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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.

Cut a paper pattern for the scalloped edge by first folding a 10-inch square into 4 quarters, then marking the scallops so the distance from the bottom of scallop to bottom of next scallop is 2 inches and the depth of the scallops ½ inch. This will allow 5 scallops and 4 dips on each side. Omit the dips at the 4 corners. After cutting out the material from the pattern, turn a tiny hem and baste in place.
1st row: Begin at corner and s c closely over the hem up to ¼ inch of the first dip, ch 10, continue with s c to ¼ inch beyond the same dip, ch 5, remove hook from loop and place hook through the 10-ch loop, pick up loop again, ch 5, continue with s c to within ¼ inch of the next dip and repeat.
2d row: Make knot sts (same as in No. 50) to within ¼ inch of ch, then 1 knot st, 3 d c over ch loop, ch 3, 3 d c over next ch loop, 1 knot st, skip 2 s c, 1 s c in next, and continue around working each dip the same.
3d row: 2 knot sts, * 1 s c over 2 loops at right of knot, 1 s c over 2 loops at left of same knot, 2 knot sts and repeat from * to 1st dip, 1 knot st, 2 tr under ch-3 of preceding row, ch 3, 2 tr under same ch-3, ch 3, 2 tr under same ch-3, 1 knot st, 1 s c at right and 1 s c at left of next knot, 2 knot sts and so on around.
4th row: Ch 7, s c back in 4th ch from hook for a p, ch 3, 1 s c at right and 1 s c at left of next knot, ch 7, p, ch 3, and so on around to 1st dip. Catch last p ch under the loops between the knot and the 2 tr, p ch, 1 s c under ch-3, p ch, s c under next ch-3, p ch, 1 s c under loops as on opposite side, and continue around.