The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
REkODELING OLD HATS
Mrs. Edwards Tells Amateur Mil
liners How il Is Done.
If Her Instructions are Followed So
as 10 Ensure satisfactory Results
Average wOmnn's Old Hendwear
Cannot he Made Good ns New.

Cannot he Made as Good ms New.
How to make last winters hat do duty
through another season is a problem
which is now perplexing many a frugal
mother as she pulls the dilapidated things
from the boxes where they have remained
all summer. looking decidedly the worse
from having been packed away in such
close quarters.
The first thing 20 be done is TO rip off
all the trimming with the exception of
the facing, which usually is rather be-
yond the ability of an amateur. Then
take whisk troom-yes, a whisk broom,
and brush hard; even the velvet will be
none the worse for such treatment, and
you will be surprised to find how much
dust has lain hidden away there all these
months. Indeed, the best way is TO rip
and clean a hat before it is packed away.
If the hat is of felt braid. good brush
ing. followed by sponging with weak
solution of ammonia and water. will
speedily restore its freshness.
When an ordinary felt hat has been we'll
cleaned. the brim may be pressed with
moderately warm iron. first taking care
to lay cloth of the same color between
IL and the iron. To make brim smaller.
measure the distance from the edge and
mark carefully with pins. every eighth
of an inch; take a sharp pair of scissors
and cut along the line of pins Should
there be any corners left, trim them q
neatly; then rub the new edge with the
-, bug =,
just enough TO conceal the cutting.
To add to the height of Il crown. il You
have no willow such as milliners use.
take a piece of the stifiest tailor's canvas
you can procure. cut il the height 10
which ii is wished TO raise the crown,
lowing a generous lap both top and bot
TOM Wire this on both edges. allowing
the wire to lap fully two inches and sew
iEg il with a-bu;ton-hole stitch. Cut the
crown away half an inch above the head
size, and sew TIE piece of canvas TO the
remaining bit with strong cotton, back
stitching it; then place the crown at he
top and fasten in same manner. Use mil
liners needles, as they are much longer
than the ordinary needle. You will need
the coarse needles for sewing on thick
trimming. the medium for facings, and
the finer for hemming velvet. etc
Where velvet facing is not desired,
good effect can be had with one or two
rows of one of the fancy braids which are
sold in many shops by the yard. Be sure,
however, TO wire the brim first.
To clean velvet well requires one per-
son TO hold it stretched out tightly over
a plentiful volume of steam and another
one to brush it hard with a whisk broom;
this brushing, done the opposite way OF
the nap. will raise the pile; but where II
has been much crushed ii will be diff
cult task. Sieaming. without brushing,
will renew crepe. but ii is wiser TO first
pin 1t carefully 10 piece of pasteboard, so
as not 10 stretch 1t out of shape. This
applies particularly to a veil, whose edges
must be very straight. A nuns'-veil!ng
veil car be sponsed with ammonia or al
cohol, and then pressed; but be sure to
have piece OF tissue-paper between it
and the iron. T;ssue-paper is recon-
mended because il is thin and leaves no
lint or dust on The material pressed Chit
ION can be subjected to the same treat
lent as crepe with excellent results,
while 10 restore The freshness of black
lace give it liberal bath of alcohol. To
stifien lace dissolve a quantity of gum
arabic in boiling water, dip the lace into
II, and then pir out on a boxlid to dry.
Ribbon may be sponged with ammonia
and water and then pressed, taking care to
place a fresh piece of tissue paper between
L and the iron. which should be as heavy
Is possible: press heavily upon the iron.
md draw the ribbon slowly from beneath
Il. Another way is to make the ribbon
very damp and then stretch ii tightly upon
The carpet. securing it by pins. Some mil
liners declare they get the best results by
happening and rolling ribbon as tightly as
possible. Shine can be taken from ribbon
Or silk by sponging with alcohol.
Birds-with all respect to the Audubon
Bociety dc not mean the birds of nature.
but those bred in the Partisan workshops
ean be busted with piece of velvet dam
pened, il necessary, with a little alcohol.
n the feathers of the wings and tails have
separated, hold them over the steam and
gently coax them back 10 their original po-
Iitions. Quilts can be made to look like
rev. by this process, and wings can be 4
treated in the same way. A lost eye can be |
replaced by breaking off black-headed pin |
! quarter of an inch from the head dipping |
L In not sealing wax. and deftly inserting |
L into the empty socket
Feather curling. many persons say, is the |
FASTEST thing in the world. In the trade II |
ls separate branch, and / can only add
That have yet 10 see home-curled feather
which does not betray itself. When buying
! feather get the best you can afford: il
pays Iii the end.
Rosettes are the most satisfactory way
In which TO use old ribbons. II the ribbon |
Is soft 1t can be wired with lace wire, |
it with stitches a quarter
Of an inch or more apart; this will make |
the ribbon stand out SO that less will be |
required. One or two pointed ends among |
the loops give stylish effect. and are |
Also economical. A rosette usually has |
nine or more loops, each loop requiring |
IT least from five TO six inches of mate |
rial. box-pleated rosette does not crush |
10 easily as a side-pleated one. for which |
reason gathered one is most undesira-
bic.
When the crown of hat has been torn
by pinholes or stitches and 1t is desirable
10 place the new trimming at that point. |
Tut piece of some stiff material about
he size of silver dollar. wire it firmly, |
Using the bu;ton-hcle stitch, and sew it
10 as TO cover the hoie.-Harper' Bazaar.
Hinta About Hands.
There is a subtle fascination in n pretty
land impossible 10 explain. but SO power
nj that ID has heen able 70 command love |