Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07
Written for TEE Evxxrxo srAn.
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
How to Make Some Comfortable Pillows
and Cushions.

WHAT KIND OF FILLING Is BEsT-THE COVERING
AND ms DzooRArIoN-THR cRErAN PATTERNS.
Pillows and cushions of all kinds form such
An important feature in decoration at the pres
emit time that almost any number can be dis
posed about q house in different places. The
comfort a. wen as picturesqueness of many
pillows scattered about on sofas or in chairs is
great All sizes and shapes are allowable.
Various, too, are the filings used, as best suits
the makers taste and pocket book. Probably
Gil would prefer the luxurious down to any
thing else. That takes the first rank, and as 1t
n not so expensive as when it first came into
use almost every one can boast Of at least one
or two down pillows. Next come feathers
and down mixed. These are nearly as
hight as all down, with quite a difference in cost
In their favor. Curled hair is used also and
looks very well at first, but mats somewhat
after using. Many people like il, however on
account OF its being cooler for the head than
anything else. Feathers alone make comfort
able, though heavier pillow. but are probably
more used than anything else. There Is sum
clent choice among these materials for most
people. i heard Of some ingenious and impe-
c1nious girls, however. who, wanting some
''show" pillows which seemed unattainsble,
made SOME and stuffed them with excelsior!
They looked well enough, but unhappy was the
man who, like the poor private secretary,
longed for '.fepose" and sought 1t therel
TIE COVERING.
The part Of the pillow referring to comfort
disposed of the covering may be considered.
This is of even more importance to the en-
broiderer. Here the choice is not confined
within any set bounds. Dozens of different
materials or combinations of materials await
the worker. One can scarcely select what to
describe, 30 many are the pretty effects OBJ
tanned 1t depends, of course. a good deal on
whether one wishes to put little work on the
cushion or net. One must devote enough time
TO II II there Is to be really good and artistic
result To begin, then, with the easiest cover
ing. India silk, either plain or with some
beautiful design. is possibly the most used OF
anything. 1t rs both attractive and durable,
for it viii wash to look like new when soiled.
Among pretty and useful covers are linens Of
various degrees of ineness. These are en-
broidered with silk or linen hosses, both being
extremely pretty in effect. White upon white
has been, and still is, favorite combination.
1t Is dainty to look at, and yet so
serviceable on account of its laundering
qualities. A white hnen-covered pillow, en-
broidered in an all-over pattern, with white
linen floss and edged with fine torchon lace.
may be seen in one of the fashionable drawing
rooms here in Washington. 1t is very simple,
yet very refined looking. Just as attractive
are the lovely old pinks and yellows on white,
and useful also, il wash silk and linen
fosses are used. Satin sheeting makes a very
handsome covering for pillows and many are
the ways in which it can be decorated. Plush
applied in flower forms, with the edges con-
cealed with gold thread and tendrils of gold
thread interlacing in all directions, gives beau
tiful effect. Another way of treating it ia to
broider the flowers in feather stitch with rope
silk and the tendrils in stem stitch, adding a
little gold thread If desired. newer fancy is
10 make use of the rings crocheted aroond
with silk. which can be bought now. These are
sewed to the foundation in irregular groupings
and the centers filled with lace stitches. This
b an easy method. and in two tones of brown
or terra Gotta the result is really pretty
The bolton sheeting squares, TO be found at
the shops with the patterns stamped and dyed,
were an epidemic in fancy work while ago.
These things, stamped by the score. are to be
avoided by one who cares for anything like
originality in her work.
A PRETTY CUSHION.
sofa cushion seen at an art exchange
which had this same material for foundation.
but with an entirely different and beautiful
effect The design was drawn BY the worker
herself from pattern originally stamped at a
shop, but she had rearranged il from a vine
into conventional square suitable for a cush-
Ion. This pattern she had colored with tapes
try dyes in delicate shades of terra Gotta pink.
experimenting with and combining several COL
ors to get the shade desired. The background
was first worked in honey comb stitch with
white rope silk, and then the pattern outlined
with four strands of gold thread As a finish
. four-inch band Of terra Gotta plush, put on
with gold thread COUGHING on the inner edge.
inclosed the embroidered center. The pillow
was lined with India silk Of the same pinkish
color. This is all in the power of any worker
of moderate skill to do. There are ALWAYS
beautiful cushions 10 be bought at art societies
broiderers- My aim, however, in these articles
Is to suggest to home workers articles that can
be accomplished by smaller outlay, except of
time and thought.
THE so-CALLED cRKTAN PATTERNS
are excellent to use for pillows These consist
of a conventional figure as a center. usually sue-
costing Q flower or group Of flowers. These
have rsdiating from them innumerabie tendrils
curling in every direction, but keeping within
the outlines OF a square or rectangie, which,
ever is to be the shape of the cushion. Here
and there leaves may be introduced. adding to
the effect Such q design may be used on
almost any material. 1t may be done in simple
outline or with the figures worked with a solid
edge and lace stitches put in here and there
The pattern may be left uncolored or it may be
tinted with tapestry dyes. The tendriis NAV
be stem stitch, with line of gold thread outside
and thus. with comparatively little work a
handsome pillow may be made. IL one will try
drawing such designs for herself success will
generally follow.
70 begin ID with the largest dover for the center:
from this make waving lines to each corner. sug-
gesting branches Leaves and tendrils. as well
as more flowers, can be added at will. with this
foundation to give symmetry. II one can draw
ct all quite an experiences may soon be ac-
CURED In making such designs, which can be
used for many things besides pillows. They
are suited to almost all fabrics. yelveteen.
linen or the cotton bolton sheeting are ali
equally good as q background for cretan pat
terms. The colored bolton sheetings are an ex-
cellent material for embroidery and do not soil
easily. Pillows worked entirely
IN GOLD THREAD
are effective and durable, as the Japanese gold
thread does not tarnish for a long time and
will stand much use and still look well. Since
the stores sell it at such low price it is also
among the inexpensive materials for embroid-
cry. The way TO use it is TO couch il down
with yellow sewing silk or q single thread of
6loselle. To couch two threads at once gives
. much more brilliant effect than to use one.
A scattered or powdered design is very pretty
IN gold thread For instance, a small circle OF
solid gold thread, with the outside row pro-
l0nged in a curve two OF three tendrils NAV
be chosen for the pattern. These circles can
be grouped or arranged in q more set pattern
end good effect obtained With little practice
almost any one can draw such q design for her
sell. On plush, velveteen or velour-an excel
lent fabric for art embroidery-a lead pencil
viii mako enough Of an Impression to guide
the worker