The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-05
ideas for IMomem.


If you enjoy the good fortune of having
your beds furnished with the latest ny
gienic mattress wire support, or the
newest invention in that line, don de-
spise the old-time feather bed of your
mothers time. If YOU are presented with
one of real live geese feathers don't re-
gard the gift slightingly, for If you do
not care to repose in it's downy depths,
using 1t as a mattress. YOU can turn 1t
into other articles of luxurious use.
Cushions OF course, for the floor or
made from geese feathers, for a good
sized bed can be turned into many pill
lows and cushions.
II you have long sighed for a down
comfortable and have found your purse
too shallow to admit of one, then If you
rave a very old feather bed you can
easily make a fine cover at very little ex-
pense.
Ii you cannot afford drapery silk of a
light variety, buy fine French Saline, ten
yards; five of one dainty, solid color and
five of a bright, figured or lowered sort.
Cut the goods into lengths two and
one-haif yards long and sew them to-
gether on the selvedge, giving a square
two and one-half yards long and two and
| ~one-quarter wide.
Press out the seam and sew the two
squares together on three sides with the
right side together, turn right side out
| and you have the outside of the quilt.
Next empty your feathers on the floor
| of a vacant room if you have it, and
| proceed to fill the comfort. If o have
time and patience to pick h larger
| feathers from those you intend using, the
quilt will be lighter.
When you nave filed the guilt to you
| satisfaction turn in the edges of the
open side and haste closely. Spread the
comfort on the table or bed and beat the
| Gathers out to a uniform thickness,
then with a coarse needle haste four
rows down the length and four rows
across the width of the comfort.
Put upon the machine coarse silk of
some color matching the colors in the
Saline and proceed to stitch the COM
fort after the manner of those shown in
stores.
Lengthen the stitch considerably and
sew a circle directly around the centre,
about the size of a dinner plate, and an
other about eight inches from that.
Twelve inches from the second put in a
third, and about the same distance sew
another, with still another a little closer
Basic one-eighth from the outer edge
and sew, forming a welt for a finish.
If you are not expert enough to sew
without a guide mark the desired pattern
with tailor's chalk, using a tapeline for
measuring distances.
When finished put the comfort in the
sun for a few hours and beat briskly
with the hands to liven up. and a very
luxurious looking, light and warm coy
ering is the result.
A down comfortable is specially rec
commended for growing children, as it is
warm but light, and as children grow
most when asleep the bed covering should
have these two qualities. You may utilize
old silk, that will accumulate in every
household where there are women, to
turn it into these "comfortables."
Rip all the old garments apart, sleeves
and all; cut away the worn part and if
soiled wash in slightly warm water with
a little soap. Sew together until the de-
sired size is reached and then proceed as
directed to fill and sew. If the silk is
much worn a cheese cloth lining will
strengthen it and better hold the feathers
in place.
A very dainty comfort of this kind was
made from the cast-off garments of the
woman who owns it. The silk was ripped
washed and died, half a delicate baby
blue, half a dainty pink. Thu quilt was
stitched very apart and finished about
the edge with a little gimp, from which
blue and pink chenille balls dangled.
1t was an exceedingly dainty and COM
Portable article, all the more satisfactory
as it was the outcome Of her own in
genuity and. industry.
1t does not matter If the silks are of
different qualities and patterns. for when
once combined and made into the quilt
all will nave the same appearance and
all look equally well.Y
It seems strange that SO important a
thing as a coffee pot is one which usually
is neglected. The most carefully house
keeper is often negligent as to it's clean
liness. This is not because Of careless
| ness, DdIE BECAUSE Sut utGS NOT u1QSI-
stand the proper method of cleaning, and
its Importance. The pot was be carefully
rinsed after each cleaning and yet be
far from clean. There is an oily prop
erty about coffee which adheres in spite
of rinsing it.
You can see this for yourself by taking
almost any coffee pot that has been
some time in use (unless it has been
carefully kept and you viii find clingine
to it a sort Of black grease (not brown,
which will come off il a cloth is ubbed
round the inside.
Now, this deposit destroys the flavor,
fragrance and color of coffee. If tho
coffee pot is used each piece should bs
brown it will be favorless, however
strong.
TO keep this black oil from the pot II
must be daily washed (not simply
rinsed), scalded and dried. If the French
coffe pot is used each piece should Be
carefully dried before it Is put away. ii
packed together wet the strainers vii
in time give a metallic taste. If it ii
found that the coffee pot has been neg.
Iected put a piece Of washing soda al
large as q hickory nut into hot water
set the s~tratners III IT and let them stand
on the stove for q few hours: put ths
ean7aa IN fhe co1fee p0f. Then ra1, anf