The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-08

marked reaction in favor of hand sew
ing, which is supplied by the better
class of furnishing stores to those who
prefer and are able to pay for it.
A Dry Closet.
The plan of every modern well-built
house includes a linen closet, Aghere
the piles of snowy bed and table linen
should be arranged in good order This
linen closet ought to be in a dry place,
and If hot air from whatever heating
/ apparatus used in the dwelling can be
conducted into it, so much the better.
There will then be no danger of damp
sheets" when a, bed is hurriedly made
for some unexpected guest.
! For table linen the material is usu-
ally either single or double damask-
though plain heavy linen, hemstitched
and embroidered, is sometimes chosen
for special occasions. At a dinner CIV
en- in Boston to a bride, linen table
cloth was embroidered with the inter
laced initials of each pair Of guests,
thus marking the seats of the COM
pany and serving as a memento of the
occasion.
A New Finish.
Six damask table cloths, with nap
kinS TO match, are a sufficient supply
for ordinary use, as a set of napkins
I
the family is small. If these are pur-
chased ready hemmed,'' at least let
the nicer ones be hemmed by hand.
Instead of hemming in the old fash
Toned way, use the newer style, whose
appearance well repays the additional
trouble. For this, turn down the ma
terial quarter of an inch and then
turn it back on the stuff, making the
two edges meet. Basic carefully to-
gether then, holding the single side of
the cloth toward you, sew the edges
over and over" as the children say,
and when finished take out the bast-
ings. turn the hem thus made upward
in the same direction as it was folded.
and it viii lie perfectly fiat when
ironed. wear well, and have the proper
up-to-date effect.
ImprOmptu Tray Cloths.
Tray cloths and carvers' cloths not
only look well on the table, but are a
genuine saving in the wear and tear
Of frequent washings, as they catch
many a splash of gravy or drop of
coffee which otherwise would soil the
fair linen tablecloth. For hey-days and
holidays these may be embroidered or
ornamented with draWn-work as elab-
crate as the owner desires; but for
daily use in plain households, the
damask ones are sufficiently nice and
can be purchased at the shops. An.
economical housekeeper who had some
fine damask tablecloths that were be-
ginning to wear out, converted them
into tray-cIoths by cutting out the best
parts, hemming them, and finishing
them with torchon lace.
Ecru Tinted Linen.
Another suggestion in the line OF
economy, born of experience, is that.
in purchasing table linen, the un-
bleached viii prove much more .dura-
bic, as the chemicals used to whiten
the damask injure it in some degree
The faint yellow tint of the flax is not
Objectionable, and very few visits to
the laundry will bleach it snowy-white
Buffet cloths, which are included in
the list Of table linen, are usually
made of plain linen, hemstitched and
decorated with any kind of embroidery
that will stand washing
A pretty idea for room where the
colors will harmonic is to have the
buffet cloth, table center, tray cloth
and carvers' cloth all of pale pink, blue
or ecru linen, embroidered with white.
Laundering and Marking.
Another point to be remembered con-
corning table cloths is the ironing. The
ordinary laundress is apt to make a
cross fold, which mars the smoothness
Of the linen. Direct her to fold the
cloth lengthwise, and then fold once
more only, also lengthWise.
The marking of the line is usually
done with indelible ink or embroidery,
the old-fashioned .cross-stitch' is OBJ
solete. The former is sometimes exe-
cuted by experts in old English let
ters or quite elaborate designs, but the
general woman must be content with
the name in simple script. If time and
skill permit. it is worth while to mark
handsome cloths and napkins with en-
broidered initials or monogram. A
simple style, which looks well for
palmer articles and can be quickly
accomplished, is to utline pretty let
ters in what is known as stem
stitch
Original NeedIeworIS.
The mention of this stitch recalls to
mind a very pretty table cloth, or
rather table cover, designed by lady
who wanted something which would
be inexpensive. durable and attractive