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  Make Your Own Handkerchiefs
   
Part I/ Handkerchiefs page 1 of 2
 
Part II/ Quilts (coming on March 20)
 
Part III/ T-shirts Reborn (coming April 15)
 

Step 1: Slice up your shirts into equally sized squares.

The t-shirt used in this demo hand been very prominently stained by a rusty nail. Here we offer a simple way to cut t-shirts into equally sized pieces.

c) Keep awkwardly shaped pieces for rags. T-shirts also make great gym-towels, eyeclass cleaning cloths, etc.
       
         
 
 
b) Using scissors, mark the edges of the folds by making cuts at the corners of the folded shirt. Cut along the lines of the fold. Then use these cut marks as guides for cutting squares.
a) After removing sleeves, fold t-shirt onto itself in equal portions depending on the size squares desired.
 
 
   
 
  >> accomodate thicker embroidery thread. C. Threader. Very helpful tool. You can make your own using a very fine wire. (See instruction below.) D. Seam ripper: Used to remove stitches, but can also be used to cut thread in lieu of scissors (this is especially helpful when one wants to make handkerchiefs on an airplane.) At $1.50, it's cheaper than scissors too.  
 

Step 2: Plan out a design for the handkerchiefs. Mark design using a washable marker in a light color. (ie old Crayola markers).

Only mark off the rudiments of the design so that it's easy to cover with embroidery.
 
 
Useful embroidery tools. These can be procured very cheaply at any craft supply store. A. Small sewing hoop: holds fabric taut for embroidery. B. Embroidery Needles come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The eye tends to be a little wider than that of standard mending needles to >>
 
             

Step 3: Select a thread, thread the needle. There are a number of embroidery-specific threads available for sale, but really, you can use any thead with enough girth that it is visible. Make sure whatever thread you choose holds together well when it is worked. The embroidery shown here is done with a very cheap thread used primarily by children.

 
 

A. Insert metal loop through the eye of the needle. With needle on metal loop, insert thread through loop above needle (B). Lift needle off of metal hoop. The thread will be pulled through the needle's eye.
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