Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10
GETTING" LACE"
A New and Pleasing Occupation fol
Women.

| letting lace is practical kind Of decora-
| tive needlework that many women have
recently taken up, both as pastime and an
occupation, since the revival of jet has
created a great demand for pailleted laces
of all descriptions.
The manufactured product is very stun
| ming, but that jetted by hand possesses
| the advantage not only of durability but
originality of design, as in the lace bought
III the shops the work is specifically done
and one break of the thread results in the
loosening of all the other jets, so that fire.
quently the pattern is spoiled. Developing
original designs also gives the handmade
product an air that the stereotyped designs
| In the shops lack, for by the addition of a
few beads or spangles pattern may be
completely transformed, and by this process
it is possible to renovate the lace on an old
frock so that the gown win look like new.
letting plain net is as effective, If not
more so, than spangling lace, for in the
former instance a woman has an oppor-
tunity to work out either a simple or elabo-
rate scheme of decoration that is entirely
| original, or one that matches figure In
the material of which the Irock is made.
letting is cns % the simplest kinds of
fancy work, though Us u woman who Is
an enthusiast said: 1T is tedious. because
if carefully and properly done it takes a
long time.
I'm letting net every piece must be Sc
curely sewed to the mcshes and the thread
tied. If not fastened in this way the work
is practically useless, for once the thread
is broken or begins to unravel all the beads
and spangles will drop off, and not only
spoil the pattern, but the jets will more
than likely be lost, and matching these tiny
ornaments is not always an easy task.
Il prefer letting Brussels net" she says,
because then l can have any pattern I
like stamped the material, which, of
course, is impossible in decorating lace.
where a definite design must be followed
more or less perfectly.
Oh nCtrj fnd and m oil
| yards Of lace and net, and l find that in
working a large pattern on big piece of
material that the easiest way to do the
letting is on embroidery frames, either the
round or square kind-the size to be de-
termined by the number OF yards and width
of the lace or net. OF course, it is needless
of me to caution against pulling the sheer
material when fitting it into a frame, for,
while the meshes must be smooth, so no
mistakes will be made in the design, yet
they should not be stretched or pulled, or
the beauty of the lace or net will be i'm
paired.
Sew each piece of jet, or each spangle,
to the net meshes, fastening through two
of them Then break off the threads and
tie In a secure knot on the under side. Cut
of the ends Of the threads so they will not
show. In this way, with each bead indi-
vidually secured. only one piece of jet is
| lost If the threads break as 1t would be IL
many spangles were put on one thread, as
| Is the case in the manufactured article
Don't use silk in sewing on jet, ETC., for
the edges will quickly cut it. and the span
giles may then be lost. l always use COM
paratively coarse cotton thread, No. SO in
black for jet, or for spangles any shade
that shows the least.
1.-THE only time do not sew spangles
| on separately is when want cluster or
wish to make an overlapping line, with
each piece of jet resting on the next one
| in fish-scale pattern: then / use the old
| fashioned chain stitch. which knots and
| holds each bead so that the result is really
the same as knotting the thread and cut
| ting off the ends after fastening each piece
| in place.
with these two stitches and the bugIe.
round or diamond-cut jets, any pattern de-
sired may be worked out on net, whether
q simple one of occasional pieces or an
elaborate floral or scroll design.
I'm letting lace the same stitches are
used, only when there is a solid pattern
the putting on of the pieces is less tedious
because the chain stitch is brought into ef-
feet more frequently. for only the spangies
/ need to be tied"