inch square of fabric and finishing the edge. Make sure you are cutting on the grain of your fabric or your hankie will stretch all over the place.  Now, depending on how you finish the edge, you may want to cut your square slightly larger.  I serged my edges which means I didn’t lose any of the size of my original piece.  If you don’t have a serger, you may want to finish your edges with a narrow hem in which case, you may want to start with a 10.5 x 10.5 inch square.  Once your edge is finished, you have your plain hankie. 

Serged edge; you could also do a narrow hem.

The next step is to blanket stitch around the edge of your plain hankie.  You will need a sharp chenille needle with a large enough eye for the crochet cotton you are using.  You want to use a doubled length of yarn to make your stitches (the doubled yarn gives it some strength).  I like to cut my yarn long enough that I can blanket stitch all the way around without have to knot off and add more yarn on.  That can be a bit of a pain as it tangles, but it’s my preference. 

Blanket stitch around the edge to create a base for the crochet stitches.

A couple other things about the blanket stitching.  I like to cover the entire hem with the stitch rather than put the stitch through the hem.  This is a personal preference thing.  I think it looks tidier this way.  The second thing is that I use the hem stitches to gauge how far apart I need to put my blanket stitches.  That's why they are so even!  I would count every third stitch and insert my needle.  

Next I crochet the edge.  I made two simple rounds for this edging:

Round 1:  *3 sc in each blanket stitch space,* join to beginning sc with sl st

Round 2:  Ch 4, sc, *sc, ch 3, sc,* join to beginning ch with sl st. End off.

You can see how the first round of crochet stitches is worked onto the base of blanket stitches.

You’ll want to work in the ends of your yarn to hide them and you’re done with the edging.

It's pretty, but it needs something more.

Now, one more added detail.  The cherry on top, as it were.  I decided to add an embroidered motif to my handkerchief because I’m extra refined. Since I had the red and pink edges going, I thought a cherry would be the perfect embroidered accent. I used a running stitching with two strands of floss.  I was extra careful to make sure my work looked good on the back since it would show.

I transferred the motif with a fabric pencil and light box to get a nice, clean, fine line.

Using two strands of floss keeps the embroidery in scale with the rest of the project.

You are now completely prepared to faint onto the nearest sofa, whip out your hankie, daintily dab your brow, and weakly mutter, "Oh dear, I must be having one of my spells!"

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Crochet Edge Pillowcase Tutorial Part 2

Since yesterday, when I posted on how to make pillowcases, I’m sure you’ve made at least a dozen to which you now need to add a crocheted edging. Let’s get to work.

Close up of the crocheted edges of the pillows.

There are a bunch of different methods for adding edgings. I’ll tell you the ones I know about. If you have any others, let me know.


Method 1: Crochet Your Edging and Sew It On. I’ve done this and I hated it. Why? Because it’s nearly impossible to get the edging to be just the right length unless you are a super genius crocheter. I recommend skipping this one.


Method 2: The Blanket Stitch. This is a Sarah-endorsed method, though it’s frustrating because it puts one more step in front of the crocheting (and by this point, I’m ready to crochet!). Why would you use this method? Because the fabric is not easily pierced by the crochet hook itself. Using a sharp yarn needle, work a row of blanket stitch all the way around the edge of your pillowcase. This will give you a base off of which to crochet. You can find EXCELLENT instructions for this method at the You Go Girl! blog right here.

The pink pillowcase was done using the blanket stitch; the rest used the skip stitch blade.  Can you tell the difference?

Method 3: Piercing the Fabric. This can be the worst way or the best way, depending on HOW you pierce your fabric. Worst way? Trying to shove the crochet hook through densely woven fabric. Better way, pierce the hole with a large needle or awl. It works, but it’s slow going. With these two ways, you also need to pre-mark where your holes will go, or you need to be good at eyeballing it. The best way is to have a gizmo that can quickly and evenly pierce the holes for you. Is there such a thing?

The Skip Stitch blade.

Indeed there is. It’s call a Skip-Stitch blade and it fits right on your rotary cutter. You run it along the edge of your work and it cuts evenly spaced, small holes for you to crochet into. I am in no way affiliated with the Skip-Stitch people, I just like their product. It works and it’s inexpensive. If you plan on doing a few of these edged pillows, it’s worth the money to buy one of these.  I'll add that it washes up with no problems.


Once your holes are cut, you need to lay a baseline of stitches. Again, everyone does this a little differently and a lot will depend on the size of your hook and yarn. In the photo, I've used cotton yarn that calls for an US1 hook. I single crocheted in each hole, then chained 3. When I got back to the beginning, I joined my work with a slip stitch. With a larger hook or yarn, I would not have needed to chain so many stitches between holes.  It takes a bit of trial and error.

The baseline of stitches on the pillowcase.

Now that you have a base to work your edging onto, you can use any edging pattern you want. I tend to make mine up as I go.  On this pillow case, I did the following:


Round 1:  3 sc in each ch-3 space
Round 2:  sc in first sc, *ch 3, sc in third sc*
Round 3:  sc in first ch-3 space, *dc ch-1 4 times dc in next ch-3 space, sc in next ch-3 space*

It generally takes me three nights in front of the TV to finish the edges on two pillows.  So there's nothing left to be done, but settle in with a pile of DVDs or saved up DVR watching and get to work!

See Part 1 here.

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Crochet Edge Pillowcase Tutorial Part 1

I cannot afford a housekeeper. Man, I wish I could. There aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do and clean the house on top of it. So I’ve come up with a simple, elegant solution: I stopped cleaning the house! Yes, you could get a great homemaking tip from Sara on this blog, but you won’t hear one from me because I just decided to give up on it entirely.

