New-York tribune., 1901-10-21
NEEDLEWORK. HINTS.
MATERIALS POPULAR THIS SEASON
ERIES-THE BEST WAY TO
HENISTITCH.

HEMSTITCH
It is possible wash and iron embroidered linens
that they look like new. but this requires both
knowledge and skill. and is not to be intrusted 10
the house laundress. Neither is it advisable to take
these the cleaners for more often than
not they ruined by them
The coors of the best domestic embroidery silks,
as well as of the imported hosses, are generally
fast, most of them entirely So and therefore fully
deserving their name, wash silks. Nevertheless
they are not fast IN the that the Hungarian
cottons are. for the last to stand any wash
ing. The Hungarian embroideries, by the way
which are generally displayed in this fall
well worth attention both for emulation IN
ones work and worthy purchases in them
selves They the handiwork of Hungarian peas
ants, and the linen is of their spinning. The
embroidery is done in bright fast colored cottons
Linens embroidered in wash silks should be, one
at time. immersed in a suds. not hot, made
of pure soap. The quality of the soap is of the ut
most Importance. 1t should be CASTLE, or some
white unscented kind-not ordinary laundry soap
Add teaspoouful of powdered boraX and rinse
the cloth up and down in this suds but do not rub
1t. When it is clean rinse 1t in a series of clear
waters until the last is not clouded. Then,
without wringing, squeeze much water as possl-
BILE of the linen. Lay the piece in clean soft
cloth. make it smooth possible. and wrap both
together. Remove it in few minutes and dry
quickly fire or in the air. not in the sun IL
is well change the position Of the drying linen
constantly that no running of color Will take
the fire until partially dry it is great advantage
Let it dry thoroughly before pressing, because the
silk should not be ironed wet or even damp
When perfectly dry lay the embroidery face
downward a smooth. fine sheet-not too soft a
pad-and carefully draw the edges into place
Dampen the linen in sections with fine sponge.
taking care not wet the silk. This can be done
with a sponge because the linen will at once take
up the moisture, while the silk Will not II the
sponge Is moved quickly.
Pass hot iron over the cloth in the direction OF
the grain of the material, moving the linen on the
sheet untn the entire surface has been pressed
The iron should be hot, and should move very
quickly, that the silk will not be crushed, as II
would be a slow process with an iron Of medium
heat. Press all hens from the right side, as they
do not iron prettiy from the wrong side
Put the fringe in order with a comb and trim II
with sharp scissors. An elaborately decorated
linen laundered in this way is as fresh as thouSh
just from the embroiderers frame.
BEAUTIFUL EMBROIDERY COTTONS.
Beautiful cottons to be had now for needle
work. and their popularity is likely to increase be-
cause they are practical Linens embroidered with
them can be sent to the household wash II the
| laundress Is known to be careful. A kind much
like flo-selle texture is especially easy to man
| age Like alo-selle. these are duh in finish ana
| are composed of six strands to a thread This
thread should be divided and three strands carried
| in the needle in ordinary work.
| These cottons can be had in all colors, and can
| be used in almost any method OF embroidery. The
blues particularly good and one or the prettI-
honeycomb stitch design suited to this stitch Is
bss Oak ois eaHes out Especially Wei
| stitch seems to sugges: their net veining
TO FINISH THE EDGES.
| The most practical and elegant way finish the
edge Of linens is hemstitch them. Hemsttched
| fringe is pretty and tuttonhoed. scalloped edges
are good if the design and coloring simple. and
thus secondary to the of the decoration but in
| the end nothing is durable and rich in effect
| as the deep hemstitched hem.
| Every needleworker ought TO know how 10 hem
stitch well. After a little practice one prefers TO
hemstitch rather than 10 do plain hemming and
indeed the former is after the work is pre-
difficulty. The fact Is, however; that the hreads
! of any linen which is suitable for embroidery are
| readily drawn. Round weave linens alone should
be used grounds for decorative needle"ork. ana
| IL is perfectly easy draw the threads OF these.
One frequently makes the mistake OF drawing TOO
| many threads. There usually enough. A wide
| open line is desirable. Only line OF open
| dots should appear when the work is finished. Turn
| the hem most accurately. cut out the overlap in
yond the drawn threads, baste firmly and hemstltch
with fine cotton. No. 100 on heavy linens. No. l5O
| There are several ways Of taking the stitch but
| only right way. Hold the edge toward the
| worker as in ordinary hemming and work from left
| to right Take up on the needle a Few threads
| from the drawn line OF the linen dt is not neCeS
| sary TO count them) draw the cotton all the way
| through then take ordinary hemming stitch
| linen ground and the overlap Continue these
| stitches. taking up the threads and thus fasten-
| made almost invisible, unlike the knot hem
| stitch. and the work can be done most rapidly.
No one who has tried this will return TO the knot
| hemstitching.
| Hemstitchng seems most suitable TO linens
Like the fabric itself 1t Is simple and substantial
| two qualities which are necessary to art
1