The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-01-25
HONE TOPICS.
Fancies in Portieres, Curtains, Shades,
Table Cloths and Lambrequins.
Hints how to Dress Children. What to
Wear.

DEPARTURES IN PARLOR FURNISHING.
Some of the newest porticres and
windOwhangings are made of strips OF
satin, velvet, brOcade or silk OF various
colors. These are joined together with
some fancy stitching, and the whole
lined with rich color in surah. gros-
grain or any cheap silk. The lining
may be made of old silk dresses, patch
ed in blocks and dyed. There is less
of the sensational in the new goods,
which are of dull colors, such as stone.
dove. cameo, fawn or soft mixtures.
The Roman plaids. reds and yellows.
of last season have been removed by
many housekeepers and cut up for
mats. cOmforterS. afghans and table
covers.
A pretty and inexpensive table cover
can be made of dark-red felt, two yards
square. The band, or border is of
cretOnne. the edge of which is finished
with narrow strip of olivccolOred felt.
pinked on both sides, laid over the
edge of the crctonne, and caught down
to the felt with long spiky stitches
on each scallop. Through the center
OF the felt band lay a narrow black
velvet ribbon. and fcathcr-stitch over
il with silk floss in some bright color
Finish the edge of the cover with Il
heavy cord in mixed colors to cores
pond with the cretonnc. and at each
end fastcn two tasscls. The spread
should be lined with old gold canton
flannel
y simpler one. and quite rs pretty for
a EVing-roOm, may be formed of the
same drapery trimmed with iive-inch
band of blue canton flannel. Work this
with Il convcntioEalized border of ivy
leaves and fringe with the felt. For
parlor. take two yards of wine-colOred
plush or velvet and line with blue SELF
ella. Ii skillful with the brush, paint
vine of blue morning glories on four
inch band of blue silk. which will make
an exquisite trimming for one end of
the drapery. Have the other side de-
cOrated with a spray of sumach or
golden rod. or ii there is no time for
this, buy Il bunch of pink roses or
cluster of blue aStcrs and sew them on.
These flowers. made of embroidered
silk. are really Very pretty and are sold
in all the fancy stores.
1t is very eddy TO have portieres
made of rich material. and cut so rs
to reach but half way To the floor.
thus disclosing the adjoining room.
Japanese rooms. libraries and sitting
rooms have for ii center piece Il medium
sized Japanese parasol Overlooking with
cat-tails, auiumn leaves. MOSES. grasses
and pressed vines.
Ladies with more leisure and taste
than money make exquisite window
curtains of Scotch holland. by tracing
them with graceful vines clusters OF
fell flowers, and huEchcs of wheat.
Some of the Mafras muSlins THAT are
figured with pink or blue flowers, make
neat curtains wneu hum from slender
bras rods, and tied back with fresh
ribbons oi different. shades. The plain
ones of white. GRAY or brown are being
in one corner only, vita
Il bunch oil cereals or :: Knot OF wild |
berries and ferns. In place of the en-
broidercd null. pongee shades are hung
next TO the giaNs. They are variously |
decorated with needlcwori, the mono |
gram or fenly crest beng used.
Curtains hung from rods should be |
lined, if not heavy and reversible. and
draped very high. II is the fancy of
the day to have two styles of hanging
Oh each window. Lambrequins are
now made of patchwork finished off
with metallic or chenille fringe. Some
Of .iarncd net are lined with bright
colored silk or muslin and edged with
soft lace