Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-01-07

NICE TO KNOW.
Il IL "nics" to know how 10 mend
daintily, rs the best gown Is as liable TO
get three-cornered tear ~ the oldest
one; In fact, 40 peiverse are inanimate
things that the best seems most likely TO
be injured.
silk goods are best mended with their
own ravelings; first, there Is then no
doubtful shade, as Is apt to be with the
most closely matched sewing silk.
Then, too, the twist Is the same, and the
stitches do not show as they will II the
stitches are taken with thread either
more loosely or more tightly twisted
than the woven fiber. Press afterwsrd,
on the wrong side, with heavy iron,
but only warmed, AS . hot one would
leave an imprint Of its shape.
In darning woods never use a silk
thread. Few would err using cotton
one. but many woman. who ought 10
know better, will visit dozen stores to
match her wool with silk for dsruing.
Silken threads CLEAN on wool, and per-
feet matches cannot be obtained. IL one
puts wool and silk into the same dye-pot
they cannot get the same color. Hence.
In trying to trim wool gown with silk
en- collar and revers, one hears the clerk
reiterating to the customer, THAT Is as
near as you can match wooden In silk"
And yet that does NOT, as it ought TO
do, give some women the key to proper
mending.
Rawlings Of the wooden garment are
the only threads that will make darn
that can be concealed. From the roll Of
pieces take one that will give Rawlings
eight or ten inches long, not longer, as
they will "wesr up" drawing back aud
forth. II the hole Il very irregular or
large. haste IL into as good shape as
withdrawn after the work Is completed
more easily than coarse one could be.
A book-cover or piece Of pasteboard laid
under the hole will enable one to bring
the goods together smoothly and fatty.
A small piece Of pasteboard held under
the rent while darning Is as great help
"a darning-ball Is 10 the heel Of q
stocking. IL requires patience, but the
result is well worth the extra care.
II two or more colors, as In mixed
goods, choose the predominsting tint !;
colors, and use first thread Of one,
then Of another. The most troublesome
part Is threading needle with wool !;
but fortunately needie-holes do not show
In woolens as In silks, so one may use a
very large-eyed needle. Weave In and
out, taking In" as deeply into the sound
edges as Is needed To make IL firm; then
weave across the other way IL IL does
not seem strong. The ragged edges OF u
hole should not be trimmed for darn,
but weave the stitches over aud under,
so as TO bold down each torn thread.
Always darn with the right side OF the
work upward, so rs 10 see that the
threads are held down. Take short
stitches, especially on the right side.
After the rent Is made firm, dsmpen
well. smoothing with fingers on right
side. turn that side down, lay cloth
over IL, aud put a heavy warmed iron on
aud leave until dried. In many cases
the darn can scarcely be found after
ward. Wool may be made shiny and
printed" with hot nat-iron as we'll as
silks, therefore warm one Is recon-
mended.
After pressing, the wool stitches,
being Of the same texture, have mixed
ia" with warp and filling.
And what are they:' asks one.
Warp Is the thread that runs length
wise OF all cloth, and runs from beam.
The filling, or wool, Is the looser twist
ed thread that is carried widthwise Of
the goods, and woven or dsrned 10 by u
shuttle, that acts like needle, ''over
and under" the WARD, and fills" it.