The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22

napkins and teacloths are absent there IS
shoddy appearance which cannot be compen-
stated for by any amount Of costly table ser
vice A good stock Of fine embroidered table
linen can be laid in by the young engaged
girl. and if she is at all handy with the needie
her time may be improved during Lent IN en-
bordering the napkins and cloths after the
latest patterns Ihis.may be work OF love
and the linen will be priced all the
more highly because IL is the handlwork
Of the Young woman. The simplest and most
effective way Of marking the tableclOths - TO
embrOider the initials or mon0gralns IN "hi'e
real Scotch linen thread. This monogram
should be worked in the corner Of each nap
kin or the tableclOth in large script letters
The letters are first marked out with pencil
aud then raised roughly with thread worked
lengthwlse This will raise the letters stiih-
GENTLY 50 that the PLAIN embroidery stitch,
known as "Oyer and over" can finish OH the
work nicely. They should be ironed on the
wrong side and the letter Will then wash with
out fraying out All fancy table linen should
be marked i'll this way, and especial pans
should be taken 10 make the lettering on tue
napkins fine and attractive This part OF the
napkin will be noticed by guests more than
almost any other part Of the table linen. III
is always near their hands, where they have a
good chance TO examine. criticise or admire.
Fine damask napkins never exhibit eXiTava-
Cauce for one can easily turn them into some
other useful articles when they become worn.
Those of good quality last for years. ana then
if the edges become frayed they can very
easily be converted into tea AMI frult. dollles.
the hens can be removed and the napkins
fringed on either side 10 the depth OF an men
or two. Fine dOiies with very rich patterns
on the softest French and Irish double dam
ask. are being imported and used IN luncheon
sets. The patterns are IN pale plnks. blues
and old gold on white ground ne designs
range from the very simple ones mp 10 eN-
tremely elaborate ones, reaching the TWO cN-
tremes in many cases. The napkins match
the table-cloths. and are heavily 1rlneed. FOR
large dining-rOOm tables the pattern III figured
damask cloth is sometimes outlined IN red,
pink or gold real Scotch linen floss.
At the o'clock teas N England the tea
cloths became popular and they are now used
extensively in America The dainty and often
very expensive tea services are now no more
ornamental 10 the tables at these teas than
the beautiful tablcclOth, decorated either
with drawn work or embroidery. 10 make
these teacloths one should know the few first
principles IN embroidery and then during the
long Lcnten hours systematic work should be
performed Select the material from the best
linens which are made for embroidery work.
or if cheaper material Is desired take butcher 8
linen of fine quality or fine linen Sin etlng.
In taking these cheaper kinds great care
should be shown in selecting only that which
is woven evenly and with all the threads
of the same thickness. The heavier linens,
however. give a better chance for doing bet
ter decoration work. The style Of decoration
will depend upon the linen, but the heavier
il is the more lasting and effective viii It ne
A good size for teacloths is thirty-siX to
forty inches square, including hem or fringe.
Although some prefer the Old-iashoned knot
ted fringe, the prevailing finish for the edge IS
a hcmstitched hem about an inch or more
wide An odd and pretty way of finishing IS
10 make a hem two inches wide. with white
linen tassels knotted into its edge, either all
the way around or set quite close together for
four or five inches on each side of the corners
and the space between left without tassels. 4
pretty stvle for decoration j. geOmcirlcal
border. comp, ssd Of circles and conventional
flowers, but this may ali be LETT To- the pur-
chaser and designer Almost any conventional
border decoration is pretty when worked on
all-wLite teaclOths The prevailing style seems
10 be 10 have all-whitc teacloths. napkins,
sideboard covers washstand covers and other
useful linen articles Embroidery decoration
probably shows of with the greatest effect on
mira white