Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-15

From the Art Amateur.
One Of the decidedly attractive pieces of
needework shown at the rooms of the Society
| of Decorative Art was a bed-cover made of fine
soft crash. so neatly joined in lengths that the
stitches were almost imperceptible. and en-
brOidered in fine crewel with a branching ''all
! over design of singular grace and beauty.
This style of embroidery has no special name,
but for want Of more specific title. has
been called ''grandmother's crewelwork," re-
peating, "a it does. the Old conventional roses
ana carnations that spring from a common stem,
and are varied by pretty fiourishes. all produced
in grayish blues and reddish pnks and amber
yeilows, with greens that suggests the stalk OF
growing lavender. The price set upon this
quilt was one hundred dollars. and the worker
is reported to have said that her labor was
barely covered by the sum affixed. | see. how
ever. no difficulty I'm. undertaking such a piece
of bedroom decoration If one has fair acquaint-
ance with the methods of ordinary kensington
stitches. The chief difficulty to an outsider
lies. of course. in finding an appropriate design.
and in having it applied TO the ground for work
ing. Where conventional coloring is So freely
used-and one would think 1t no shame to perch
blue Dlrd on rose-colored branch. or To be-
stow yellow foliage on gTay-green blossom
the artist has certainly comfortable liberty OF
choice.
To show what ingenuity has done. lady sit
| ting at breakfast one morning in her country
home. was invaded by a persistent peddler. so
intent on vending his wasil-coths. woven in
squares. to be cut apart when used that she
could only get rid of him by investing one dol
lar IN the purchase of dozen. The coarse.
cream colOred web of woven cotton as il lay
upon the floor suggested to her a ground for
needlework. With her needle alone having no
pattern Indicated she worked upon the meshes
of each square some flower or sprays plucked
in her daily walks. In the wide connecting
threads between the squares she interwove blue
ribbons. With threads of coarse darninr cotton
she knotted a fringe around the borders. and
her bed-coyer for set of cottage furniture
came in due time to be more admired than its
modesty had ever dreamed of!
A very effective bed cover has been made in
Bolton sheettng to Initiate one dating from 'old
colony times The design is a tree. with con-
Rntionally grouped branches SO disposed as to
cover the entire ground of the stun. On these
branches are seen paroquets. birds of paradise.
and other snowy birds. the whole cut from
French chintZ of the best quality. and worked
down with washing silks and crewels. There
are now to be bought in New York a variety of
these beautiful chintzes. having large bold pat
terms in soft hues upon ribbed ground of
cream color. which present exactly the idea of
this ancient handiwork. In using them for APP
plique curtains and bed covers might be made
to match. although continually varied in detail
Bolton sheeting is bought at one dollar yard
in double width the French chintZ at dollar
and a hall yard. also in double width Eng
lish foselies are somewhat superseded for Dor
tpiiHE dpllIi'iue 10y Il new sin Catu Hlo-IlOSS,
which L. easier to work With.
Still another bed-coyer. easily made and
highly effective. is 4 stout linen sheet. divided
into squares and oblongs by lines of brier-stitch
or herring-bonU in china blue crewel. leaving
the central division larger than the rest In
each one of the Irregular divisions thus OBJ
tanned. work with crewei in two shades of blue
pointed with stitches o. blue ashing filosele.
geometricai patterns not too minute in detail.
Ii desired. this cover may be made in unbieaehed
| IA
blue linen. In either case piliow-covers are
made to match.
A linen sheet. treated in similar fashion had
peoples and ragged robins worked in each
square; black silk used for the vennr, and
| an edge O! coarse linen lace was sewed around.
Where it is desired TO take a little additional
pains. the worker may secure beautiful result
by pulling the threads marking the divisions,
and working them IN hemStitch. Outline work
AZ suggested in the last paper. is the most
simple method of arriving at an effect in this
branch OF decoration. To vary the result
darned1n background is often added.
of this work few varieties MAY be described:
design of large passion-fQ%ers. outlined In
Chocolate brown crewel on crash has a back
ground Of Old gold threads of crewel darned in
waVy hnes. The artichoke plant is the subject
Oh Sftilted design, outlined on linen in shades
ci Grange tire background covered with arrow
mead stitches Of dull yellow crewel, suggesting
the seeds of the plant. quilt made in Eng
land of ecru homespun cotton has conventional
designs of white linen thread covering the
ground. The effect in this is produced by the
endless variety and different directions of the
stitches taken. A cover made of unbleached
muslin has an orange tree and fruit applique in
old gold serge the back ground darned in with
parallel lines Of shaded yeliows and browns.
| CrOss-stich is much used upon huckaback.
crash. linen and satin sheeting, for bedroom
decoration.
The entire outfit of chamber may be done in
Russian patterns with red and blue ingram
knitting cottons upon any one of the materials
named. 1t is generally carried out in borders
worked over canvas. the threads afterward
withdrawn. | have seen bed-curtans. valance,
dressing-iable cover and window curtains,
worked in Russia, upon coarse linen stuff after
this fashion. The curtains had central dc Sign.
representing number Of quaint little maidens
Clad in red and blue playing some national game
beneath the branches Of fir-tree. The dressing
table had design of Growing cocks in scarlet
arranged in a procession between bands of blue,
with vines of yellow. The bed-coyer repre-
| scented sleighing scene amid snowy land
scape. 1t cannot be denied that primary
cOlors" play important part i'm the color
scheme of these draperies. They are absolutely
brilliant in general effect, but the amount of
color might easily be reduced to suit the
"greenery- yallery-G rosvenOr-gallery" require
mentS of to-day
Russian work is especially suited to the deco
ration of bed room towels. Some Of the deep
red and blue borders now worked for that pur-
! PcoC olC SAoCl iSllouuStiOuS Va pdlltliis lOuuu
in continental museums.
Holbein work, a variety of Russian work. the
stitches SO taken that both sides are found alike
when finished, is applied to toilet covers pin
cushions, lounge pillows. and fine hand towels.
as well as to many articles used in the dining
room.
Darned netting one of the earliest of English
industries, is still used sixteenth century bed
cover having been recently copied here. 1t has
twelve squares. each one with figure represent
ing month Of the year, outlined i'm cOlOrs. Old
FlOrentine silk table-covers, with borders of
Melted silk daTned in different colOred flosses
which may be seen in more than one bric-a -brac
shop in New York, are admirable models in col
Ors design, and execution.
Painted Nottingham lace is novelty In bed
room draperies, but until have seen specimens
that seem more i'm keeping with the standard of
modern art-work, it is not to be recommended
in this list. Rather should Madras muslin. i'm
all l,,oc int