The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-02-21
HOMEMADE RUGS.
Why They Are to BSo Preferred to Cheap
limitations Of Eastern Work.

HOMEMADE RUGS.
why They Are to 80 Preferred to Cheap
limitations Of Eastern Work.
Mats are such necessary articles Of
household furnishings. and, withal, SO
comfortable and useful, that it is not
20 be thought strange that they grow
IN popular favor each year. Few
homes, nowadays, lack these con-
veniences, for no matter how richly
furnished, otherwise, n house may be,
The absence OF rugs dctracts much from
tts comfort, in looks. at least. There
are few things will give house such
home-like appearance as number OF
rugs scattered about the floor. For
those who can afford it, the deft hands
If the Orient furnish models OF luxur-
lance, but the majority of people are
content with imitation OF the Eastern
work, and the most OF them very poor
limitations at that, and many OF the
homemade rugs are much to be pre-
ferred to them. These can be made
IS artistic or plain as any one desires,
from the pretty tufted rug for.parlor or
sitting-room, to the common braided
Or knit mat for the kitchen.
A pretty rug for the parlor or sit
ting-room Is made as follows: Take a
piece OF burlap canvas or coffee sack
ing the size required, and have stamped
Upon it a pretty pattern. After
matching your yarn according to col
ors in the pattern. take lead pencil
or round stick about the thickness Of a
pencil, and with a darning needle draw
the yarn through the canvas. going
over the pencil or stick each time,
and, as the pencil fills, move it along,
and proceed as before, until the whole
surface of the canvas is filled. A very
little thought can arrange rug OF
this kind as handsome affair, or, II a
commoner one is desired, it may bemade
by using the ravelings from old stock
ings and working without pattern,
hit or miss.
/ Another pretty rug is made by taking
piece of burlap canvas and bastine
over it q piece Of coarse net canvas
such as is used for slippers. Take some
pretty tidy or table-spread pattern,
and enlarging as you 60. work through
the canvas in cross stitch, using colors
to match, or that will harmonize with
the carpet on the room for which Il
is intended. When the pattern is done
fill in the groundwork. then remove
the net canvas thread by thread
Finish the ends with heavy fringe
the color OF the groundwork. This
mat can be worked on the burlap with
out the net canvas, but it will not b.
as soft and fluffy. and have as pretty ;
raised look. nor will it be as easy t
work, for the broad meshes OF the ne
are easily followed without any strain
ing of the eyes. Pieces OF Brussels o
, tapestry used for rugs are much pret
| tier for the addition Of heavy firing
!, the shade Of the prevailing color i
. the carpet tied in each end.
A pretty rug for a chamber Or sit
! ting room is made by taking brigh
shade of yarn, and knitting stri
about five inches wide. Then dampe
J and press. With sharp shears cut
] through the center lengthwise, the
j rayel the cut side of each strip I
. within half an inch of the other side
= Have piece Of coffee sacking rs larg
! as you wish your mat. and around thi.
) beginning at the outside edge, sew tn
1 knit strip with the fringe side on tn
. outside. Knit and fill the whole SUI
face Of the mat in this way, alway
sewing each row of fringe near enoug
to the previous row to conceal tn
n plain edge of the former. Always Sc
Q around the mat, and work toward tn
center. This makes a soft. pretty I'll.
4 and is very durable.
3 Although rags are so very common
+ nevertheless. some very pretty ma
. can be made of them. Here is on,
!, Cut the rags same as for braided ma
and sew together. Take. II CONVEX
i lent, two pretty contrasting colors ar
q cast on to a coarse wooden needl
7 thirty-five stitches, which is lara
= !; enough for a medium-sized mat. Kn
= first across, then knit five, turn ar
) go back. Knit ten, turn and go bacl
/ and SO continue increasing five eac
time and return until all have bee
: knit, then return. Tie on the oths
= = color. knit five. turn, and go back, ar
SO continue same as previous 70,
This mat is knit in gorges and shape
like a parasol. Knit until when la
y. on the floor it will lie flat, then join t
gcther
\ In the center will be small cirul,
y hole, which fill in this way. Cast I
: !. the same needle three stitches. and i
! crease one stitch each row until the
n are eight stitches on the needle. tn,
q decrease one stitch each row until on
y three remain, which bind off. Inse
q this piece in the space in the cente
Id This makes unique mat and will Ia
for years.
A crocheted rag mat is made
making chain loa.s enough for o
10 side OF square mat, then turn n
h missing the first stitch work to end
chain in double crochet; turn a
= work the same as previous row, a
y = so continue until only one stitch is
r. the needle, which bind off. Ma
I'd four Of these triangular pieces a
40 join in square.
y y The rag mats arc nice and comic
~ able for a kitchen, and though ma
do not like them, claiming they ret;
the smell Of cooking, yet, when
comes to bare floor or oil-cloth vers
aa mats, place us on the side of m,
I. every time.-Boston Budget.
rs.
&C. The Horses Muddy Feet.