Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-11-16
FARM and HOSBHOLD.
DAREING AND PATCHING.

DARNING AND PATCHING.
To darn well, select the number
of thread or silk best suited to the
material, and use the finest needle
that will carry it. The edges of
splits and tears must first be caught
lightly together with long bastlng
stitches that can easily be cut and
drawn ont when the darning is
done. This prevents one edge
stretching more than the
other. Run the needle from the
darner in very small stitches in and
out its whole length before drawing
through then towards the darner
in the same way, and so on, back
wards and forwards till the length
of the tear is covered. Tears are
apt to be three-cornered. Begin
such in the center to make the
point Dit even and darn toward
each end. All darning OF this
character is done in the same way,
but the fuer material the finer
must be the needle and cotton.
In darning much worn MATERIAL
basic under the split piece of the
same goods and darn together. In
all cases it strengthens to darn
upon another piece, but does not
make so smooth darn. a ragged
tear must have always piece put
under it. Rawlings of the same
are best for darning fannels or
dress goods, and if the mend IS
dampened and pressed with a hot
lrou, it is almost unnOticeable.-
Tears in cloth darned upon the
wrong side, the stitches run upon
the surface, not going through,
scarcely show upon the right side.
In lined articles the darnlng must,
of course, be done upon the right
side.
All tears must be darned before
washing, If the edges are once
stiflened by wetting and drying
they can never be mended neatly.
To darn hole in a stocking be-
gin with as long a strand of cotton
as can be easily managed, and a
long, slim needle. Pass the needle
back and forth across one way,
letting each long stitch lie close to
the one next it, and running the
needle little beyond the edge of
the hole for greater strength, being
careful not to draw the cotton tight
enough to pucker. When the hole
is covered, cross the other way,
taking on the needle every other
stitch OF those IN the first crossing,
When finished, you have a neat.
strong basket work neither a wide
checker work can be seen through,
nor a thick, uneven surface that
hurts the foot. After mending the
holes, the thin places in the stock
ings should be run thickly, back
wards and forwards, with needle
and cotton, to prevent breaking
In darned toes and heels it is help
ful to darn upon a China egg, but
in other parts of the stocking a
fiatter darn is made by using only
the hand. To darn wooden stock
lngs a French darniDg cotton, that
comes in small, soft balls, is su.
perior TO that bought upon cards.
Ii runs through several numbers, is
fine and smooth, and keeps its
color well.
Holes in garments or hOuse-linen
must be patched. To patch, haste
a square OF the same material
under the hole, cut the edges of
the hole even, turn under, and
hem in small stitches neatly down
to the patch. Turn down the edges
of the patch and hem down upon
the garment. This finishes both
sides Deatly. If the garment patch
ed is figured or striped, the figures
and stripes must be made to match
in putting in the patch. Cloth is
too heavy usually to turn the edges
in patching. The edges of the
patch must be run in small stitches
upon the wrong side, and the edges
of the hole darned down closely
on the right side.-GOOd House
keeping.