The Penn's Grove record., 1889-05-11
NUMBER Al.
DECORATIVE NEEDLE WORK.
The Decoration of Folding-ChaIrs.

In the need Of Something to do" in
needlework, which, mex to the more
vital necessity Of possessing ''some-
thing to wear" is supposed to be the
chief craving of the feminine heart,
folding-chairs have been strangely over
looked. 1t is true that their frames
have been painted in art colors. What
small article of furniture has not passed
under that process? But a hammock
chair is light and graceful, in conse-
quence Of its simple structure and ma
~terials, and will respond at once to
artistic efforts to make it ga thing of
beauty" ga JOY for ever" it certainly
will not be, unless it is prevented from
folding down at cratic Intervals for
which cause attention should be first
directed to the notches upon which the
frame rests that regulates the height OF
the chair. Made, as most of them are,
with cheapness among their most prom
inent qualities, their notches and frames
are not all formed with mathematical
exactness. A little careful supervision
will save many of those sudden creaks
so trying to people of nervous tempers-
ment.
Having been made trustworthy, the
frame may be painted in black, gold, Or
an art color, and allowed to dry thor
oughly.
Z The decoration of the seat opens out
a wide range of possibilities, both in
material and workmanship. A few
leaves or flowers painted on the canvas
of which it is usually composed are
pretty and effective; but it may be sug-
gested that other leaves are available
for decorative purposes besides those of
the Virginian-creeper, which are very
lovely, very graceful; the effect of sun
light through them can scarcely be sur
passed.; but the amateur artist is nearly
sure to lose a little of their beauty in
his transcription, and the forms com
monty known as Virginian-creeper
leaves haunt the observer with the per-
sistence of street melodies.
The stripe down either side of the
seat should be painted in the same
color as the frame. A few primroses.
snowdrops, or v%iolets, arranged just
where, and as, they would lie if care
lessly dropped into the lap of the chair.
would be pretty with a black frame,
and stripe; the rest of the canvas being
either left bare, which is perhaps best,
or painted in some color which will
harmonise or contrast with the flowers;
which, of course, should be painted
after the back ground is thoroughly
dry. Sprays or single blossoms may be
painted on the back, apparently kept
in place by paper fasteners.
THE chief rule to be observed is tbs
the decorations should be light am
simple in design. 1t is best to copy
from nature, but should original de-
signs not be forthcoming, Christmas
cards will be found very useful in sug-
gestions.
A richer effect may be obtained by
fixing over the canvas a cover of velvet.
which should be painted with single
flowers, or sprays of delicate or strik-
ing flowers from the conservatory.
Brazilian work, In rather coarse
cream-colored silk or linen, looks well
over plush or velvet. Designed in a
bold style on coarse linen over furni-
ture serge, it is quickly worked, cheap,
and effective.
To return to the decoration of the
canvas itself. Cross-stitch is rapidly
worked, strong, and pretty; it is not.
perhaps, so rich rs some needleworks
vet very pretty effects may be obtained
by its use. Let the stripes near the
edge of the chair seat be studded with
stars alternately larger and smaller, in
a much lighter shade of their W color.
A very large star of a much darker
shade should be arranged to form the
centre of the back, and n slightly
.--1J.u o1,-o I'D In1nxv - NJ nrA1nof.
ing them to a dot, or finishing with .
scroll. A representation of the Union
Jack, arranged in graceful folds, is very
suitable, worked in outline or cross
stitch of the same shade as the stripes,
which are left plain. Or a group OF
small flags in the centre of the seat, the
stripes being wreathed with pennants.
Another style of ornamentation Is
crochet, us used in Germany for peram-
bulator Blankets. G., worked in roset-
ties of soft knitting-cotton on a plush
foundation, and arranged in rows, about
three inches of plush being left I'M.
covered between each row.
A of dark serge s. afso,
| suitable when worked with simple de-
| signs in crewel-stitch. II may be sug-
ReSleu tudt IL 10 Mei To ooitihcS INC
habit of designing patterns at home. 1t
is true they will not, probably, be as
| beautiful as those drawn by professional
designers; but the attempt to arrange
| them will bring home the grace of the
leaf or spray to the mind of the worker,
and she will use and appreciate other
| peoples patterns far more i~ntelligently
| if she sometimes traces her own. Be-
| sides, a present is often wanted for
| some dear friend, to whom the know
ledge that the work is "her own design
will treble the value of the gift.
WHAT may be called Damascene en-
broidery is also very suitable as a cover.
| ing for folding-chairs. This is worked
on ordinary furniture damask, either
of silk or wool. In the very simplest
style the edge of the pattern is followed
in outline-stitch of 8 contrasting color.
or in a lighter or darker shade of the
same color as the damask. A very rich
and striking effect may be gained by
\ choosing a pattern not too heavy or
complicated, and by covering the 1ow-
ers, etc, in silk of natural colors in the
crewel-stitehes. A somewhat conven-
tional style of treatment is, perhaps.
most Suitable, lle cOlOrS GIBSON oeinS
in the Oriental style-that is to say,
primary and secondary colors should be
grouped rather daEingiy. According to
Western ideas of art, the secondaries
should be used sparingIy, and it is rare
indeed to see two primaries in luxta-
position. But the Eastern tempers-
ment is fervid, ardent; our calm en-
deavors to reproduce nature will not
satisfy them; and, while using colors
that in England no one but a child play
ing with It's paint-box would think il
possible to place i'll the same group.
they produce effects which all are con-
strained TO admire. While endeavour-
ing to copy their style it is well to re-
member that it is necessary not only to
use their c%olors, but to use them in
something approaching the same pro-
portions.
For a drawing-room chair, the frame
might be painted in gold, and the seat
covered with cream-colored damask In