The morning times., 1895-12-22
ness, and all over 1T rose waves and
bllows of down and feathers.
PAST GRAND MISTRESS

ness, and all over 1t rose waves and
bllows of down and feathers.
PAST GRAND MISTRESS.
''X. tells me you are 10 interview me-"
she said, smiling, upon the subject of
sofa cushions. Yes. Y is right. / have
been making the sofa cushion industry the
work of my life for the past two years, and
think l know considerable about 1t that
other women do not know.
II viii say a the beginning that the sofa
cushion business is not one that can be
learned IN a month or even in a year
studied the making of cushions several
seasons before 1 began upon them for my
self.
NOW am beginning to mystify you, be-
cause you think that any square bag of
bright stuff filled with feathers is a sofa
cushion, and that all women know how To
make them. That is true, but when you get
beyond the square bag and get into the sofa
pillows such as are demanded by the East
cru diyaDs and the luxurious Cozy corners
then you find yourself at once surrounded
by difficulties.
Il began by getting up the square things
for myself. / did them so well that made
them for my friends. Afterward bra nched
out into finer ones. aud now / do not make
them, only invent. The sofa cushion in
dustry isn't one of needle and thread: il is
an art, an accomplishment, trade, call
lt what you Will, SO long $ you make il
high enough.
Il began by making discovery with the
square cushion. 1 found that cushionmakers
who know their business do not leave
empty ends to be pinched out every few
days and stuffed with feather points. They
make the tips very square and fill them
with down pads tackled in place. That is
why their corners always look so plump.
The pads are SO full that no corner has
ever been known to sag when it has
pad in 1t. When made very nice ones |
did the same with the edges, running a
long PAD all the way around the cushion
where the sides were sewed together. OF
course never doubled the goods at the
Dack / cut out two square pieces for the
two sides, and when sewed all looked
alike.
SOMETHING NEW.
You want to know what I did next?
Well, / made round pillows. These are
needed In every well-planned divan. Every
woman essays to make them, but the
trouble with round cushion is that the
covering must be sewed on as upon a chair
You must make your round cushion, cover
IL and stitch on the outside after it is all
done, using long hidden stitch. The
proper round cushion is like pancake
It Is about a foot and six inches thick
Inc thickness Is secured, not with feathers, |
put with cotton batting cut out as with a |
cookie cutter. I had a round board made |
and ran around 1t with q knife to cut the
cotton. When I wanted a bigger piece, I |
used round bread board, such as we have
upon our table ut luncheon.
The strip around the outside edge of |
the round pillow is the most important |
1t should be cloth Of gold, or brocade, or |
some sort OF very elegant material. 1t |
is put on like piece Of braid, you holding
1t fast and stitching each edge with gold
thread. Always let your stitches show
IN every cushion, but use metal thread.
IL Is showfer, having a shine that to
many looks like precious stones.
"hen 1 began to invent cushions ]
1oAfd was In demand. Every big shop
w led new patterns. "See," opening a
lett,r that lay upon the table. there is
manufacturer Of silks who wants ten new
designs for sofa cushions right away.
Crsl- ions, you know, are not only holiday
trade, but every day trade. They have a
constant sale. I stopped sewing the cush-
lobs then and merely invented them.
Here is my latest. 1t is a starfish. Lay
your head upon 1T and see how comfortably
u fits under your ear. I predict great
sales for this cushion. And does it not
ook Ike starfish with Its ragged upper
'Ide?
To make this cut out n star with blunt
'oints. II is two feet across. i cut it out
u canvas The under side is a similar |
'iece of canvas. The middle, you see, is
me indispensable cotton ba tting with
lalf a dozen thicknesses at the ends, and
uly dozen in the middle. l have fas-
encd them together so stoutly that you
-srSi really use the batting cushion without {
overing- That is the way TO do. Have