Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-07
IeFT-OvERS.

| Every woman VINO knlts or crOcuets
In worsteds has a quantity Of ''odds aud
Neutrality-suspicious. almost every
thing she has made. They are OF differ
ent kinds of wools-single zephyrs OF
multiplied brands, Saxony yarns OF
every grade, ETC., ETC., and these, more
over, are as varied In color rs was
.'Joseph's coat" In the old patriarchal
days.
What to do with them IL question
often asked, and as often negatively
answered. hut one woman has solved
the mystery, and has for result one OF
the prettiest afghans this season has
produced.
The work Is easily accomplished by
one person, or Il may be the combined
effort of an entire family, bringing Into
requisition the stifiened fingers OF the
aged grandparents, as well as the wee
fingers Of the little ones In knlcker-
bockers and plnafores. Indeed, while
In the Adirondacks last August, a lady
gave, at her "day camp" what she
termed q "knottlng parity" and to this
both sexes were Invited and formed q
Jolly company. A generous handful OF
tangled yarn was given to each indivld-
ual, and prize offered for the one who
first knotted his or her various pieces
together. 1t made great deal Of sport;
and when each ones ball was complete
| (for there was "booby" as well as u
flrst prize ofiered), this lady's afghan
Was well started. Try such a party
some winter evening, with few picked
friends, and test II all do not enjoy II.
Games should be added, closing with the
Virginia reel or lancers. Simple re-
freshmen Il all that would be necessary.
Uniqueness and jollity would do the
rest.
The pieces of worsted should be broken
into lengths from half a yard to yard
long. lie complementary colors to-
gether. The weaver's knot is the best
one to use, Ms II will not unfasten. Roll
the worsted thus knotted into balls, after
the old-fashiOned rag-carpet style, and
crochet the same into any pretty snowy
stitch YOU NAV know. The shell stitch
Is ALWAYS satisfactory. Make strip the
desired length for an afghan, and about
seven inches In width. Unto this crochet
a strip Of black worsted about One-half
the width of the colored, using the same
stitch. These stripes are subject to
change In width, according to the taste
of the worker. When the desired size II
complete, finish by border all around,
or q border on the sides only, fringing
each end.
There IL neither wrong nor right
to this afghan, some people claiming the
smooth surface as the wrong, and others
the right. The reason for this II that
the ends Of the worsted should extend
beyond the knot to the length OF half an
inch. II thus gives soft shaggy effect.
and the coloring looks richer ascording-
Left-overs Of embroidery silk may be
utilized In the making Of plllow-shams
or bed-spreads.
Buy Swiss muslin, dotted about the
sire Of daisy centres, and embroider a
daisy bed-covering. Shades Of yellow
will made the ox-eyed daisies with the
dark brown centres-"black-eyed Su-
sans" some people call them. Shades
Of blue will make the pretty Michalmas
daisies, and the white silk with green
and gold will form the ordinary field
favorite.
Cut the Swiss as long as the bed would
need. Three breadths would probably
be required. Do not sew together until
nearly finished, as II IL easier to handle.
When the breadths are united, work q
few daises over the seams.
To form the daisies commence ut one
Of the polka dots, and bring the needle
hack on the outside Of tho Swiss the
length Of daisy petal, and again take
the needle to the polka dot, and ~ close
as possible to the starting point. Thus
each petal Il formed by one big loop,
" hlch must be tackled In the centre Of
the outer edge. sixteen loops will ordi.
nsrlly form daisy. The stitches should
be close In the centre, but diyerging out
wsrdly. The centres which are polka
dots, may be covered with Solomon's
knots, or the dot may be darned over.
Any one accustomed to embroldering
could thus easily copy daisy. Follow
nature In outline, also ~ to size, remem.
beriug all daisies are not equally large
nor perfect.
Do not use every polka dot, nor try
and put the flowers In even lines or
spaces, but sprinkle them here and there
a II they had carelessly fallen. When
the embroidery IL complete, edge the
shams aud bedspread with lace, allow
iug little fitness for the sewing on
and for the corners. This doue, press
everything with o moderately hot Iron.
The result will be very effective, a.
well ~ very inexpensive, and will add =
wealth Of beauty to the blue, yellow, or
white room now 90 fashionable, or Il
iii .~.I~ !. s~~~~k~ hl~ r~ift