Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-17
HOME DECORATION.
ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES MANU-.
FACTURED OF ROPE.
Use of Hemp in Making Picture
Frames, Mantel Valences, Por-
tiers, and Other Purposes.


Frames, Mantel Valences, Por-
tiers, and Other Purposes.
Of the new things in household decora-
ton are fancy articles made of rope. 1t
would seem that decorators had come
almost to the end of their rope to employ
such common thing as twisted hemp in
the manufacture of ornamental articles,
and one who has never seen them can
hardly realize the ropes capabilities To
a picture-framer belongs the palm of the
discovery. Something novel having been
demanded to set off an etching of marine
design, this genius provided plain oak
frame about two and one-half inches wide.
Running around and through the center of
this frame was heavy hempen rope
secured by invisible tacks. A knot was
placed at each corner in order to make it
bend more sharply and conform to the
right angle, and at the bottom pair of
miniature oaken oars were crossed, appar-
emily secured by the rope tied In sailors
knot, with the ends fringed out and tied to
form tassel. This was the starting point
from which has sprung a multitude of de-
signs for framing nautical pictures. The
anchor, OF wood or metal, Is prominently
used, but Is necessarily so small as to be
out OF harmony with the size OF the rope
that Is supposed to suspend it,
The rope picture frame has given birth
to great variety of other uses for the
hemp. A particularly-happy idea is a rope
netting to be used as mantel valance. or
some kindred purpose. The netting is held
IN place by brass or lacquered curtain
rings, which are in turn secured by a few
stitches on the under side. The rings NAV
be tattened little, if desired. The bot
tom of the netting is finished by tassels
formed by fraying out the two ends of the
rope and wrapping it securely with linen
| thread of the same color. A ring is at the
bottom of the tassel, and below it is a sec
ond wrapping Of the thread (which NAV
be covered with kismet, if desired), which
forms ball, from which depends the tassel
proper. The effect of this netting will be
greatly improved if colored cloth or velvet
be placed under it. The top loops are Sc
cured o.the article the work is intended
to adorn by brass-headed nails. This net
ting might also be used very effectively as
window screen or shade to hang flat
against the window to shut out an obiec-
tlonable view. 1t could not, of course. be
very conveniently rolled up, although
some arrangement might be effected by
which 1t could be pushed aside.
Another effective use for rope is to form it
into portieres similarly as the bamboo reeds
are used. In this portiere the ropes hang
straight from the top to the bottom of the
doorway, and, of course, can be parted any
where. The ends of the rope are tasseled
as described for the netting, and at the top
to make 1t more ornamental, is valance
made of the netting above described, or of
the ropes fashioned int some other form,
and fastened with needle and thread.
The rings by which this is suspended are
also OF rope, and the pole is a heavy rope
passed through them, each end being
turned back to form loop, and securely
wrapped. These loops are placed over
hooks screwed in each side of the doorway.
OF course, it must be drawn very tight, or
1t Will sag. No written description can
give an adequate idea of the effectiveness
of this portiere White cotton or flaxen
ropes are both used. The faxen rope is
the more lasting, as it does not catch the
dust Or show soil. If the ropes should
curl, bend or be otherwise obstinate. n
slight wetting will bring them into posi-
ton.
Rugs are also made of rope worked into
various patterns and secured by stitches on
the wrong side. Ordinary clothes-line is
used for this purpose. The ends are, of
course, tasseled. These rugs are odd, which
is their chief recommendation there is
nothing soft or luxurious about them.
Baskets for all sorts of purposes are made
of rope. At first sight their manufacture
appears to be almost trade, but it is in
reality very simple matter Suppose
one should wish to make a rope waste
paper basket. First make the bottom by
sewing together the rope round and round
until the desired size shall have been at
tanned. Then without cutting the rope
proceed to form it into loops of any fancied
PATTERN sewing them on the wrong side
where they shall touch each other Pro-
coed In this way until high enough, taking
care that the loops shall be the same size,
so that the basket will be straight when
finished. Finish the top with single
row OF heavier rope put straight around
and tied in knot. Fray the ends to form
tassels, and varnish the basket inside and
out. A great variety of baskets, wall
pockets, etc, may be similarly made with
very little trouble and expense.
Wicker baskets are also frequently trim
med with rope, and are exceedingly
stylish. An ingenious woman will need
no suggestions on this point. She will
intuitively bend ii into graceful forms and
put the inevitable fringed-out tassels in
their proper places And when she shall
have once seen how pretty and appropriate |
1t is as trimming for wicker work, she |
Will take the ribbons out of the rattan |
chairs and supply their places with rope
She may twist a strand or two of kismet
around the rope in such a manner as will |
make 1t appear to be part of the rope, |
and let a little of the kismet show in the |
tassels. Ten to one that the babys crib |
and perambulator will undergo the same
Transforming process.
The new willow mating that comes for |
fire-screens and like purposes is very eff
fectiyely mounted upon slight, plain
wooden frame, which is entirely concealed
by three strands of rope-one placed on
either side, and one on the top of the
hiu oSSulCu tuSIc ny slltll
This mating comes in only one size, about
twenty-five inches square, and is of the
cream color of the willow when stripped
of the bark. Paint adheres to it well, and
when so treated and framed in rope it
makes lovely screen.
Articles made of Lincrusta- Walton and
trimmed with rope are much seen. Take,
for example, piece of drain-pipe, cover it
with Lincrusta- Walton, finish it top and
bottom with rope, and most charming
umbrella-stand will be the result. Taste
full wall-pockets may be made in the same
way.
The rope netting described above makes
charming cover or curtain for transoms.
Try it, and be surprised at the almost
Moorish lattice effect it will impart. The
uses of rope as decorative agent are al
most imltless, and pretty and quaint as
the idea is there is great danger that, fol-
lowing our proverbial tendencies, we shall
get too much of it. Too much of any
thing cheapens it, and it soon pals upon
the senses and becomes WEAKNESS. And
this particularly applies to so cheap a
thing as rope.-Philadelphia Record.