Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-27

ment of earning some pocket money by the
work.
There are many among city dweliers
themselves, however, who like to do such
things as well, and enjoy experimenting
along new lines and every now and then
some opportunity offers to learn something
fresh and unhackneyed.
Often the work is mechanical in itself,
dividuality can result, but IL such quality
is in the worker then the outcome is an en-
tirely different matter.
There are pretty floor rugs made now by
a small machine or big needle, which is
pushed through the foundation carving
the thread of wool or narrow strip of cloth,
forming loop on the opposite side, which
may be afterward cut, If desired, thus CIV
ing OVERLOOKING surface
An Original Effect.
BY drawing a design on the back of the
foundation and pushing the loops through.
the work being always carried on from the
back, one can get an original effect, choos-
ing many or few colors as desired.
fine needle carries wool and is for fine
work, sofa pillows and small articles, while
strips of any kind of material may be used
for the floor rugs, cut as for rag carpets,
but used without being sewed together.
For country house rse these are specially
suitable, but may also be put in any room
with other furnishings.
If special shades to match rooms are
wanted it is a good idea to wind a large
ball of the cut strips, then take that to the
dyers and have it dyed the color wanted
If different light colors have been used in
the cut rags they will take different tones,
SO a variety of shades of the same color
will be the result, the outside of the ball
getting the deepest dye, and those strips
wound in the center of the BAH Will be much
paler in shade
If one is fond of experimenting oneself
along such lines the dyeing can be done
at home with much ease. am told
These shaded rugs are extremely pretty,
one which have seen in shaded blues min
gled with white being especially SO.
Ingenuity, Taste and Skill.
If one has any ingenuity and some per-
severance good results may be accomplish
ed. for, as have said. the mechanical out
fits can be bought, and then taste and skill,
which come by practice, will produce the
rest.
The old-time braided rugs are a style
much liked again, and inquiries are often
made in country neighborhoods by summer
visitors for women who are skilled in this
work.
1t takes great deal of practice to make
good-sized rug of this kind: raw edges
well turned under, colors well distributed,
and then the sewing so well managed that
no unsightly bulges occur to mar the set as
1t lies on the floor.
In the house of thrifty Pennsylvania
German woman last autumn 1 saw a rug
of silk strips, crocheted like table mat,
around and around a very large wooden
crochet needle being used to do it. The
effect was quite pleasing; no color pre-
dominated, but bright and dull were woven
in so skiIlfuily that soft harmony was the
impression made on the eyes.
The durability is undoubted, as they are
much used in that locality. and many can
testify to their usefulness, while to the
stranger, seeing them for the first time. the
impression was of pleasure in the arrange
ment of colors and SOFT firm texture.