The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-16
ideas for dWo1nen

IA
Matelasse ~honeyconnb darning. This
work is applicable to a variety of use
ful and decorative purposes. 1t is cas-
sily and quickly executed, and the effect
when finished is excellent. The ounda
ton upon which it is worked is a cotton
fabric made in white or buff, and can
be had in narrow and wide widths.
When worked in the best tapestry crew.
eli wool it has the great advantage OF
being easily washed. 1t is best to have
the design drawn. as transferring the
pattern is seldom satisfactory upon the
rough surface. A set of c~hairbacks,
cushions and bedspreads have been
worked with great effect. TIL only
stitches required are simple hem-stitch,
which must be used in outlining the dee
sign, and a darning stitch carried under
the upper threads of the material fills
in the pattern. In commencing the work 1t
is best to dc all the darning of each leaf
and petal before working the outline in
stem-stitch, which completes the flower
or leaf. The right side of the material
upon which to work is somewhat III
huckaback toweling, II the manner
of working is by running the wool under
each thread. The darning is only done
on the surface, not through the foun-
dation; Will the outlying stem-stitcn
is always taken through the material.
The best needles for this work are the
ordinary wool needles with blunt point.
The flowers should be worked in their
natural colors-three or four shades are
required for flowers and for leaves; in the
=. L. - ~na rlAt rnI10vv
and lilac, and the leaves are too bright
a shade. When the work is finished a
good wide trimming of Torehon lace
makes it complete, whether for chair
and sofa backs or table covers, etc.
So.
A beautiful bedspread has been made
in this work by having a large square OF
the Matelasse traced and worked in one
Of the bold designs; this square should
be bordered with an insertion of coarse
Torchon lace. -Four strips must then be
worked as a border in the same design.
and are Joined with beveled edges at the
corners and then finished with Torchop
lace. This plan is advisable in making
a large bedspread, as the size of the
work as a whole would be somewhat
uawieIdly and awkward. but for a small
bed it could be worked in one piece.
FI~orentine darning work is somewhat
similar, though worked on very different
materials, and in Did italian palaces
much of this work of great antiquity has
been found. This was worked upon a
coarse, soft, hand made white linen.
This work is more expensive than the
one previously described, as, If not
worked on fine Hnen. the only other
material suitable for the foundation is
satin.
Roman satin may be used, and the
work must be carried out in floselle.
The design must be conventional and
should be clearly traced before begin
ming the work. The whole background
is closely darned, but the stitches should
be irregular in size, and carefully kept
on even lines. The design having been
traced on the material, all the darned
background must be filed in with flo
selle, and, when this is finished, the out
line of the pattern is to be worked in
thick outline stitch, using the same quail
ity of floselle, only q shade lighter thai
that of the groundwork.
The Norwegian work, which has but
lately been introduced, will be most
popular, as it has the advantage of
being simple and yet effective. The cam
vas on which it is done may be pro-
cured in a variety of ~colors. dark and
hght, the materials for its execu-
tion are either Norwegian cotton or
wool.
To me the interesting thing, however,
was not the pieee-I am not a judge of
ballets@but the ballet world, as it were,
seen on the other side. I confess that the
profession of ballet dancing has always
held an irresistible interest for me. I
have always felt an ardent longing to
make the acquaintance of q premiere
d~anseuse; to ask her about her life; to
find out whether she danced because she
had a vocation for it, as other people
write or paint or play because they cannot
help it; whether she loved it; whether she
took herself seriously, as other artists
take themselves; what her life was like
when she was at home; and If the tips of
her toes looked like other peoples when
bare, says a writer In tsHarper's Bazaar"
This innocent curiosity I have now been
able to satisfy. 1 have also, learned that
b~alIet-dancers, when nthey rehearse. wear
q nondescript costume that is most anus
ing, consisting of white trousers gathered
In at the knee, over which are their fluffy
tarlatan skirts, and on top the ordinary
waists of their dresses. The effect is
something like that of those Nuremberg
paper dolls in three parts, over which
we used to scream so with laughter as
children in putting homogeneous heads
and skirts on the same body. A serious
looking plaid blouse finished in what
might have been a powder-puff or tarla-
tan. A tailor-made Jacket OF light cloth,
worn with a blue stock looked oddly
enough above the fluffy white petticoats.
Half the girls wore cheap little shirt
waists, as plain as those Of an American
schoo girl. They all locke young and
simple, had pretty figures, and seemed to
having a thoroughly good time. Those
who were not on the stage sat seriously
in the boxes and Knitted or crocheted.
The premiere daIseuse had a cold, and
wore her ordinary street dress. She was
g. slim Italian girl of seventeen, with
great Italian eyes and soft brown hair,
who partly supports her mother on her
somewhat meagre salary, and lives what
is never questioned as a perfectly honest
and virtuous life. One reads the details
of il in her simple black dress, evidently
made at home, with the slightest thought
of coquetry, and a last years green vel