how to attach vintage fabric center to crocheted edge

by Linda
(Eau Claire WI)

I have a beautiful wide crocheted edge for a large, round piece. I will use it on my big round, dining room table. I purchased a beautiful piece of vintage linen to use as the center of the piece. My plan is to cut the round piece out, hand-stitch a narrow hem, and attach the crocheted edge to the linen. Should I use a particular stitch to do this? or should it be attached in some other fashion? HELP!

Carol says...

Attaching a wide crocheted edging to a piece of linen can be done beautifully by hand, and the good news is that there’s no single “must-do” method—it often comes down to personal preference and the look you want. However, there are some tried-and-true approaches that will give you a neat finish and help avoid puckering or distortion around your circular piece.

Below are a few suggestions to guide you:

Prepare the Linen

Cut your linen into a clean, true circle.

Hand or machine baste a narrow hem (some prefer a double-fold hem, but if your linen doesn’t fray badly, a single-fold might suffice).

Press the hem carefully so you have a neat, stable edge.

Option A: Hand Whipstitch (or Overcast Stitch)

Works well if your crocheted edging has a neat, sturdy foundation row (often a row of single crochet along the top).

Process:

1. Lay the crocheted edging along the hemmed linen edge so that they abut (edges align).
2. Using matching thread (to the linen or the lace, or a blend of both), take small overcast (whip) stitches that catch just a few threads of the linen hem and a loop or strand of the crochet’s top edge.
3. Keep the stitches close together, so the lace eases around the curve without gapping.

Why it’s good: Simple, sturdy, and relatively easy to control tension so you don’t gather or stretch the lace.

Option B: Slip Stitch (Ladder Stitch)

Works well if you want the joining stitches nearly invisible on the right side.

Process:

1. With the crocheted edge and linen just touching, pick up a tiny bit of the folded linen hem, then a small loop of the crochet, alternating back and forth.
2. Pull the thread gently so the fabric and lace edges “kiss” each other without a visible gap.

Why it’s good: Very discreet from the front, but requires a bit more time and careful tension control.

Managing the curve

Because your tablecloth is round, you’ll need to gently ease the crocheted border around the curve. If the crochet is already designed in a round shape of similar diameter, it should fit well. If not:

Pin or baste the lace to the linen in several places to distribute any extra fullness.

If there’s a significant difference in circumference, you might need to slightly gather or “ease in” the lace.

Finger-press or steam-press as you go to keep it smooth.

You’ll have a lovely, custom piece once it’s complete—and the hand-stitching ensures you maintain both the integrity of the vintage linen and the delicate beauty of the crocheted border.
Happy stitching!

Comments for how to attach vintage fabric center to crocheted edge

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Rating

how to attach vintage fabric center to crocheted edge
by: Valerie Kalyani

It will help stabilize your linen if you mark your circle on the cloth, then sew on the line with a sewing machine around the circle before you cut it. This will help keep the linen from fraying as you hand stitch your way around and help keep it from stretching as you sew the biased parts around it.

You can still pin the lace down to keep it even.

I would also only cut about 20" at a time for the same reason. A simple whip stitch done so it shows as little as possible will probably be fine for attaching the lace piece.

If you can crochet yourself, you might consider getting a ball of matching crochet thread and 'sewing' the lace on by making a single crochet around the cloth, attaching the lace as you go.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to needlework questions.