The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-22

The latest table mat which some
OF the deft fingered sisterhood are
making for Christmas, is. like many
new things, not new at all. but a re.
viHal OF the old-fashioned tied mat.
There is no more reliable protector Of
tables against the disngur.ng marks
left by hot dishes than one OF thes,
tied mats, as they are soft, thick and
non conducting Moreover their en-
during qualities arc arvelous-there
is simply no wec- out o them-and
they require no ,roning. Just little
pu!hns out OF the fringe after d
thorough drying.
set OF ordinary wooden slate
frames In three sizes. Six balls Of
white cotton and tape needle As all
the para phernalia required Select
e!ates with frames that approximate
the following sizes: b. ~ inches. 10
by inches. lie by inches. Remove
the pieces OF slate and wind the
largest frame with any standard white
knitting cotton. No. is a good size.
Wind in Gets OF I'VE strands, the short
test way OF the frame first, then turn
the frame and wind sets at right
angles. On the largest frame wind
twenty-five sets OF strands the short
way. and fifteen sets the long way.
The middle size is wound in sets OF
eighteen and thirteen, and the smallest
size in sets OF sixteen end ten. Do
not break tn thread but wind con.
tinuously. See how long a working
thread Will be required to work across
the frame on a mat OF given size, and
cut all the working threads for that
mat OF the same length A working
thread Is required for each set OF
strands that run across-on the out
side-after a mat is wound ready for
tying.
All the tying is done in a straight
line On the wrong side OF the mat
With the threaded tape needle the
tying itself Is simple matter, and is
done where the sets of strands cross
each other. working from right to left
Put the threaded needle in the FIRST hole
and bring ii out dlagonally across the
sets OF crossing strands. throwing the
thread around the needle as II comes up
in twisted loop that ties knot as IL
is pulled tight, drawnwork fashion
The needle is then put in and brought
up again so es to make stitch on the
lower (afterward the right side that
exactly crosses the first one. tying tho
same sort OF knot again. This secures
each set OF crossing strands with two
firm knots. That is all there is 10 it,
The effect will be that OF d series of
cross stitches" on the right side at
each junction"
Vine row has been tied all across
tHc frame, take treSn thread and start
ct the right hand side again. When
all the rows are finished. cut the
threads evenly along the outside of the
slate frame. This will leave a nice
deep frige on all four sides.
Who can think of a more acceptable
Eft for the housewife than a set OF
these mats? And 1t is really the SIM
plest thing in the world to make ther.
sven though the instructions do sound
Intricate. Once the slate frame is
wound with cotton. the method of
tying is almost obvious. One accus-
toned to the work can easily tie set
Of ma is in a day. but, of course most
women Will prefer to do the work at
odd moments. The mats are just the
thing for pickup work. as they do not
require close attention and do not tax
the eyesight. The cotton usually costs
cents ball. or 90 cents for a box of
twenty balls, enough for three sets and
couple of mats over.
For Tailored skirts.
II Won would pro6t hy tho oya,n,,s