Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11
MODERN FANCY WORK
REVIVAL OF THE OLD AND THE
NEW PATTERNS.
Sensible and Pretty Little Objects That
Help to Make Room
Homelike.

Written for The Evening Star
The revival of interest in fancy work has
brought out many pretty designs for bed
room Use. Fancy pincushion covers, en-
broidered towels, fan, hairpin, night dress,
cravat, handkerchief, veil and ribbon cases,
hat pin, stick pin and curling iron holders,
boot and shoe and laundry bags and jewel,
collar and cuff boxes are admitted to be
useful. and there is no longer any reason
why they should not be handsome.
Take. for instance, the simple towel.
Mexican drawnwork, outline stitching, cross
stitching and embroideres now improve
the appearance of their borders. Some nur-
sery towels which l saw the other day
were adorned in outline stitch with the
story of Old Mother Hubbard and her dog.
On one appeared the scene at the cup
board with the poor dog begging vainly for
MS bone The other pieces of linen repre-
sented the ensuing scenes in the canine
drama. Linen floss is used for the en-
oroldery on the pretty story towels,
"hlch Will induce many a lazy child to
submit without protest to unpleasant wash
1ngs The nursery rhyme towels are deco
rated In red or blue, and such stories as
Jack and JILL "Humpty Dumpty," 1.-The
Death of Cock Robin Tom, the Pioer's
scenes
Towels are finished with hemstitching,
above which insertions of drawnwork fire.
quently appear. Fringed and knotted bor-
GERS are also applied. These pieces of
household linen are useful as coverings for
side tables, dressers and washstands Fine
huckaback and mummy cloth are the ma
terials ordinarily used even for the decora-
tive specimens.
Il, Pretty Pincushions.
After all, the old-fashioned pillow pin
cushions are more artistic than any of the
new designs. How often in a friends
house have I puzzled over the identity of
the empty pinholder. Once l found it in
the shape of a silk pansy that hung from
the cheval glass Another time it was a
velvet fowl that Strutted aggressiveIy
across the lace-trimmed dressing case Still
again investigation revealed 1t in the in
terror of a deceptive peach. For my own
part, | prefer the dainty square or oblong
cushions such as our grandmothers used
| have one myself which might have he
lOnged to the chamber of Dolly Warden. 1t
Is covered with pale pink silk, ana over il
is appliqued yellow net. The applique con-
sists of ribbon flowers and foliage A mar
row net frill is bordered by a heavy lace
edgng.
The long narrow cushions mounted in
silk or satin and supplied with lace net or
silk muslin covers are frequently very ar
tistic affairs. Embroidery, lace applique or
painting makes charming establishment
for the cover.
A combined whskbroom holder and pin
cushion is fashioned of velvet and satin.
Two heart-shaped pieces are cut from
heavy cardboard. Both sections are padded
The outside of each is covered with velvet
and the inside with satin of a lighter color
When the two pieces are stitched together.
the delicate lining peeps out above the cut
on the top of the outer division. The pins
are stuck into the upper part of the orna-
rrrl1i oh ic oft nhaI =,
invisible loop.
Brush Holders and Toilet Cases
1t is so much nicer to have a definite
place for keeping everything than to scat
ter ones toilet utensils about. The hat
brush and clothes brushes should be slipned
into a case and kept there when thew are
not needed. The handsomer the case the
cleaner the brushes are likely to be kent
A fiat piece of cardboard will serve as the
foundation for envelope brush holder.
To make it take couple of large SQUARES
of denim and lay them diagonally one I'M
double row of stitching will keep the card
board in position. On the angular proiec-
lions of the cloth design is worked in
linen floss. The scrolls and flowers shown
on the brush holder in the sketch make an
easy pattern for the amateur The convol-
vuluses are worked in pink and white. and
the foliage is done in green. The denim is
t.
side and light for the inner part White
dots are worked in the space below the Iarg
er scrolls. These form the border for the
case when the pointed flaps are turned over
Ribbon straps stitched neatly to the inside
of the pasteboard y, frame support the
brushes. 1000. .c
A toilet case which may be hung in ones
own room and carried wherever it is need
ed is made of dark linen bound with red
tape Compartments bound with tape are
stitched over the -oblong surface Of the case
and its use is Indicated by letters outlined
with embroidery floss. The comb, tooth
brush, nailbrush, soap, cologne bottle hair
brush or any other toilet convenience may
be slowed away in this case.
A Towel Horse Cover.
Fine mummy CLOTH decorated with a de-
sign in sunflowers will make a suitable
cover for the towel horse. The petals of
the flowers are worked in rich yellow and
the stems and sepa1s in olive green. The
leaves are finished In the shade known as
leaf green. The pattern is worked in what
is called darning stitch. This is accom-
plished with a coarse needle filled with
several strands of silk. The threads are
brought from one. edge of the flower or
leaf to the opposite section, where they are
secured on the underside of the cloth be-
fore the next stitch Is taken.
A handkerchief holder, tie or veil case
NAV he made of silk or linen Any small
decorative design looks well upon the cover.
Appliques are SO easy for the amateur that
they are frequently adopted, the edges being
drawnwork is suitable for almost anything
in the chamber, even bedspreads, which
are now as elaborate as taste and skill can
make them. Lovely floral designs are en-
broidered on the centers and over the cor
ners, for the borders Conspicuous since
it is the fashion to allow the edges of the
spreads to hang to the floor.
Fan boxes are made of pasteboard and
are, like jewel caskets, ornamented in the
richest possible style. Silk or satin COW