Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-11-20
HOMEMAKRRS COLUMN.
an rAsv WAY 70 MEMO.

AN EASY WAY TO MEND.
The housewife frequently finds herself
confronted by great basket Of mend
Ing, and it Often taxes her ingenuity TO
the utmost to repair some Of the gar
ments In such Q way that they will not
be an eyesore forever after that. THIS II
especially true In the case Of silk, or
any material which ravels easily.
have used gum tissue often tor such
mending, and Il has given perfect suc-
cess. For the benefit OF those who have
never used Il, ] will describe Il, and the
manner OF using.
1t comes In long sheets about elk or
seven inches In width, aud looks like very
thin rubber. To use, cut piece with
the scissors q little larger than the
place TO be mended, when 1t can be re-
paired without patching, lay the tissue
on the wrong side Of the cloth and put =
piece Of cloth the same size over u. Be
careful not to move the tissue from its
place. Press carefully with . warm
iron, but do not rub II 40 In ironing.
This will stick Il fast and Ii will stay ss
long as the garment lasts.
IL can be washed, too, ~ have seen
hemming done with It, and known OF the
garment being washed twice, leaving
the hem a. good ~ new.
When hole IL torn or burned, cut the
hole square. II itiss plaid or striped
material, cut to q prominent stripe, and
have piece OF goods cut to match the
pattern exactly. This piece, like any
patch, must be q little larger than the
hole TO be mended.
Cut piece OF tissue the size Of the
patch and then cut out the middle OF u,
so that only the edge Of the square re
mains. This leaves the tissue to hold
the patch fast to the garment, but re
moves that part which would show.
Lay carefully 10 place and press with
the fiatiron rs before. The tissue melte
and thus holds all the edges down 90
they cannot ravel. Never press the
tissue with the iron, without piece OF
cloth between, as It all melts and sticks
10 the iron, leaving none on the goods,
IL Ia excellent for umbrellas aud para
soils. have often used court plaster for
this purpose, but the tissue Il very much
better.
Mendiug stockings IL a trial for some
people, but when one learns the easiest
way II IL not such hard task. When q
stitch breaks and runs down for some
distance, take Acrochet hook and crochet
II up on the cross lines, rs you would
chsin-sti,ch, using the cross lines. one ri
q time, instead OF a thread. When nicely
done. the place will not show At all.
When darning large hole, take q
piece OF mosquito netting and basic II or
the wrong side Of the stocking, having u
quite little larger than the place to b
mended, then darn back and forth
through the netting In the ordinary way
IL not only holds II In place and keeps u
from drawing while dsruing IL, but
makes II less liable TO wear out Ia thu
same place again.
have often mended large hole (gen
orally 10 the knee OF child's stocking
with crochet hook. I crochet back snc
forth across the hole with fine yarn, Us
ing the single stitch. IL Is & good way
but think the netting better. This rule
Is for wooden stockings only, but thu
netting can be used for any kind.
There IL = wsy Of sewing on button.
that may be OF use to some one, rs U
fastens them so they cannot come OF
unless they are pulled hard enough to
tear piece out OF the cloth. IL may moi
properly come under the head of mend
Ing, but II Is usually part Of II.
Before laying the button on the cloth
10 lew on. put something under u 10 hole
| IL up u little from the cloth. often us,
two pins laid lengthwise on the cloth
sew the button on with the pins under IL
When done, and before the thread II
fastened, pull them out. This leaves IN,
threads loose between the cloth and but
ton. Then wind the rest OF the threst
around them. aud II makes stem fol
the button.
1t not only holds better than the or
binary way, but 1t makes IL much essiel
10 button. Try II, mothers OF small
boys, who pull the buttons of theil
waists, and be- sure to wind plenty o.
thread around the stem, as that Is the
secret OF IL.
When putting the buttons on the bsne
Of boys waists, use the precaution Il
put double piece Of cloth on the wrong
side OF the band under each button
When this Is done, IL Is hard for the but
ton to pull out piece OF the goods.
Why could not travelling mender fnt
employment at different houses as dress
mskers do: II seems to me there Is I
field for such work. AZ many busy
women would be glad to pay for II, u
any one could be found TO do 1t sstisfac
toriiy .-The Household.