I got the opportunity to play on a JUKI Overlocker recently and make a rolled hem, so started making hankies out of every bit of fabric I could!
To be honest, unless your sewing machine has this feature you do, unfortunately, need an Overlocker with a rolled hem function to recreate what I have made. However I am going to share two ways to make some fab hankies!
Like I said, I had the opportunity to borrow a JUKI AIR THREADNG OVERLOCKER from my boss who has one and quite quickly got into the delicate simplicity of its rolled hem function. A rolled hem is a great way to edge soft fabrics and in this scenario it is brilliant for smaller amounts of fabrics where you don't want to do a traditional folded hem.
I just wanted to do something fun and easy so I started making batches of hankies and napkins. They are pretty much the same thing but I must say I have used my small one off fabrics as hankies for sneezes, bags and hair ties!
So, the how to:
To make any hankie or napkin you will want a 50x50cm square. I found that buying fat quarters of fabric was a good way to get pretty fabrics at a fraction of the cost. I particularly love RIFLE PAPER COMPANY fabrics and as they are so expensive, buying a fat quarter is a great way to buy the fabric and use it creatively.
If you are cutting from a sheet you really can decide your size but a 50x50cm square works well.
To help you square a fat quarter; cut the salvage off, fold diagonally two corners together and then cut the overhanging edge.
Then it is just a case of running it through the overlocker. The joy of the JUKI OVERLOCKER {and others} is that once you start feeding the fabric through it does all the hard work for you.
If you DO NOT have an overlocker you can still do a folded hem. Iron a 1cm hem around the square and then fold and iron it again catching the cut edge inside. This works just as well.
How do they look?
To be honest I am so pleased with how just a little hemming technique can change my outlook on hemming all together. This works perfectly for hankies and I have found that they look so professional. I am tying them to just about everything! And any scraps I am also using to create with.
Look at these kids......
What else can I make?
Well like I said, napkins are another great idea and very similar but I also have been creating lots of hair accessories for Etta.
I have taken long rectangular strips and just roll hemed the edges and used them as a variety of hair ties. This is a great way to use up scraps.
No comments
Post a Comment