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Edgings for handkerchiefs are usually very dainty and require a very fine size of thread. Use No. 70 or No. 100 White Clark's O.N.T. or J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet and No. 14 Milward's steel crochet hook.

Cut the edges of handkerchief on a thread. Make the narrowest possible hem, and draw a thread just inside it to make it easy to insert the needle when crocheting the edge.

These edging designs are also appropriate for lingerie and collar and cuffs; worked in heavier thread they make attractive trimming for towels, pillowcases, luncheon sets and scarfs.

If the edge of the material is shaped or scalloped, it may be machine hemstitched and the edging worked directly into the hemstitching. Or, if you prefer, stitch along the edge with an unthreaded sewing machine needle of a coarse size. The needle makes a hole in preparation for the crochet hook.

You will feel a greater appreciation for crochet when you realise that it is one of the few creative arts left to womankind which no machine yet devised has accurately reproduced.

Turn a tiny hem and baste in place. 1st row: S c closely all around over the hem. 2d row: Ch 3, 1 cross st (to make a cross st, see instructions in front of book). Repeat all around beginning the next cross st in the next s c. At each corner make 2 cross sts without skipping the 2 s c. 3d row: Ch 3, 1 d c between next 2 cross sts, ch 3, 1 cross st over cross st, making 5 ch instead of 2 ch before last d c of cross st, catching with s c in top of tr and sl st over last 2 ch before making the final d c, ch 3, 1 d c between next cross sts, ch 3, 1 s c between next cross sts, and repeat from beginning of row.