Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-28
SOME NEEDLEWORk NOVELTIES.
Fancy Work with which Women
VIII Amusc Themselves.
written for the Dispatch)

The one great feature OF all needle
work designs for the season is gold. 1t
may be applied in the form Of spangles.
IL may be bullion-couched on. or used
I'm fine thread. but whatever the form.
the fact remains that some gOid there
must be. SO much | learned and learned
positively. from the Society OF Decorative
Art. than which we have no higher gu,
thority or more fully 10 be depended
Absolutely new things are so few as
20 almost cease TO exist. The best that
the embroiderer can hope for Is iItsh
design or new application or iamilllr
idea This season gold IS predominant
and. as a result. much brilliant Work
will be seen. The fdvorite designs are
all either empire or rocco. These Two
seem TO divide the hOnois, and to have
no place for any thirI. In everything
their influence Is apparent FROM the
simplest linen dollie 10. the most costly
satin pillow every object SHOWS tne
effect Of one OF OF the other. 30 that
while Il is true that other designs exist,
these two have the honor 10 rank hfst.
one Of the handsomcst pieces mat
saw is a cushion OF heavy cream-Whlte
satin. On il IS rich design In rocco
large-carried ont in gold thread ana
with bits OF the heavier bullion. 1t is
really gorgeous No written word fully
describes the effect. and II can be taken
as q fair example Of what fine work aims
TO be.
BY its side was simple linen tray
cloth on il is the empire wreath,
worked in varying shades OF olive-green
silks II IS finished with an inch-and-a-
half fringe OF the linen. ana the edge IS
couched with white cord. Nothing simpler
could be devised; yet, in spite OF us
close proximity To splendor, II held Us
own place and seemed beautiful in It's
DESIGN FRESH.
,ri,o u.,eatb IL rho essential characterize
tic which makes IL and others similar 10
IL new. The linen and the embroidery
are Old friends. but this empire deslgh
is fresh | am told Il Is a great favoritH,
and viii surely last the season through:
Certainly. 1t is in keeping with much OF
the furnishing Of the day. at the same
time that It is charming In Itself.
The rocco patterns lend themselves pc
culiarly to the mania for gold. ana many
OF them are truly superb. These show
flowers worked I'm the natural cOlors, ana
the brilliant spansles set IN 10 make
superb effect. Large pieces or thls W9fK
are most eXacting and not OFTEN uhIrI
taken so that one sees hosts OF lovely
little things rather than any one or TWO
big pieces. Among these some charming
card-cases and cases tor SCISSORS anu
needles stand out cOnspicuously, ana SuS-
rest all sorts Of possibilities Tor little
inexpensive gifts to friends 10 travel
They are In book form. about as big
az n generous case Of leather, anu Sh4"
signs in the inside. with trimming OF
crearn-whlte MORE. The card-cascs have
pockets within the covers. but the needle
works show an assortment OF needles In
small pockets on one cover and band
somely-carved small scissors attached TO
the other. Both are wonderfully ~
tractive and so truly elegant they al
once suggest themselves "a appropriate
gifts TO he offered at the shrine OF some
dainty woman friend.
\ REAL NOVELTY.
one real novelty which. after all, is
variation Of the rocco idea. Is form
of applied work. and consists OF flowers
cut from heavy brocade. and arranged
gold are seen. and altogether, the effect
is immense. Seen IN its completed state.
IL looks most difficult. but. after all, any
woman who Is neat and def, ana VINO
has correct eye Tor color. can 90 IL WIN
success. At least, II Is worth tr1al,
for II makes n superb cushion or SCARF.
and has the real merit OF being the very
latest net"
bined 10 make a fascinating whole.
small stand-coVer that ] was shown
bore the mark of some fabulous price, but
while the materials are all expensive, IL
might be done with comparatively little
cost. The foundation is silk. in this in
stance deep. rich red. over 1t Is pain
gold net. and upon the net again Is
applied ecru silk-lace, the pattern or
WHICH Is VulIlll'u VIII EoiI 7bdl4-sA'os htN
finish round the edge Is gold lace. Alto
gether. the cover H. splendid. and II the
gold Is all Of the Oriental sort il VIII
not tarnish under any ordinary usage.
Scrim H. having a revival. The perfectly
plain sort is being made into charming
scarfs and bureau-covers. ItOusekccpers
who value wearing quality VIII undoubt-
eddy be glad OF this fact; but. as the
new scrm must show It's bit OF gold, care
must be taken or the cover VIII lose It's
reputation for wear. \ finished model
shown me is deliberately worked with
conventional border of white silk. Here
and there solid squares OF gold are in
troduced. and the brilliant thread adds
its richness TO all the design. The finish
IS linen-lacl, deliberately spangled, and
the whole effect is far more brilliant
than one would suppose scrim could be
made TO be. Judging from the care eNer-
cised in other things, 1t is safe 10 assert
that all this gold is Of the best sort,
and that IL can SO be cleaned without
harm. Real Turkish gold. it is claimed,
will stand laundering. and the fine, i'm
ported dolies go 10 prove the fact. But
il is extremely difficult 10 obtain. and un-
less n can be verified beyond a doubt, ii
is wiser 10 pay the price for cleaning
than TO risk spelling a handsome piece
of work. CLARE BUNCE.