River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-08-26
Sketch Used
of Article

One must have an attractive basket
In which to carry the mending and the
sewing outfit, not a mere trifie of la
cey straw and pink ribbon bows de-
signed to hold wisp of embroidery
and scrap of silk, but good, gen
erous, well-fitted sewing basket, large
and strong enough to hold pieces of
mending, though at the same time
dainty, cool-looking and light to carry.
A tito mating basket fills these re-
quirements to the letter. lilo mat
ting is a Japanese material made from
shavings of the fir tree. 1t is extreme
ly light weight, though strong, and
the texture is most artistic. The
weave is very attractive, and well
suited to basketry. 1t is 80 inches wide
and is sold at 60 cents yard. One
half yard is required for the basket
and cover. The other materials need
ed are one-quarter pound natural col
or raffia, at five cents, and one quar-
ter pound each of black, old rose and
green raffia, at as cents. The dyed
raffia is 60 cents pound. A square of
medium heavy pasteboard may be pur-
chased for five cents, and package
of caf1ia needles for ten cents.
The pattern of one side of the hex
agcnal basket is given-6x5 inches.
When the six sides are cut out of the
ma ting stitch the edge all around on
the sewing machine or with a close
back stitch to keep the edge firm. Six
- 70 In ont
pasteboard, then marked off according
to the inside line on the pattern. The
center of the pasteboard squares are
cut out, leaving frame for the edge
of the mating. This frame is placed
around the edge of the mating, basted
on. and then overstitched with the
natural color raf11a. The sketch at the
right of the basket shows the process
clearly.
The next step is to make the bot
tom and cover of the basket, each to
be a perfect hexagon, which may be
drawn out on the pasteboard by work
ing a circle IL inches In diameter with
a six-inch radius. Then it is simple
matter to mark off the sides, each six
inches, as shown In the diagram at the
| left of the basket. These two hexa'
CONS are made, with their pasteboard
frame, exactly as the sides were made.
Next trace on the design, which Is
to be embroidered in raffia, in wide
strands The raffia works better II
very slightly dampened. The design is
on the Indian order, hence the colors
found on Indian basketry will be most
effective, the points and central figure
old rose, the wide bands at either side
of the central figure and the groups
of graduated single lines green, and
the remaining spots black. The en-
broidery is done in straight-across
stitches, making it appear as if woven
in. If one prefers, the embroidery
may be omitted, leaving just plain
basket with the over-stitching of nat
ural raffia and the pockets inside of
CAV Powered silk. The embroidery,
however, is well worth while, for 1t
adds to the beauty of the basket.
The last step in the construction OF
the basket is to sew the sides togeth-
er. sew on the bottom and attach the
cover, all of which is done with long
strong needlefuls of raffia in neat
small stitches.
The fastener Is bit of reed put
through the mating and fastened on
the back, and the little loop Is a bit