Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-12
SEWING BEF2 FANC|ES
When a Woman Longs to
See Her Working Kit.
NEW DAINTY DEVICES
HOW TO MAKE SEWING AND
DARN1Ne APRONS.
A Business Devoted Entirely to Work
ing Baskets and Tables
Pretty Conceits.

turns to thoughts of winter sewing. Dur
ing her vacation she has laid the most mar
velous plans, which include almost every
thing from making her own tailored suit to
embroidering a new set of luncheon doilies.
And, as an inspiration, she decides that a
new work basket or bag is absolutely es-
sential place for every spool, and every
spool In Its place, that is her motto.
On visiting the fancy goods shops she will
find that while she has been planning, some
ones busy fingers have been working, and
before her is displayed a bewlderng col
lection of dainty sewing appliances.
For instance, if she IS taking her embroid-
cry to spend the day with a friend there is
a little circular work box hanging from a
strap that is just the thing. The founda-
ton is the box used for packing dates and
is about twelve inches in diameter and four
inches deep. This, lid and all, is covered
with coarse linen, with the owners initial
embroidered on the lid. The box is lined
with stout silk or linen of a contrasting
shade, with four pockets fastened against
the circular side piece These are for
spools, thimble. buttons, etc, and are fin
ished with tiny heading, in which hat
rubber is run to close them up tightly and
prevent their contents from falling out
when the bag Is carried.
In the lid is fastened strap of ribbon
caught at intervals to make compartments
for needles small scissors, etc. The lid is
held in place with hinge and ends of rib
bons for tying. The strap for carrying the
box is sewn on the side, and not on the top
SO that 1t swings from the hand like a cir
cular dress suit case.
For the same delicate usage come en-
broidery aprons in enticing fabrics and col
oringS. These are shaped after the pattern
of aprons worn by French mattresses, with
rounded corners and little fullness at the
waist line. On the apron proper are laid
three pockets which almost cover the sur
face. On the left side is one large deep
pocket. which would hold top for a sofa
pillow, large dolly or any piece Of work
of ordinary SIZE On the right side, one
above the other, are two smaller pockets for
silks, floss. thimble and scissorA
Sweet Peas on Silver.
A study in lavender shows sweet peas on
q silvery white ground. The pockets are
finished with ruching Of lavender ribbon
to match the figures in the silk. The en-
tire apron is edged in the same fashion, and
the lavender ribbon forms the band and
streamers. Another pretty combination
shows a pampadour silk in pink and blue,
with pink the predominatins color, and pink
ribbons for the finish.
The same general scheme in q more prac-
teal form Is the darning apron with three
pockets, but made on more generous scale.
Cretonne. denim or linen makes an admira-
bic darning apron, and every busy mother
who has known the SORROWS of dropping her
stocking bag here and there as she fol-
lowed up other household duties will appre-
ciate the bfg-pocketed apron which will 20
with her from one room to the other, vet
the moment.
A smart embroidery case for the afternoon
social function. where needles and tongues
Keep time, is in the form Of. music roll
The foundation is burnt leather lined with
firm Of
ske1ns OF silk or floss, embroidery scissors
and papers of needles, and the work is
folded neatly and rolled up after the fashion
OF music. Inc only drawback to this case
is the fact that small embroidery must no
carried, or the roll becomes bulky.
old-Time Forms.
For the home work table the American
women seem to be going back to first prin-
ciples in sewing baskets. One of the dain
uest OF inexpensive offerings is just such
basket as was used two generations ago
Inc bottom is hexagon in shape, from four
to ten inches In width according to the siza
OF work basket desired. To each of tne
sides Is attached slanting upright piece.
which may be shaped according to the taste
OF the designer. The upright pieces are
sewed tight to the bottom piece and are
Joined to each other by bows Of bright COL
ored ribbon.
Any woman possessed of soft hands and
an eye for proportions can build one of
these pretty baskets from cretonne ana
heavy pasteboard. The pasteboard founda-
tons must be covered on both sides with
cretonnes, and pockets. straps for sewing
implements etc, must be attached to the
lining before the latter is fastened on the
pasteboard small pattern of cretonne
gives best results Pretty combinations
show carnation pattern in rich scarlet.
ted with olive green ribbons, sweet peas in
pink and lavender with sage green ribbons
and delft blue with white ribbons
AT one OF the woman's exchanges was re-
centiy SHOWN screen for the sewing room
that attracted much attention. The founda-
ton was the ordinary triple screen of light
bamboo, not quite five feet In height. II
was covered on one side with a cretonne in
delft blue and the other side showed stout
rlue denim, with pockets. There were big
pockets and little pockets, pockets as rem
erous as those seen in shoe bags and nm
dainty as those found in milady's useless
but ornamental wicker basket padded with
silk "'-'
The Big Pocket.
Across the very bottom ran the most gen.
erous pocket of all, not deep, but wide. and
each pocket could be drawn UP tight with
the streamers of white linen tape, SO that
dust could not get In, nor sewing supplies
fall out II the screen were moved or top
pied over. The big pocket was for pieces
such as the home dressmaker and mender
likes to have at hand-fiannel and balbrig-
gan scraps for underwear, strips Of perca-
line and lining for belts, linen and cotton
betting and scraps of silk for patching
one pocket was for tape of various
lengths, another for buttons, another for
hooks and eyes. and acress The center ran
two long, narrow cushions for pins and
needles, respectively The woman who
wants to keep up the household ends and
has no convenient closet or large work
table, will find one Of these screens a handy
thing to have at her right hand.
These new fancies for the autumnal sew
Ing bee recalls to mind two New York wo-
/ men with a wide acquaintance who were
forced to make their own way in the world
and In two years have built up UNIQUE
trade They make nothing but work
baskets and bags particularly the dainty
tribes In which woman carries her fancy
work when visiting. They do not use ordi-
nary materials. but, pick up scraps of odd
embroidery. tapestry, &c, which look as If
they had already seen service in some an
cestral home. - -
A Little Odd.
The top of an old tapestry covered chair,
an old-fashioned sampler. bit of oriental
embroidery with the marks of time in It's
dull coloring, hand-woven Hnen-all these
they make into the oldest of conceits and
sell them to would-be smart people at ridic-
ulous prices. Grandmothers and great
grandmothers are Just now greatly in de-