Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-05
FAMILY MeMp,wc.

FAMILY MENDiMo.
uoV 30 Darn, Patch, Rspair ana M.h>
Over Wearing Apparel.
The mother Of family appreciates
the full force Of the homely proverh.
"a stitch in time saves nine" MANY
times nine are saved by prompt atten-
ton to repairs. and the greatest helm
to making is mending. Family mend
ing consists of darnins. patching. re-
pairing and making over.
To darn well. select the number of
thread or silk best suited to the ma.
terial and use the finest needle that
will carry 1t. The edges of splits and
tears must first be caught lightly to-
gether with long. basting stitches that
can easily be cut and drawn out when
the darning is done. This prevents
one edge stretching more than the
other. Ran 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.
backwards and forwards till the
length of the tear is COW
cred Tears are apt to be three
cornered. Begin such in the center
to make the point fit even, and darn
towards each end. All darning Of this
character is done in the same way, but
the finer the material the finer must be
the needle and cotton.
In darning much worn material.
haste under the split a piece of the
same goods and darn the two together.
In all cases it strengthens to darn up.
on another piece. but does not make
SO smooth darn. Arsgged tear must
have always a 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 hot iron it is almost unnotice-
able. 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 darning must Of course.
be done upon the right side.
All tears must be darned before
washing. If the edges are once stiff
ened by wetting and drying they can
never be mended neatly.
To darn hole in q stocking begin
with as long strand of cotton as can
be easily managed. and long. slim
needle. Pass tho 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 quicker. 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 neat. strong basket
work; neither q wide checker work
that can be seen through. nor a thick.
uneven surface that hurts the foot.
After mcnding the holes the thin
places in stockings should be run
thickly, backwards and forwards with
needle and cotton to prevent break
ing. In darning toes and heels it is
helpful to darn upon china egg. but
in other parts of the stocking tlatter
darn is made by using only the
hand. To darn wooden stockings
wool must be used. For cot.
ton stockings French darning cot
on, that comes in small. soft balls. is
to that bought upon cartls.
1t 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 Then turn
the edges of the patch and hem down
upon the garment This finishes both
sides neatly. If the garment patched
is figured or striped, the figures and
stripes must be made to match in
putting in the patch. Cloth is too
heavy usually 10 turn the edges in
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.
Clara Grundy Beirne, in Cool House
keeping.