Sewing on Crochet Lace

New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 466, 28 May 1948, Page 23

Sewing on Crochet Lace

Dear Aunt Daisy, I have a beautifully crocheted round border for an afternoon tea-cloth which will necessitate a round linen centre, A friend told me that when the finished cloth is washed, the centre of the linen will rise up, and nothing on earth will make it lie flat. Now, would it be a good idea to wash both the crochet ‘border and the linen for the centre before joining them together? Or could any Link in the Daisy Chain tell me what to do? "Ethel," Several Links took the trouble to) reply to this question, which I put over | the air. I posted these to Ethel, but | as many people have the same problem, I will give two of them here. One, from ‘Aramoho, says: "Cut the round of linen | a bit smaller than the crochet; make | a small hem, by hand is best. Then | divide the linen and crochet into four, | pin in place, have the crochet next to. you and top-sew it, or hem it on, and | ease it just a little’"* The other, from | Palmerston North, says: "I always first | soak ‘the linen a couple of hours in’ cold water to shrink it. When dry, damp | it and press out. Then place on the. crochet and tack it to the linen, and | just very slightly ease on the crochet. Then sew firmly before cutting the linen to shape. With the round crochet doyleys, cloths, etc., I iron out from} the centre of the linen, then iron round | where the crochet has been sewn on and finally press the crochet on the wrong side, with a towel underneath to raise up the pattern, I have never had any of my linen centres go wrong, doing it this way."