The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-08
Taste In Home Economies.

The fashionable material for thin
inner window hangings is fine scrom.
Generally bordering on the inner
side is worked In outline stitch in color
ed silks or crewels. Margins of deep
toned rep Or velvet accompany the thin
draping.
Double portieres are no longer in
fashion. A single hanging suspended
from rings upon a pole is plainly drawn
across the doorway or entry to
be concealed, and, when necessary, is
looped up at one side.
Plush still remains in favor for the
borders of heavy draperies. A design
is now often painted upon it in oil colors
with the heavy bristle brushes, by
means Of which the paint is 30 com.
pletely rubbed in that it appears almost
as if different material had been appli
quered on.
The preference for tapestry effects
in hangings is resulting in 4 revival of |
old ideas of decoration, and fabrics are
woven in imitation of Gobelin tapestry
which succeed rather in reproducing
the distorted figures and landscapes o
an earlier period than in perpetuating
the spirit of beauty which uuderlays
them.
Hangings of one color are popular
for boudoirs and bedrooms. Soft blues
and pinks or delicate cream-colored
materials are chosen, and are left
completely bare of decoration with
the exception of that given by silk
cord and tassels used in draping
| them.
Ecru linen is among the favorite ma
terials used for draperies. Edgings are
sewn on of Turkey-red cloth alternate
ly with small squares Of thread lace
embroidery, and the effect is very pleas
ing.
Tides in some houses take the form
of draped scarfs. Scarfs of India mus
lin embroidered in bullion OF sebreo
thread are drawn up in the middle
and fastened to the back of upholstered
chairs in such way that the ends hang
as draperies half way to the seat. The
advantage about these tides is that as
they are securely fastened they dc
not annoy visitors by clinging to theiI
mantles.
Portieres are often made of two oi
three different materials-for example
in panels or with border, more OF
less deep, of one material and the re
mainder of something different. TIL,
upper panel may be in satin and tn,
lower in plush with satin bands.
A beautiful hanging of three color
' is made by a selection of whitish-yellov
satin for the upper panel, salmon pinl
= plush for the centre and deep BROW
plush as bordering. The design, whicl
/, is worked in silks in this portiere, repre-
). sents an Eastern vase, in which
# spreading branch, covered with peacl
blossoms, is placed. The vase is worke
!, in light blue and the peach blossoms i
a their natural colors.
A design of sunfower, with a dee
plush bordering, upon which convention
, allied flowers Of the same kind are lai
is still popular for hangings. The uppe
panel is frequently of blue cloth, til
l. flowers being worked in crewels, AN
Al the lower panel of deep blue plusl
the cOnventionalized sunflowers upo
IL this having black centre IN
the outer circle of the leaves bein
~ u worked in bright gold filoselle.
Mixed materials are now much like
for window hangings. Generally Il
IL colors are neutral, and the only atteml
~ at decorative effect is in the very heaI
4 and handsome fringe which is seen {
the inner edges of such fabrics.
times the fringe is Of IA color to ha
~ menize with the prevailing tone of Il
room.
s. The fashion of using wall hangings
IN growing in favor. Entire rooms al
9' now draped in such a way that wall
10 windows and doors harmonic not on
VI in color but in the material by whiC
they are concealed. Wall hangings I
quire to be lined, even if they are
Is heavy fabrics, to insure their hangiI
h. perfectly even. If borderings are ust
g. they must be stitched on before Il
at hanging is fixed upon the wall.
as Velveteen is particularly well suit,
'le for hangings, being durable and We
IS. accessible to ornament; if worked
an filOselle curtains of this material are e
tremely handsome. Velvet is less ma
of ageable, and does not answer as well t
,st applique work, as the frill, when it
Mt rich, iHterferes with the set of the site
%, es.
/ a Draperies for halls and vestibules a
IN handsomely made of deep-colored plus
Ike They are usually only sufficiently wi
er, to fall in graceful folds, and never Ion
ye er than just to touch the floor. 1t is
rel longer fashionable to have long or fl
draperies.
is 1t is very usual to have half -draperi
lbs that is to say, something in the stJ
all of very deep valances in doorway
We Such an arrangement breaks the mon
of tony of the opening, and yet leaves Il
nd view into another apartment unobstru
ted.
For heavy draperies border desig
are generally fashionable; for light
ones continuous pattern carried over t
whole ground is in favor. Brancbi
donisr..n nnn fn,n.,l Ii, l..4I. -. L-....I.