Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-02-18
$50 PAGE FOp THE WOMEN FOLKSggBs
EFFICIENT
4 Stitch In Time--C Cleaning,
Pressing Dorning and Patching
BY HENRIETTA ID. GRAUEL
Onmeslic Science Iactorsrl

Time was, and not sc long ago, when girls were taught to mend
and patch and dan a faithfully as boys were made 10 handle AXE and
saw II spade. Now sewing is q special branch Of education tn M
the domestic science student is expected to master!
AS a result. women nc longer Spend an their time thinking about
robes and house hold linens in order. Beautiful gowns that only need
cleaning are discarded; suits that look shabby for want of pressing are
given Ito the maid; table linens and tapestries and hapgings 81 to n
ragbag for wan of darning.
Cleaning is the most important problem when renogattng any tex
tile. Careful consideration must be given to the nature of the spot and
the material. A process OF chemical that will remove q stain from
one material, will set the spot In another. Laces, leather, velvets and
silks a be cleaned with benzine and similar preparations. All linens
and cotton weayes may be cleaned with mild, white soap and tepid
dyed. will appear like and at but a few cents OF expense.
Indifferent sewing Is made to look neat and fine when the hens
and seams are we'll pressed, for 1t straightens out numbers " defects
Bad pressing will ruin thu most careful sewing.
Until you become expert. haste back seams IN their exact place be-
fore pressing. For woolens have a strip of moist cotton long enough
to cover the entire "a Iron untlt this strip is perfectly dry, then
dampen and Iron again. 1t is impossible to put to- much weight on
the cloth. aN "'
Napkins. and other linens that are to be hemmed by hand, will
lew easily If they ire turned AMI pressed with a moderately warm
iron first, This softens the finishing starch in them. Especially should
square corners be pressed before sewing, and rolled hens must be
n well Strengthened before insertions are put IN o the maj
lace edgtngs added.
Darning thread should match in color and quality, the material
to hold it firm. Begin the stitches a little beyond the worn place so
they will hold. Run the thread exactly in line with the thread of the
garment A rayenng drawn from the goods itself is the best mending
thread. II this Is not to he had, choose thread somewhat finer than
the material in the weave.
Too much cannot be said in praise of mending tissue; All goods
that do not require washing In hot water, ca be repaired with il much
better than with needle and thread. A piece Of goods like the article
to be mended is placed as though for a patch. A piece of mending
tissue is placed between the garment and the patch, after which a
Hens are made with It, bottoms of skirts faced, and boys pants
knees "Gared te look a amaist as weel IS new The iron must not
be too hot, and the rubber tissue should not be old, a IS 1t grows tender
and loses its elasticity with age.
A good sewing machine will do almost all the mending and, in
fact, nearly everything human fingers CA do, but hand sewing is a nice
art important to every woman. The selection of the right-si2ed needle
and the right number of thread is necessary to neat work.
The selttnreading needles for thanksgiving are a boon to persons
with falling eyesisht and the needle threader, for machine needless
m and patience. -~