The Washington herald., 1908-03-20
DRAPERIES FOR LENTEN SEWING.

There is little excuse 10 keep up heavy
drapery to catch the dust and suffer from
the hot sun Nowadays. charming ma
terials for curtains and portieres can be
bought at prices within the reach Of ali.
Madras. for instance. has rarely been
lovelier than In the new designs that are
being shown. The Oriental colorings are
much used on cream or ecru grounds.
and the designs are conventional. many
of them with a decided Egyptian ten
dency.
A favorlte color combination Is dark or
French blue. Pompeiian red and orange;
others combine vivid green, the new pea
cock blues and yellow. while stiI others
seem to blend the color range Of the rain
bow harmoniously
These curtains are used effectively both
in doorways and at windows. especially
in living rooms. yet keep out none OF
the needful breezes.
/ English chintzes. cretOnnes, and linen
taffeta also lend themselves TO summer
decoration. Many women who do not
care for the heavy window shrouding OF
winter make straight curtains OF these
materials reaching 10 the window sill and
put on the outer frame. and do away
with the sash curtain entirely.
In bedrooms. especially, these curtains
are useful. as. being divided IN the cen
ter and running loosely on rods, they can
be hung In narrow lines al each side OF
the window 10 give touch OF color 10
the room. yet shut out neither light nor
air.
II the coioring Of the walls is plain the
curtains should be in floral design re-
peating the predominant tone OF the
room On the other hand. If lowered
papers are used the curtains should be in
plain color.
One charming bedroom that has been
recently fitted up in a Georgetown house
had a paper covered with trailing nastur-
tiums in shades of yellow and orange.
The easement windows were hung with
short curtains of cotton taffeta, which is
alike on both sides. so does not require
lining, in a shade of green that toned
in with the nasturtium leaves.
These curtains were finished in a three
inch hem at the bottom, and the sell
wedges at the sides were covered with
narrow. dull gold galloon. This was
seWed on by hand so that It might be
easily ripped of should the curtains need
washing.
The same material was used to cover
en- old-fashIoned winged chair, and was
m4de into a table cover embroidered
across the ends IN q conventional nGs-
turtium border
Sash curtains Of square filet net in
ecru tint were finished with two-inch
hem all around.
The toilet set was Of dull green crock
cry. almost the shade OF the taffsta,
while the white enamel writing table was
equipped in hammered brass
Another room in this same house,
where the walls were paper In cream
colored, seif-toned stripes, paneled at
every corner with red rambler roses
had the drapery and couch cover of
English chintz in a rose design that al
most matched the paneling.
Where opaque curtains are not liked
the windows are softened by square,
meshed net sash curtains, or with those
OF thin net, either made plain, or edged
with narrow Cluny lace put on fat to
the sides and across the bottom.
For simple bedroom curtains nothing
is prettier than sheer dotted or figured
swiss. Sometimes these are edged with
rather scant rufle of the material,
plain or edged with narrow lace. again
the three-inch hem is applied to the
curtain with a line of half-inch beading,
which gives a dainty finish
Women who like to do Lenten sewing
y0rr16 l-,I -
tains pleasant and easy work
The white or ecru net sash curtains
finished with narrow hem all around
and edged with cotton ball fringe are
also easily made by hand or machine.
Be careful in measuring curtains 20 do
It accurately. always allowing for shrink