The Washington times., 1906-11-19
CHRlSTN1AS GIFTS
THAT CHN BE MADE At HONE
Pin Cushions Powder Puffs, Receptacles, and
Other Easily Constructed Novelties.

Women who make their own Christ
mas gifts are already looking for new
and artistic patterns for work bags,
pin cushions, and all other bedroom
and dressing table accessories that are
always desirable presents and are so
much more serviceable when made by
hand than when bought in the shops.
Then, too these dainty toilet bags
and baskets, carefully embroidered for
gifts, mean so much more To the one
receiving them than a ready-made
thing. Those who have many presents
10 make find that they must begin early
in November. or they viii not have
enough time TO give TO each piece the
careful work that is required 10 mako
IL a finished gift
Already there are many patterns IN
the shops that VIII furnish excellent
examples 10 follow In making nretty
work bags and boxes. 50 that women
who do these things at home can copy
the new styles. Among these are some
unusual and decidedly attractive bags
of crepe paper and silk, a combination
that requires little work and is easy 10
make, once the bottom part OF paper is
braided into a substantial bottom Ii
making one OF these bags the raner. is
inch wide These are plated or braided
into a round. bowl-shaped base with
rosettes Of ribbon. or pOmpons Of tissue
paper cut into fine strips and placed at
intervals or two or three inches at the
top. Lhc upper portion OF the 8aI is
made q silk. II j. cut straight from "a
piece OF hight colored china silk or Gre
tonne, and Is fulied onto the paper. The
tCp Is finished with a heading through
whlch draw string Of ribbon or SIX
cord is run.
Grass and Straw Work Bags.
Quite as remarkable as this papar
work bag are those made of plated
grass or straw. This grass NAV be
bought by the yard and made into bags
by cutting into squares any size de-
sired. This material is lined with a
dainty colored china silk or siIkoline.
and the edges bound with tape for a
finish. To the center of The lining n
ru'iied piece OF the silk about four or
SIX Inches deep Is attached and made
INTO pockets by sc wing tiny brass rings
to the hem al the top and TO the edges
OF the grass on points opposite. Through
these rings ribbons are run so that
when the latter are pulled the ruffle and
the grass form scaIoped pockets that
VIII mold spOOls Of thread securely in
place. An extra ribbon put through
these rings may be used as handle for
carrying the bag
Original and quite as pretty as these
bags are the work baskets made in
fancy squares. They can be easily du-
plicated, for the most difficult part of
the work is the covering of the card
board.
The simplest OF these baskets is made
by cutting five pieces Cf card board
into squares any size wanted. These
are covered with chintz or cretonne in
pretty floral design. One Of tkese
pieces is used as the bottom, ari
around II the other four pieces are fitted
70 make the sides. They are all held
together by ribbons, thai are sewed to
The squares near both the top and bot
tom edges. When tied into shape these
baskets are as attractive as anything
that could be desired as a present.
Made in this way, there are no special
compartments for the thread, needles or