Evening star., 1904-03-26
THE NEW LIN EN- s
HUCKABACK THE FAVORITE MA
TERIAL FOR TOWELS.
Plain Towels the Thing-New Ideas in
Napkins and
Doilies.

Patterns in linens vary each year, and
fashion is as rigid In this regard as in
matters of dress. Perhaps this accounts
for the fact that the American woman does
not spend much consideration on the
contents of her linen chest as does her sis
ter across the water. She prefers to have
less changes in this line and to purchase
more frequently in order to keep up to
date.
Take towels. Not long ago damask head
ed the list for favor, and the woman who
could display a pile of glossy damask tow
els with long fringed ends was considered
fortunate. Now the huckaback towel is
the towel Of fashion. probably because it
dries quicker and is thus more practical.
The huckaback towels come twenty-seven
inches wide for best use, which is much
wider than the ones to be seen even a
year ago. They are fine In quality, and
some are hemstitched and lace bordered.
Combinations of huckaback and damasls
are also to be seen. Sometimes there is
medallion of renaissance lace in the CEN
ter, an insertion Of the same and a hem
stitched border edged with renaissance lace.
There is a marked tendency, however,
to favor plain towels. Many women argue
that hemstitchfng is common. and that 1t
pulls out quickly. The same can be said
of drawnwork, which is pretty, but far from
durable
A simple finish for towels, which is find
ing much favor. is the buttonhole scallop-
ed border. Other towels are shown in the
new cut-out embroidery but these are too
expensive for everyday use
Hand-embroidered towels are also to be
seen among the choicest linens. These are
worked with white linen floss and show
Colored bordered towels are no long con-
sidered In good taste, although plain white
ones sometimes show tiny colored en-
broidered blossoms on the surface of the
border.
Much individuality is displayed in marking
towels. Interlaced letters are used in pref
erence to the monogram. Block and script
letters, as well as single letters, are also in
vogue, and, as formerly, the marking is
done at the end of the towel.
A Two-Inch Crest.
The crest makes a beautiful mark for
linen, and is greatly favored. This is about
two inches in size. instead of three, as in
the case of the letters.
The table cloths. napkins and bed linen
will also be marked to correspond with the
towels Sheets are worked on the outside
upper corner or exactly in the middle of
the hem. The former is more practical for
Identification.
Table cloth designs were never more beau
tiful. Leaf patterns are exceedingly popu-
s.,
oak and ivy leaves. A new design in the lat
ter is of a worm-eaten leaf which gave op-
portunity for delicate tracery.
The floral designs show poppies, tulips,
| roses, fieur-de-lis, magnolias, centaureas
and all the larger blossoms, with their
leaves. One with a rose garland is woven,
so that the flowers give bas-relief effect.
Another pattern shows rose and Greek
key border. Still another shows the Eliza
bethan ornament. These are in the choicest
weaves of linens, and are so glossy that
their surfaces appear polished
Napkins, of course, come to match the
table cloths. Napkin holders of linen en-
broidered in pure white have scalloped
edges. They close with button and a
loop. The mercerized cotton used in en-
broidering the holders and monograms gives
| the appearance of silk, and will not wash
| yellow as the silk does.
The handsomest table cloths and doilies
are round as well as square, and are of
Point d'Venice, Cluny and Irish Point A
| round table cloth of Point d'Venice shows
| two rows of lace or embroidery, one just in
side the center of the cloth, while the other
is near the hem.