The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-12

Every housekeeper is proud OF ner
linen closet, undoubtedly, and to keep
the contents in good condit ION is more
often considered a pleasure than
task, especially when the stitch-in-
time-saves- nine rule Is applied, Darn
ing fine linen Is really fascinating
work II one will only take pains to do
it well.
Tablecloths are apt to show the
first signs of wear in the fold down
the middle, but an actual break may
be prolonged if a few threads-half
a dozen or so--are neatly darned in
down this fold. Some housekeepers
reinforce in this way after few
washings only, but as the damask then
Is apt to be thick, the darning is
little harder to do than when the cloth
has reached the half worn stage,
The thread known as flourishing
cotton is used for repairing all kinds
Of house linen, and will be found to
look almost exactly IKE thread
drawn from damask Every one is
acquainted with the device of cutting
couple of inches from one end and
one side of tablecloth when 1t begins
to wear. but this shortening may be
put off for a long time ii the middle
fold is strengthened while the cloth
is still in good condition.
Then there are others who never
iron the cloth directly through the
midle, but fold it so that it measures
from one to two inches wider on one
part, because, of course, 1t is the con-
slant 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 al
lowed to remain unnoticed the result
Will be a hole in no time, while IL q
few stitches are set in the ravage Will
be concealed and the damask look like
new again. simple in and out, up
per and under stitch is used. the work
being done on the wrong side OF the
cloth. This Is THE stitch in time.
When both wool and warp break. a
hole having ragged edges is the result.
When this happens there is nothing
to do but to cut away the frayed part
and fill in the space with the darning
stitch.
Unless the thread used for working
has been shrunken loops should be
left all around the edges of the hole.
The wise plan Is to leave the loops
any way, because the ironing is apt to
stretch the thread and the loops viii
allow plenty Of give" while a tight
thread will cause a drawing that will
in time tear the material mended part
away AS the cloth is always thin
around hole the darning should ex-
tend beyond it for half an inch 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 IL is
n clean cut made by a careless person
with knife, but the average rent is
usually on the scraggy order. Table
linen does not tear straight as a rule.
In either case the edges should be
neatly dnaMn- together With a fine nee--
die and very fine sewing cotton, just
to form foundation for the darning
Then the loose threads are cut away
and piece of Dtiff paper haste1 over
the tear on the right side The draw
ing is done from the under side. and
any Jagged edges that may have been
left are taken under with the needle,
keeping the surface of the right side
as smooth as possible. 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.
Bed linen may be made to last much
longer If carefully mended. The same
kind of thread Is used as for damask,
and, Of course, the darning stitch Is
the correct one,
Three-cornered tears should first
have the edges drawn. neatly together
with fine sewing cotton before COM
mencing the darning.
Pillow slips usually show the first