Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-01-04
LADIES' COLUMN.
4 HANDY NEEDLE CUSHION.

When in haste to do little mend
ing or otherr sewing, did you ever
look in vain for a needle in the cush
ion which you supposed contained a
full supply? Closer examination re-
veals the fact that the interior of the
cushion is full of them, but you do
not care at such time to press them
up into sight, and you feel like saying,
as | have done many times, why do
people make such thick cushions?
Whether the needles are run in hori
zontially just through the surface, or
stuck in upright, they soon disappear,
and woe to the fingers that give the
cushion too quick pressure. A cush
ion especially for needles is one Of
the conveniences of we'll equipped
sewing table, and greatly to be pre-
ferred to a needle book for use when
one is sewing. If the needles are al
instead of running them into the
edge of the table cloth or the front of
your waist, or leaving them wher-
ever it is handiest to drop them,
many less needles would disappear
only to be found in someone's foot,
and many finger pricks would be pre-
vented. I recall two people who if
they were to spend morning at my
sewing table unknown to me, would
surely betray the fact Of their pres
f1,oi, ~ bo,c
they would scatter about the floor. 1t
is not SO much the value of the
needle, although this is almost equal
to its weight in gold if it be the only
one of it's kind, as is often the case in
some scantily furnished work baskets
which have seen. But needle lost
is like an unseen foe-you never
know when it may appear, and it
should always be diligently sought as
soon as it disappears.
After the annoyance of using all
sorts of "charity fair'' cushions and
gifts which kind meaning friends
thought would suit me, determined
to-. try what my own fingers could
fashion. Although it was nearly bed
time and the mending basket was not
yet emptied, knew the value of the
inspiration of that moment. quick
ly found thin pasteboard box, about
three inches long, two inches wide
and a little less than an inch high, one
of the kind in which the box slips in
to the cover from the ends. cut the
top out of the cover and put it on the
bottom, then set the box into this,
thus having three thicknesses of card
board at the bottom and two at the
sides. Pieces of an old merino stock
ing were cut the exact size of the box
and laid into the inside until well
stuffed. From piece of silk plush
large enough to cover the box and
sides, squares were cut out from the
corners, the plush was then fitted on
with few over and over stitches at
the corners, and another piece was
fitted to the bottom of the box and
caught along the sides. A ribbon of
the same shade and just the right
width, happened TO be in my mending
basket; this was drawn round the
edge and finished at one end with a
bow. In less than half an hour my
thought was complete and rny ideal
needle cushion was ready for use.
The smallest needle will not sink
more than two thirds of it's depth, as
the cardboard is an effectual barrier,
yet it is not hard enough to dull the
points The WOODEN stuffing pre-
vents the needles from rusting and
can never become rancid like meal.
The cushion is light yet solid enough
to keep on it's base, is of uniform
thickness, and has been in every way
satisfactory.
Keep in mind these two points;
Have the foundation firm, so the
needles will not prick through it, and
the cushion not quite one inch in
thickness. The size in other respects
may suit your fancy.