Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-18

| MS dTllCie tEedtS'-Ol
twelve pillow slips, all of which were
in constant use on one bed and lasted
two years.
In the beginning buy the very best
quality your allowance will admit
The sheets made with a seam through
the middle undoubtedly outwear the
seamless ones. If the supply is to be
homemade 1t is preferable to use half
white rather than unbleached, though
neither will really outwear a good
quality of bleached. The latter is less
soft and consequently harder to han
die in laundering, and this is worth re-
Numbering If laundry work is to be
done in the home.
Il What is true of material for sheets
holds good for pillow coverings. For
a; pair of sheets allow five yards OF
wide sheeting, and six will be more
satisfactory because of the good al
lowance for tucking firmly at both
head and foot of the bed. Also deep
hem may be turned on both ends.
making possible longer wear of the
sheet, because 1t can be used turn
about" foot for head.
Decide the width of the cloth to be
purchased by the width of the bed
L
we'll cover and be tucked beneath the
mattress on each side. When buying
material it is not unusual to have the
salesman cut off the proper length for
each pair. thus necessitating only one
tearing at home for each pair.
/ If a seam is to run through the mid
die top, sew cover and over) the sell
wages together with cotton as coarse
as the coarsest thread in the weave
of the cloth. Determine this by exam
ing the rawlings.
When the seam is finished cut 1t
open with thumb and finger nail or
thimblea thrust upon foreflnger. At the
top turn down a two-inch hem and one
a quarter of an inch at the bottom,
unless it is desired to have both of
the hens of two-inch width. 1t must
be remembered In cutting to allow for
these deep hens il they are the width
to be. preferred.
1t is. of course, matter of taste
whether the hemming shall be by
hand. Certainly hand-doing makes a
nicer, more finished article. But where
time is limited the machine must be
used.
When cutting lengths for pillow COW
erings cut them half a yard longer
than the long edge of the pillows
Top sew the selvages together, close
one end with a French seam or sim
edges, and. hem the open end, having
the width of the hem correspond with
that of the wide one of the sheets.
+ When completed the case should be
a quarter of a yard longer than the
pillow. Nearly all readymade slips
ARE SO short after shrinking that the
ticking of the pillow shows and the
covering wabbles and wrinkles, which
is undesirable, to say the least.
| The neatest way to finish bed linen
hens. avoiding all ruf1ings and laces
If one is expert witr ire needle an
embroidered initial of simple pattern
is in good taste.
| Perfect simplicity and absolute clean
Illness should be the rule for all bed
linen. Tubing saves in sewing, but
| doesn't wear enough longer to pay for
| the difference in cost, and needs to be
made over If it is to outwear the other
! kind.
the articles are finished put them to
i soak in a tub of clear cold water in the
evening.
| The next morning prepare in the
boiler a mixture of half cake Of
white soap to three-fourths boiler Of
| Wiring out the sheets and put then
| into the water; let them boil ten min.
utes after boiling begins. After this
| take them from the boiler and rinse tT
two rinsings of cold water and one o.
! slightly blue. Wiring. shake out ant
hang upon the line by both hemmec
ends BY hanging sheets in this was
they will snap into shape and can bt
more readily well ironed.
Treat the pillow coverings in thu
| same manner.
Let all the linen become perfect,
| dry before taking from the line II
the late afternoon; sprinkle, usins
salt shaker; fold with utmost care
and iron with good hot irons nex'
morning. Allow plenty of time FOL
this first ironing. for it is saying o.
| old housekeepers that "as you smooth
and fold the first time, so always mus
you"
| If half white or unbleached cloth II
used, put the completed pieces into 8
+ tub of clear, cold water. soak ovei
| night and without wringing hang upor
| the line the next morning. When dry
rewet and return to the line: II safe
I to do so, let them remain out OF doors
! all night. 1t is much easier If one has
| garden hose to use it in rewetting the
linen than to rewet in the tub.
| Many homemakers plan to make VI
| he'd linen in February and depend
| UPON the snow flurries for bleaching
| when sufficiently whitened. give these
] linens the same treatment as was
| given the bleached ones.
| Towels.
| A good quality is always cheapest
and most satisfactory. Damask. buck
abuck, good quality linen crash ant
Turkish are the standards.
Towels which require no ironing are
| cause of their rough surface are apt
1 l411 Iaaa