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You'll need:
- One 9"x 9" square of batiste or any finely woven white cotton fabric or linen that is soft to the touch
- 44 inches of one inch wide lace, flat on at least one edge, cut into four equal pieces
- Sewing machine or minimal experience in hand sewing
- Matching thread
- Straight pins
- Embroidery thread and needle, white or colors (optional)
Cut the lace into four 11 inch lengths.
Wash and press the fabric square.
Lay out the fabric square
Center the flat side of an 11 inch length of lace on each edge of the square and pin in place. You want any scallops the lace might have to be on the outside edge, away from the cloth square. The ends of the lace pieces should overlap at right angles.
With a tiny zigzag stitch, carefully sew the lace around all four edges of the hankie.
With a tiny zigzag, carefully sew from each corner point of the cloth square out to the edge of the lace. When all four corners are sewn, carefully snip the overlapping lace off the corners close to the diagonal stitching and discard. The lace will be joined in a diagonal seam at each corner.
You may also roll the raw edges under and secure them by hand with a small whip stitch. Add the lace as mentioned above using tiny straight stitches.
You may choose to embroider a few white on white or colored flowers and leaves in one or all the corners. You can even put the initials of the bride or baby or grandmother or godchild in one corner. I sewed a white shamrock on the handkerchiefs I made for the bridesmaids in my daughter Barbra's wedding.
If time is short, just add lace to a store-bought hankie that has the edges already finished.
Article reprinted from www.GraciousJaneMarie.com