Lovely crocheted pillowcases.

As a result of this decision, I have time to make things like these lovely crocheted pillowcases. Details are what make home crafted goods special, don’t you think? Details like you find in these pillowcases can’t be found “off the shelf.” It’s why I bother to do the things I do. The uniqueness. The quality. Plus, they’re just darn pretty which distracts people so they don’t notice how bad my housekeeping is.

I’ve come across some photos of pillowcases like these in my “pinning” adventures (check out my pinterest boards here). It inspired me to make some of my own. Since everyone has their own way of doing these things. I thought I’d share mine.

In this shot, you can see that the interior cuff is a contrasting fabric just to up the cuteness.

This tutorial is going to come in two parts: making the pillowcases (today) and crocheting the edge (tomorrow).

My pillowcases are not as fancy as some out there. It’s just a plain old pillowcase like you could get a Target with a pretty, contrasting interior cuff. If you want to make a pillowcase with an interior pocket for hiding the the pillow, check out You Go Girl’s great tutorial here.

To make two generously sized pillowcases, you’ll need:

• 1-3/4 yards of your main fabric
• 1/3 yard of your lining fabric
• Matching Thread

True up the ends of your fabric so they are straight. Cut the main and lining fabric to an even width if necessary (width meaning so they measure the same from selvedge edge to selvedge edge).

Cut both pieces of fabric (main and lining) in half from selvage to selvage (i.e., lengthwise). The larger pieces will measure approximately 30 inches by WOF (width of fabric); the small pieces will measure approximately 6 inches by WOF. (I say “approximately” because it will depend on how generously your fabric shop cuts its fabric and how much you have to lop off to true up the edges; as long as my pillowcases match each other, I don’t really care if they come out exactly to a specified size).

Match up main and lining fabrics and sew seam from one selvedge to the other.

With right sides together, sew lining pieces to main fabric pieces. You are sewing the entire WOF. Press seam allowance toward the lining piece. Do not fold the lining piece under just yet.

Fold the fabric so the selvage edges meet, with right sides together. Starting on the long edge of the pillowcase, sew the long seam, turn at the corner, then sew the short edge of the pillowcase. The edge with the lining piece should be left open. It’s nice to finish these seams with a serger, a zigzag stitch, or do a French seam if you want to be super-duper fancy-pants.

Fold so selvedge edges meet.  Sew on sides that are marked.  Note:  if you are not using a serger, cut the selvedges off before you sew.

Last step! Fold the lining piece so wrong sides are together.  Turn the raw edge under 1/4 inch to finish the edge.  Pin in place (trust me, you want to take a second to pin at this point or your seam will go all wonky on you). Edge stitch the lining into place. Turn and press. Done!

Fold edge under 1/4 inch to finish the edge.

Edge stitch  cuff in place.

This is a very simple pillowcase. It’s a little on the large size so if you don't like that, make it a bit smaller by cutting off some of the length and/or width. I tend to buy plump, fluffy pillows so I like my pillowcases a little on the large side.

Check back tomorrow and we’ll chat a bit about how I crochet the edging. There still won’t be any talk about housework as I still won’t be doing any!

See Part 2 here.

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Not Your Grandma's Crocheted Tea Towel - Submission

I changed my mind at least ten times on what I wanted to do this time, but finally settled on this crochet embellished tea towel that I could hang from my oven handle. 

I started off making my own tea towel.  I used a 100% cotton home dec fabric with colors that match my Fiestaware.  Once washed, this has the feel of a "linen" towel.  I hemmed the edges and even did a mitered corner (fancy me).

I added a crocheted edge to the towel and made a big crocheted flower to sew on one corner.  Behind the flower is a strap with a snap to hang it from the oven handle.  

This is the same concept as the acrylic yarn crocheted towels my grandma always has in her kitchen, just updated (I hope) for the modern kitchen.  A pretty and practical place to wipe your hands as you are making a meal.

I hope you'll vote!

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Crocheted Rings, So Cute!

Do you follow Bramcost Publishing on Facebook?  How about their blog: http://blog.bramcostpublications.com/? They post awesome vintage patterns all the time.  I'm not in any way affiliated with Bramcost, I'm just a fan.  You should think about checking them out.

Just recently, they posted this pattern for crocheted beaded rings: http://blog.bramcostpublications.com/2011/01/06/ring-in-the-vintage-new-year-day-6a-vintage-beaded-ring-pattern.aspx. I’m in love with these fun rings and can’t stop making them!

I’ve been using elastic thread available from any Joann’s. I would highly recommend picking up some beading needles while you’re there as it will make your life easier.


The rings are super simple to make. The hardest thing is that you are working on a small scale so it’s sometimes hard to see your stitches (keep in mind, I did just get a prescription for TRIfocals so it could just be me!). With that said, the elastic is very forgiving so if you skip a stitch here or there, you probably won’t notice it.

You can use any size beads, not just the sizes listed. As long as the beads are large enough to be strung onto the elastic thread, you can use them. The larger the bead, the larger your ring.  You can also vary the size of the ring by changing up how many beads you use.

Like potato chips, I think you’ll find with these rings that it’s hard to stop at just one!

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Scrapbuster No. 7: Patchwork Crocheted Afghan

Copper insisted on being photographed with the afghan.

One thing I have a lot of is yarn scraps.  If it’s longer than a yard long, I keep it.  Why?  The answer is this afghan:

This is a great project for a chilly night.

This afghan is a work in progress and will be for the rest of my life (and maybe someone else’s).  Every once in awhile, I’ll pick this up and add on a few more granny squares.  It’s a fun piece because I can look at it and think about all mittens, hats, scarfs and sweaters I’ve made over the years.  

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