The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-16
HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIES.
How the Careful HOus selSeeper Can Utilize
Many Partly Worn Articles.

| GCONOtIiES.
How the Careful HOuseISeeper Can Utilize
| Many Partly Worn Articles.
1t is a very good use for the unworn
borders of stair carpets TO convert them
into borders for rugs; but suppose one
is not able, quite yet. to by new stair
carpets? A friend of ours, a thrifty
housekeepcr. has just solved this prob
lem and most successfully metamor-
phosel her stair carpet, the entire
middle of which was badly worn, by
buying nalf the length required for the
whole fight of the best ingram, cut
ting it lcngthwiSe through the middle,
sewing two ends together and hem
ming the raw edge. This just fitted.
on between the borders, over the old
carpet The pattern of the ingram
was fine. ''crinklv,' not decided in
color and harmonized with the border
1t was marvellous how well it looked
and the expense was triiling; for the
very best quality of ingram carpeting
can now be bought for less than a
dollar 4 yard and is found in almost
perfect imitation of Brussels patterns.
Stair carpet pads can be made of
shrunken, half-wOrn bed blankets, past
using on beds. They should be COW
cred with drilling and will last life
time. They are great saving on the
wear of the carpets, as well as making
them soft and agreeable to use.
There is nothing that freshens up a
room carpet like sweeping it with
coarse, wet corn meal. No dust will
rise to settle upon furniture and bric-a-
brac; but it will all be absorbed by the
meal.
There is great difference of opinion
as to the comfort and luxury of bed
linen. A wealthy lady of our acquaint-
ance, housekeeper, who had no limit
to her spending money said: Linen
for my beds have never thought of;
cotton is good enough for me-" but we
could forego many other comforts for
the sake of linen for our beds in
simmer. Good linen sheets will last
for many years, and, when the middle
becomes worn, the best part of each
sheet will make pair of pillow ips
that will last for several summers. The
parts much worn are rolled up and
laid away in the "sick bag" to be
readily found in emergencies, and
utilized for congresses, bandages,
poultices and the various needs of sick
ness or accidents.
In buying table linen the finer.
smaller the pattern, the longer it will |
last. When table cloths are half worn,
or past use rs such, the best parts may
be cut into table napkins. and, if neatly |
hemmed, few will notice that they are |
not of regular pattern. or these |
pieces may be used to lay under boiled |
fish for serving, or they will be found |
very convenient for wrapping cake be-
fore putting away in Il tin box, for |
covering bread, and score of other
uses in the kitchen; for it is never well
to leave food, after it is cold, uncovered
and exposed to air, dust and flies.
Table cloths wear much longer if
double-faced, thick canton flannel is
first spread on the table. 1t smooths
the edges. and is much softer and more
than without it. Many con-
slider it indispensable. The flannel
costs about fifteen cents n yard.
When white merino uadcrclothes are
past wearing. they may be cut into
pieces of suitable size, and used for
first wet in warm
water, in which little washing soda
is dissolved, and thereafter rubbing
the glass with q soft. crushed news
paper; it will have the effect of silicon.
Excellent iron-holders are made of
soft, old merino, as well rs cast-off
hosiery. but they should be covered
with new drilling to make them serv-
iceable. Housekeepers need to pro-
vide all these hOmely necessities; for,
by being careless and inconsiderate
they often find themselves quite unable
to furnish suitable materials to work
with.
A bag of silk pieces. old and new.
has been accumulating for several
bits of ribbon, silk Innings,
odds and ends left from the 'crazy
quilt" even the silk of a brown UNI
brella, every conceivable color and
shade. These all may be cut into strips,
half an inch wide, and sewed together
at random so as to color in one long
piece, and wound, forming large ball,
This sewing can be done. either by
hand or machine; in the latter case,
cut the strips after sewing. Now cast
from the silk forty stitches upon medium
size tidy needles and knit. in loose,
plain stitch, back and forth. The
of colors will be found very
pleasing, the work rapid and fascinat
ing, and the result most satisfactory.
The pieces can be knitted of any de.
sired size, and be applied to number.
less uses and ways of ornamenting.
friend has used long strips of thi.
knitted material by alternating them
with the same width of satin for win
dow curtains, and they were beautiful.
1t also made very handsome piano
scarf, the ends finished with a heavy,
mixed, silk fringe.-Cor. n. 7. Inds