Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-07

1
FoR OTTOMAN cUsHIoNs-THE RAGE FOR SILVER
| MOUNTED ARTICLES.
From December 1 the days are but steps in
the swift march toward the grand climax of
| the 25th-our Christmas. The thoughts of
that day fill all hearts. The preparations for
1t are the principal business in life with most
| people in one way or another. The custom of
exchanging gifts among families and friends
| on Christmast day is SO universal that to re-
member even comparatively small number
requires good deal OF thought and planning.
! This is the case when means are ample, for
suitability and adaptation to different tastes
are factors to be considered. Much more is it
| necessary when one wishes to make number
! of gifts and the wherewithal is limited. Then
| ingenuity and skill must take the place OF
money to certain extent and very charming
| results may be the outcome of this combina-
ton, too. For the benefit of all givers of gifts
Christmas presents will be the theme at the
present time to which attention is directed.
DRAPING AN EASEL.
From a northern city comes request that
| through Attractive Homes" some suggestions
| for easel drapory may reach the PARKWAY read
ers of The STAR. Just now the fancy for white
and gold makes that fayorite style in which
! to frame pictures which are intended to stand
on easels. For drapery or scarfs to use about
pictures framed in this way good idea is to
carry out the same white and gold effect
There are various fabrics equally suitable and
pretty for this purpose. IndIa silk in cream or
pure white, boiling cloth, China crepe--either
crinkled or not-all OF which drape easily in
soft, careless folds These are foundations on
which II number of effects can be gotten. The
design is generally stamped on the material,
and a band across each end has been the style
usually followed; but to vary the monotonv
would suggest single large flowers scattered
over the surface. For scarf two yards long
eleven flowers would be good number to
! alternate sinSly or to group. say sometimes
two, sometimes one, and maybe i'll one place
! three together. The center of these flow
ers should be large, either round oval, and
to apply gold lace mot an edge, but
! large meshed net or piece lace" as it is
, called over this center with a couching of
gold thread to conceal the edge would give o
brilliant and decided character to each flower.
| The petals should be defined with the gold
thread COUGHING, several strands of the fine
japanese gold thread being more effective than
| the coarser one. Amy velning or radlatIng
lines from the center are to be done III the
gold thread, fewer strands being used than in
the heavier outlines. perhaps two for such
lines and four for the outside. Yellow sewing
silk is used for the COUGHING and the thread Is
! to be applied two strands at "a time. which is
much faster work than COUGHING it singiY. The
selvedge of the goods is for the finish of the
scarf at the sides, while the ends should be
trimmed with narrow hem, and small white
silk tassels on cords an eighth of
yard long should be sewed on and space of four
inches left between the tassels. This DECORATION
could best be applied to the China crepe or the
boiling cloth. The cloth should be held IN
embroidery hoops while being worked and can
be carefully pressed after working. if neces-
sary, by laying it on flannel and putting the
iron on the wrong side. Another way suitable
for any of these materials could be carried out
with the same design-that is to work the pat
tern in white flo floss in .'iong anu short
stitch, with center of the flower in lace or
honey-comb stitch, and then outline the whole
with single gold thread. Still another more
simple idea for white and gold easel scarf Is
to get a length of the gold-stamped white
Japanese crepe, a cotton material, very charm
ing in appearance, hem the ends and sew on
the tassels and the thing is done. This how
ever, represents nothing of ones labor and
ability, if those qualities are desired to add
value to gift.
CLOCK sCARFs.
Another out-of-town request has come for
something attractive in clock scarfs. Often
with other draperies in room and pretty
mantel that needs no concealment, any elabo-
rate effect there is apt to look overloaded. A
small scarf, however, held in place by clock,
and falling below the shelf, may be an addition
to the room that will add much to its pretti-
ness. Such bits of embroidery make accepta-
BILE gifts and may be made very effective. The
handsomest materials should be used for the
scarf. az its position will be such prominent
one in the room. Its size too is such that even
with putting as much time and work on 1t as
possible. one is sure that an end of labor cannot
be far from the beginning Plush in small guam
titles is always beautiful, especially where
its position is such as to catch all the changing
lights on its surface. Old blue is charming
color for a foundation. large figure sug-
costing conventionalized flower form, might
be put i'll one corner, worked quite solldy with
rope silk of a lighter blue. Curving lines,
gracefully filling the rest of the space, are to be
worked with the new art cord, and single
line of gold thread at one side OF the COUGHING
of cord. For finish something different from
tassel fringe would be a relief, SO would sug-
gest one of the beautiful dress fringes that
come this year in all depths. A fringe Of an
eighth of yard deep, hanging full and silky
| and waving as the air is stirred, would be q
handsome finish. Another scarf might be
| made that would give decided character to
| a mantel. Use yellow-not orange-plush
for the foundation and on it
work rather close pattern in gold thread
the more turns and curves III the design the
more brilliancy there will be in the effect. A
| rather narrow band of the plush could form
the scarf proper, with fall of gold-colored
| fringe quarter of yard deep. Something
quite different could be made by using the silk
canvas in ecru tint, and a charming color to
IL III WOulu DC Olu PINK. 1ue ue-
| signs suitable numerous enough. Small
flowers powdered over the scaif, worked in
| feather stitch, with connecting lines suggest
| ing lattice work, would be very pretty. An
| other way would be a large design of flower
| and leaves, with little gold thread to light it
up. A heavy, handsome lace would be good
| finish to a scarf of such hght-colored ground
work.
OTTOMAN CUSHIONS.
| Among the novelties that f1aunt their charms
to the Christmas shoppers are the ottomans
consisting of wooden frame work with cushion
laid on the seat The wooden part is either Of
| light natural wood or painted in white, some
! times with gold touches and sometimes with
| out. The cushions in all grades of elabo-
rateness. Some are simply covered with silk,
! either figured china or the lovely shadow
silks. but most Of them are specimens of hand
| embroidery very beautiful to see. A number
| Of these cushions are laced on to the founda-
! ton in the style SO popular at present. Some
| times puff of plush shows between the crossed
| cords, while again the puff is of silk. The
| white silk damask, which launders as per-
| fectly as linen, when embroidered with white
/ wash silk and single line of gold thread here
| and there, makes an exquisite cushion and yet
one that Is thoroughly durable. The beauti-
| full reed or serpant green makes lovely cover
| ings in silk canvas for ottoman cushions These
/ frames have a seat that is quite depressed in
| the center SO that cushion is almost as much
of a necessity on one for comfort as for looks.