Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-11

E,yefy housekeeper is proud OF heT hhei
o,ose, undoubtedly. and to keep the con
tan,s i, eood condition is more often con
sidered a pleasure than task, especlahS
when the stitch-in-t ime-saves-nlhel uie Il
applied. Darning fine linen is reaiiy las
cin.+inp work if one will only take pains
to do it well.
Table cloths are apt to show the mrs.
signs of wear in the fold down the milo
die, but an actual break may be prolohseo
if a few threads-half dozen or Scare
neatly darned in down this fold. Some
housekeepers reinforce in this way after
few washings only, but as the damasA
then is apt to be thick. the darnlng is
little harder to do than when the cloth
has reached the half-worn stage.
The thread known as f1ourishing cotton
is used for repairing all kinds of house
linen, and will be found to look almost
exactly like a thread drawn from dam
ask. Every one is acquainted with the
device of cutting couple of inches from
one end and one side of a tablecloth when
it begins to wear, but this shortening
may be put off for a long time If the mid
die fold is strengthened while the cloth Is
still in good condition
Then there are others who never iron
the cloth directly through the middle, but
fold it so that it measures from one te
two inches wider on one part, be- ause, OF
| course, it is the constant pressing OF the
iron on the one line that causes the wear
The next sign of wear is indicated by
broken threads If these are allowed tt
remain unnoticed the result will be mole
in no time. while if a few stitches are SCI
in the ravage will be concealed and the
damask look like new again. simple
in and out upper and under stitch Is
used. the work being done on the wrong
side of the cloth This is 1.-The stitch il
time" When both wool and warp break
a hole having ragged edges Is the result
When this happens there is nothing to dc
but TO cut away the frayed part and Ill
in the space with the darning stitch.
Unless the thread used for working ha:
been shrunken loops should be LETT al
around the edges of the hole. The wise
Man is TO leave the loops any way, be.
cause the ironing is apt to stretch the
thread and the loops will allow plenty OF
give" while a tight thread VIII cause
dra wing that will in time tear the ma
teria mended part away o, As Inc G dsu,
should extend beyond II for half an lncf
or more on all sides.
Worn napkins are repaired In the same
way as tablecloths
Then there are damages the result OF
accidents. as an actual tear. These are as
likely to HAPPEN to new cloths as to worn
damask Sometimes 1t is clean
cut made by q careless person with a
knife hut the average rent is usually on
the scragsy order. Table linen does not
tear straight as a rule. In either case
the edges should be neatly drawn togeth-
or with a fine needle and very fine sewing
cotton lust to form a foundation Tor the
darning Then the loose threads are cut
away and a piece of stiff paper basted
over the tear on the right side. The draw
ing is done from the under side, and any
ia gped edges that may have been left are
taken under with the needle, keeping the
surface of the right side as smooth as
nossjble In darning work the way the
weave runs This will bring the repair
more like the pattern Of the damask than
the straight to-and-fro stitch.
Three-cornered tears should first have
the edges drawn neatly together with nne
sewing cotton before commencing the
darning.
Pillow slips usually show the first wear
along the seams at the side and lower
edge This is said to be because when
making the seams the material becomes
drawn a little and the constant ironing
fat causes the little Sits that make their
appearance along the seams. When these
breaks are many, then the better ana
quicker plan is to cut OF the seams ana
make new ones. This will make the slip
a little smaller of course, but only an
inch or so. and this difference is perhaps
to be preferred to patched pillow shps,
When there are signs of breaking at the
hem It is a good plan to sew strip OF
bias tape on the under side, stitching one
edge to the hem and the other on the
single thickness. One should not wait un-
til there 10 an actual slit.
Sheets may be darned for some time.
and when worn thin in the middle the