Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-18
Easy Lessons i'm Sfenciling

for stenciling. Personally I think the
results with them are better than with
dyes, as we'll as easier to handle.
As almost any color can be had by
mixtures of red, blue and yellow, these
three are necessary to have at first. II
is best to use transparent colors, such
as burnt sienna (brown),- rose madder,
which comes in four shades, and cad
MUM (yellow). These colors are
mixed with turpentine or naphtha until
it is like a stain.
The naphtha is preferable for goods
of delicate texture. The turpentine
causes the color of the goods to fade If
the material is too delicate. This Is
especially true If the turpentine is not
refined.
If you are not accustomed to using
paints you'll find it doesn't take as
much as you think Mix on a palette
or a piece of glass. 1t should be just
thin enough to stay on the glass.
And that leaves only the question of
materials to consider. These may be
of almost any kind or quality, but
some fabrics are much easier to use
than others. Cheesecloth is very popu-
larly used for sheer material but has
the disadvantage of being very shrink
able Unbleached muslin of creamy
color can be acceptably used. The
coarse texture cannot be quickly treat
ed, for the color has to be slowly
rubbed into the fiber. A close scrim
and Japanese grass cloth are effective
materials.
Brown linen or pongee require good
IDEAL of care to avoid running or an eff
feet of oiliness. For these materials it
would be we'll to experiment first until
you have gained the required skill.
Experiment for color schemes on
glass, which may be placed over white
paper Take a full brush of paint and
mako a single stroke by starting heaV-
lily and lifting lightly at the end. In
this way many shades and varieties of
one color can be obtained.
Next to this stroke run another of
another color and note the combina-
lions. Select one or more, to suit your
individual taste and the pattern Few
and simple selections are always
better.
Then begin to decorate your material
by first of all laying several layers of
newspapers on a single piece of blot
ting paper to absorb all superfluous
color under goods which you stretch
over ironing board or table and pin
closely along the edges.
Then pin the design on material,
being careful to measure accurately.
When you have painted one part of
repeated pattern see that in remov-
ing the stencil the edges will not blur.
Before repeating the design the exact
position where each repeated piece is
to be placed must be decided upon and
marked by pins or lightly with pencil
so that the work will be properly ar
ranged.
This same care should be taken in
stenciling any surface walls or cell
ings. Always carefully plan and meas
ure before beginning to work, and al
ways test your colors and material
also. Change the upper layer of news
paper every time you shift your pat
tern for new curtain or article, so the
color absorbed will not blur or stain
the new material.
Apply the color quite thinly, using a
separate brush for each color. Do. not
scrub the paint into the fabric, but
lightly tap it into the fiber with the
end of brush through the open cut part
of stencil
This work can be Numbered almost
the same as plain cloth If ordinary care
is used.
Be sure to have at hand a small piece
of cloth wet with benzine or turpen-
tine to wipe the stencil for 1t is abso-
lutely necessary to have your stencil
clean on both Sides