Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-20
CRETONNE AND ITS USES
Useful and Fancy Articles Made of This
Stout Fabric.
Dozens of Ways 1t Can BE Utilized in
Artistic Summer Fur
nfshinEs.
Written for The Evening Star.

" EIlteH loI lie Eftilhs staT.
Few persons realize the usefulness of
that stout, cheerful fabric known as Gre
tonne This season sees so many new and
charming patterns in the cloth that it Is
really worth while considering what may
be done with it,
In the first place, it makes serviceable
and pretty pillows. Filled with balsam
from the woods, it is useful as well as
ornamental, as there is no anxiety in regard
to keeping it from harm, such as is the case
with the handsome embroidered pillows of
silk or satin. If they are of good QUALITY
cretonne pillow covers look as well as new
when washed and are therefore always
clean pillow covers, which is of itself a
recommendation, as no one wishes to use
the strengthening pillows that are so
often relegated for general service Ham
mock pillows are always best made of Gre
tonne or some wash fabric The cretonne
being of bright colOrs makes the hammock
piled with cretonne-covered cushions doubly
picturesque
Cretonne is much used in uphoIsterine
furniture particularly willow ware and
the o!d-fashioned arm chairs. The best
quality of cretonne, such can be pur-
chased from a reliable dealer for the pur-
pose, lasts quite a long time and NAV be
depended upon not to fade as a result of
dampness etc, as other fabrics seldom fail
to do Besides cretonne is inexpensive and
CDeef1ul. An 0l0 settle upholstered In black
cretonne sprayed with red roses-the lovely
jacqueminot ones-with velVety green leaves
is one of the handsomest pieces of furniture
in a New York antique furniture dealers
show windows. There are plenty such in
atticS all over the country waiting for the
clever woman who can transform them into
useful and pretty pieces of furniture.
Comes in for Fancy Work.
Fancy articles may be made of cretonne
For these silks and colored cotton threads
to match the color in the materials are
needed also some thick brown cardboard
some Innings and pieces of ribbon to make
rUched edges.
A very pretty mending or work bag can
be made of cardboard and small-patterned
cretOnne, edged with a ruching of ribbon
the color of the flowers in the material. To
make this two pieces of stiff cardboard are
cut in the shape of a pointed ellipse. The
two pieces of cardboard are covered with
cretonne for the outside and lined with
sateen in a plain color to match the flow
erS. The pieces are then bound with rib
bon wooden braid, which may be sub
stituted for ribbon, because it is more
viceable. A ruched edge of the ribbon or
braid is put on along the upper side to serve
as heading, and q couple of straps of rib
bon are caught in between the ruching and
the cretonne to be used as handles. Inside
little pockets and straps are put in for scis-
sors, thimble, needle case and other sewing
utensils.
A darning bag may be made of cretonne.
This bag is to use for slowing away darn
ing cottons, wool needles. scissors and
thimbes. 1t is made with two shaped sides
about six inches long and five inches across.
A puff finishes the edge and is seven inches
wide and about three-quarters of a yard in
length. 1t is gathered and then sewed to
the wrong side of each section of the bag.
The darning bag is cut in two pieces and
covered just as were the pieces Of the
mendnS bag. If the puff is made of plain
material to match one Of the tones in the
design Of the cretonne, the effect will be
much more striking.
handkerchief Cases and Bags.
handkerchief cases made of cretonne and
ribbon are very pretty indeed Dark Gre
tonnes with a small pattern Of roses.
light cretonne with sprays of violets scat
tered over it, are excellent in effect, An
ordinary box that has contained stationery
will do for the foundation. 1t should be
first covered with cretonne either smoothly
in puff. to cover the sides. The inside
is lined with pale sateen harmSnizing with
the cover, and binding of ribbon finishes
the edge The top consists of cretonne
covered pieces of cardboard. the upper one
being surmounted by a large bow of ribbon
that almost covers the top when the flaps
closed.
Bags to hold dr sters, shoes, brushes,
n etiicine bottles, soied collars and hand
hSttH!tIS may all be made OF CretDnnG. ana
more or less Ornamented with colored linen,
braid ribbons
very pretty hanging bag to be sus-
pended on doors can be made of alternate
rows of cret0nne and denim other plain
art material. a fringe should be run
across The bottom Of the bag and along one
SIDE of the top of the place, rings through
which a rod may be run.
Table Cloth in applique.
An old table cloth taken as foundation
will serve as the excuse for new and
handsome table cover. To make it, buy
several different pieces of various colored
cretonAcs and cut them into pieces about
d quarter Of a yard square. Yellow and
red must be bought in abundance with
about a yard Of paler color. The colors
must he laid on the foundation in harmo-
iliZihG squares and then tackled down with
thread. The edges are then overla:d with
d iattice-work Of braid. either in black or
req The edges are fastened down on the
machine. A border of fringe completes the
table cloth.