“Oh, doesn’t it look pretty!” cried Margaret as the tiny crosses began to appear on the edge.
“Now leave that and start the third one,” said Sir Bodkin and Margaret took up the third square.
Second overcasting
Blanket-stitch
“Turn a tiny hem all around, one-eighth inch both turns, and baste it,” said the King.
When this was done, Sir Bodkin told Margaret of two ways to finish this hem.
“You can hem it with tiny invisible stitches or you can blanket-stitch it in pink,” he said. “Nothing is more dainty or charming than a plain white linen handkerchief finely hemmed by hand, but for a Christmas present, the pink blanket-stitching would be more festive,” he advised.
“And I know how to do that, too. I think these handkerchiefs will all look sweet when they are finished,” said Margaret.