Evening star., 1902-01-11
FOR MY lADY'S SEWING
USEFUL AND PRETTY ACCESSORIES
FOR THE woRKBAsKET.
Accomplishments ON the Domestic
Order I'm High Favor Again
Here aad Abroad.

Written for The Evening Star.
That old-sashioned feminine accomplish-
ment. fine needlew0rk. seems to be on the
point of enjoying a revival. At least every
one viii agree that Il looks so. judging
from the demand for handsome accesso-
ries to my ladys work basket. wuunen de-
pend so much upon the sewing machine for
their stitching that they consider Il unnec-
essary TO master those details OF the art
OF sewing, mending and patching Of which
our grandmothers were past mistresses.
In the old days dainty fingers could neatly
darn a rent in delicate cashmere or cam
brio. take up the cut stitch In filmly laces
or repair with the deft insertion of a patch
In costly fabrics the most glaring ravages
Of time. No lady OF gentle birth was then
considered finished in her education until
she was an expert needlewoman, and mar
relous were the specimens OF their skill
shown in the samplers of the last century
and the tapestries Of an earlier period.
II some enterprising public-spirited wo-
man should open a school OF needleworx
along the lines OF the schools Of domestic
science. in which only cooking and house
work are taught. many a shabby man and
many family OF neglected children would
rise up to bless her for leading the wife
or mother into the light.
Taught by the Nuns.
As fine sewers French and German wo-
men are better equipped than either the
English or Americans. French nuns are
famous for their skill In needlework They
teach even the daughters OF the old aris-
tocracy to sew. With what they call the
stocking stitch for instance silk hose may
be repaired so that II will be wellnigh fmpos-
sible to tell where the darn was made As
nne SILK stockings not unusually cost 81 or
30 a pair the services OF a skilled darner
are imperative. The method of making va
rious lace stitches, the special stitch for
flling up worn spots IN cashmere shawls
and ways or repairing silk satin and vel
Vet are taught TO perfection In French con-
vents
Respect for Household Work.
As American women come into contact
! with the high-born ladies Of other coun-
tries and see how much stress is put upon
domestic accomplishments even in the
wealthiest households they are inclined to
look with more respect on those arts which
they have heretofore desplsed. The Queen
OF England and her sisters were taught by
their admirable mother. the late Queen Of
Denmark, to make every bit of their own
clothing In the old days when their father
was one of the most obscure princes in
Europe. Alexandra has wisely caused her
own daughters to be instructed in both
sewing and housekeeping. Often when they
were young girls the English Prlncasses
Louise. Maud and Victoria made their own
hats and frocks in order to save for some
pet charity the money that would other
wise have gone to a dressmaker. What a
princess of England can do any American
woman dares initiate, and so an era of poll
ished domesticfty has set in.
In fashionable store the other afternoon,
looking over bits of fancy silver. my atten-
tion was arrested by the number OF dainty
accessories Of the workbasl1et Pretty as
they are. not all are really expensive. For
tunately In these days even a poor woman
may surround herself with beautiful
things. Siver-handled darners sell at all
r1rfr f~nr naF,tS 70 .1a a.-1,
round black oval, which Is the really USE
ful part OF the article. is made of some
hard substance. while the handle is OF sill
yer handsomely chased.
Some of the Extras.
Spool holders are of all kinds from chased
silver stands with uprights TO run through
the centers OF the spools TO clasps made TO
pin upon the dress and from which the
spcols are suspended by short chains. In
dians', brownies and animals heads are
wrought in silver for clasps
Never were thimbles cheaper or prettier
than at present, The lightweight alumni
mum thinble is almost pretty silver
and is very comfortable on tlle hand. In
fortunately inventors have not given any
thought yet to the sewing woman who suf-
fers from a perspiTdDg finger. the result OF
the closeness and heayiness Of the average
thimhle. or they would long ago have
thought OF some way in which the finger
might be ventilated without leaving il open
TO the danger of being pricked by the
needle.
To Keep Needles Clean.
Emery bags are made with velvet or SILK
or bright colored cloth covers capped by
chased silver heads. 10 which siIken cords
and tassels are attached. The emery bags
keep needles in good condition. Indeed.
many old-fashioned women prefer an en-
cry pncushion to one filled with sawdust
a N ret
their brightness and fneness longer. A
needle that has rusted may be frightened
by drawing 1t a few times through fine en-
cry powder.
Fancy wax tablets for smoothing down
the rough ends OF silk. cotton or wool
thread are made in various shapes and
clasped by a silver head similar to those
of the emery bags. Strawberries, blackber-
ries. tomatoes. apples and ears Of corn are
represented in the wax. From % TO 80 cents
each is the usual cost.
Hem gauges consisting of bands of silver
marked with inches, are handsomely mount
ed, generally with head some similar
device at one end and a bar of silver at the
other. with an adjustable slide running over
the surface TO mark the hem. The gauges
cost from 80 cents to $50 each.
Needlecases are made in all sorts of
shapes. A silver cylinder placed upon
pedestal To represent group Of pillars and
having a single head that screws OF is one
style of case. Others look very much like
closed penkniTes. The cases cost from q
cents to 81
Tape measures are made Of silk or linen,
according to taste Long tapes are usually
coiled in tiny silver boxes. which may be
ornamented on top with the monogram OF
the owner or with her birthstone. Yard
measures are finished with fancy heads like
those OF the hem gauges and with silver
rod, upon which the line is wrapped when
not in use.
More Luxury.
Ornate silver bodkins with chased heads
and silver stilettos for picking out stitches
are among the small accessories OF the fair
members collection.
Thimble cases are a luxurious addition to
the list OF workbasket furnishings They
are usually of silver iligree lined with silk.
satin or velvet TO support the thimble in its
hours of idleness- Glove members are in-
expensive. Needlecases are followed inside
the bar that supports the pieces over which
the darning or stitching is TO be done
Needles and bodlzins for threading ribbons
are modern conyeniences made In silver and
elegantly ornamented- Finger shields AFFORD
protection In place of thimbles and are an