Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-10-13
Some Odd Cushions.

There are distinct classes of cushions,
one for utility, ore for show. They are
of all sizes and shapes, from the tiny
thing called the shoulder cushion, to be
tucked under the shoulder, to the big
pillow little wider than the couch.
AS to filling, down is the first choice.
Cotton batting makes shapely cushion,
firm, yet elastic. For show cushions,
there is excelsior, curled hair, and many
women have recourse to strips of torn
paper.
Cushions filled with pine and hops are
well known, but there is filling as soft
as down to be gotten from the cattails.
An enormous amount of this "fuzz" is
contained in cattail, so that it is an
easy matter to obtain sufficient for sever
nj cushions.
The little shoulder cushions come in
sets of two or three, and are grateful to
invalids. They should be made for
utility; therefore select washable goods.
A lawn handkerchief with the mono
gram in one corner, edged with lace,
makes pretty aud useful affairs.
A useful cushion can be made of denim
deity braided or woven. The woven
ones are exactly like the ribbon cushions
with which all are familiar. The denim
is doubled, however; the raw edges
turned in; then stitched with silk along
the edges. This may be of contrasting
shade, and machine or feather stitching
may be employed. Delft blue and white
is pretty. One cushion had square of
forest green for the centre. The corners
were triangular pieces of braided white
denim. The goods were cnt in strips
and braided; then sewed together. A
braided cord finished the edges.
Among cushions for show was one of
thick dull silk, of russell brown hue.
1t was thickly powdered with snow
crystals formed with small green, gold,
and silver spangles, making particular
ly effective cushion.
Another unique thing was a rich black
satin, ornate with peacock feathers and
a gold stork. The quilts had been care
fully split, and the feathers fastened to
tie satin with photographers paste. 1t
was thea cover ed with manila paper and
a board, and kept under weight until the
satin was dry. Two feathers slanted
across the cushion, and in one corner the
gold bullion stork, to be found in ia
paneSe stores, was placed.
In this same store a remnant of silk
was picked up that made truly gor
geous cushion. 1t was coarse woven,
striped with red and ecru, through
which threads of black, green and tinsel
are mingled. A mixed cord finished the
edges.
The lovers knot is study in ribbon
applique. Baby ribbon of that shade of
blue known as "tendre" is tied in bow
knots and appliqued upon the pillow.
Between these, scrolls in pale yellow
silk. done in outline stitch, terminate in
rings covered with silk buttonholed
through them. This is simple to make,
and handsome thing. The foundation
was golden brown silk, finished with
double ruffle, one blue and one brown.
Another cushion easily made and very
effective is of vivid poppy-red silk, with
three gladu ted ruffies, set on to form a
quatrefoil. Find the centre of the sides
of the cushion, and make three ruffles
for each corner, letting them slope off
to almost nothing at the centre of each
side.
A dainty thing for one gifted with the
brush is of ecru chamois; titmice perch
ed on poisoning branches of an almond
tree decorate it prettily. The color is
used very sparingly. Just a touch of
blue on the heads and wings, the chamois
supplying the color for the birds bodies.
The three twigs are reddish brown, and
the blossoms pink and white. The edge
is finished with band of the chamois,
sewed on like ruffle; half of it slashed
like fringe, touched with gold, blue, and
pink. Paint narrow bands of these
colors on the chamois before cutting.
The effect is lovely.
A mascot cushion intended for bridal
gift is of white silk with four le..fed
clovers embroidered in green silk there
on. A gold cord finishes the edges.
The man-in-the-mOon cushion is
unique. 1t is made of steely blue art
ticking. In one corner is an exaggerated
replica of the man in the moon. A din
ner plate was used to make the round.
This was outlined with gold silk, max
ing the top a bit irregular. Features
were put in, and, being nighthawk, he
may at times become rakish, and the
face may suggest his moods. A small
hat is perched upon his bald pate and q
monocle adorns one eye. The head
rises from. a schoker" with an up-to-
date tie. The whole thing was outlined
with gold silk. The edge was formed
of blue and yellow striped ribbon, gath
cred to form ruffle.
The autograph pillow is having re-
vival. One of fine white linen with the
outlined with yellow silk is
handsome