Making your own linen hand rolled pocket square?

[visionology]

Was just thinking about this today because it seems like I would be able to get a cost effective square that is the exact size and color I want.

Does anyone know how easy it is to make a pocket square? It seems to me like it would be fairly basic and I have access to sewing equipment.

What type of linen would you use or is typically used? Will any linen do?

Is there a guide to creating the hand rolled edges and stitching typically found on most good quality pocket squares?

I was thinking of just getting some fabric solids and doing this myself if it isn't that difficult or perhaps white with colored borders.

Thanks

 

[j]

Here's a guide to the process using silk:

http://www.mulberrywood.com/howtomak...cketsquare.htm

 

[visionology]

awesome, thanks j. I think I may try this this weekend and see how it works out.

 

[VMan]

You could also make squares from pieces of your old dress shirts which have become stained or torn in places.

 

[luk-cha]

Originally Posted by VersaceMan

You could also make squares from pieces of your old dress shirts which have become stained or torn in places.

this is a good idea someone give this man a blue peter badge

 

[Newton]

A very good idea.
I prefer silk squares, however.

 

[j]

Originally Posted by VersaceMan

You could also make squares from pieces of your old dress shirts which have become stained or torn in places.
I'm still hanging on to a beat up Lorenzini shirt for this very purpose, but I'd have to be pretty bored to want to handsew that much.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by luk-cha

this is a good idea someone give this man a blue peter badge

Blue Peter! God, have not seen that in years

 

[taillfuzz]

I have been making my own pocket squares for the last several years and have a great collection. I but the fabrics at a high end fabric store (Britex in San Francisco.) I buy linen, silk and cotton.

I usually but 1/4 or 1/3 of a yard fabric because I prefer a smaller square that will not make my pocket bulge. Most of the fabrics cost from $17 to $50 per yard; although there are some very nice silks at $160 per yard. I have made Linens in many different colors and they look great. Recently I have been buying patterned silks. Since the patterns are non-repeating I can sometimes make three or four squares from one strip of cloth that emphasize different colors.

I also make pocket squares from old shirts, this also works very well. Some wools would probably look nice as well.

It takes a couple hours to sew them and I become more skilled and faster with experience. I tend to work on them at odd times when I have nothing else that needs to be done and seem to finish one almost every month. Great way to approach pocket squares because you get exactly the color and fabric you want for a minimal expense.

 

[tiecollector]

I can't wait to go to Britex since I keep meaning to. I have stopped by twice just as they were closing. I want to make some ties too.

 

[visionology]

taillfuzz do you recommend a specific type of linen? I didn't want to go crazy with cost, just wanted a nice white linen. How would you go about creating a solid color square with a color border edge? Sew the border on and use that to roll?

I was planning on getting 1/4 of a yard because I like a smaller size as well.

Did some practicing yesterday sewing the roll, it's tricky to get the roll closed and sew at the same time.

 

[metkirk]

Originally Posted by visionology

taillfuzz do you recommend a specific type of linen? I didn't want to go crazy with cost, just wanted a nice white linen. How would you go about creating a solid color square with a color border edge? Sew the border on and use that to roll?

I was planning on getting 1/4 of a yard because I like a smaller size as well.

Did some practicing yesterday sewing the roll, it's tricky to get the roll closed and sew at the same time.

I'm practising making shirts and normally I'dhand roll the seams. I just feel more comfortable having it pre-rolled by hands than seeing the hem roll foot does the trick.

 

[j]

Originally Posted by visionology

taillfuzz do you recommend a specific type of linen? I didn't want to go crazy with cost, just wanted a nice white linen. How would you go about creating a solid color square with a color border edge? Sew the border on and use that to roll? I was planning on getting 1/4 of a yard because I like a smaller size as well. Did some practicing yesterday sewing the roll, it's tricky to get the roll closed and sew at the same time.
1/4 yard is only 9", which will give you about a 8.5" square... pretty small.

For the colored border, I saw instructions on this somewhere - I think what you do is cut a strip, machine sew it flush to the edge then roll it over the edge and enclose the machine stitching. I'll see if I can find the thing on how it's done, it might be in a book.

 

[visionology]

Thanks j. I wasn't sure if the edge color would look like it was obviously sewn in so I was a bit confused how that worked. The colors would give me more flexibility.

I just went to a fabric store which was going out of business today and picked up 2 yards (that was their minimum) for like $10. It should do just to test how this comes out.

I was thinking of doing a square between 12"x12" and 14"x14". The ones typically on sale at 17"x17" and 18"x18" seem way big to stuff in your pocket.

 

[j]

I couldn't find the book or whatever, but here's what I meant:

That's an edge-on view on the right, BTW.

I think 12x12 is probably about right. It also depends on the weight of the fabric - for lighter fabrics you could make them bigger if you wanted.