Evening star., 1914-01-25
Keeping Tab ON the Linen

patterns. the palmer ones The old snow,
| drop. for one, is good, and so is the
maidenhair fern, with border of stripes
| or wall-of-T Troy border. These patterns
are easy ones to manufacture, and hence
the linen used in cloth of this sort is
OF much better quality than that used III
cloth sold for the same price but deco
rated in newer or more elaborate man.
ner. The cloth with round, plain cen
ter, for instance. surrounded with d floral
design like wreath, is difficult to weave
and so the quality of the linen must be
poorer than in a more old-fashioned cloth
sold for the same price.
If You want one of the new cloths buy
one that is moderately expensive, and be
sure of its good quality.
The old test for linen is the best one
Wet il If it vets through Immediately
il is linen. If the moisture does not
show on the other side for several sec
onds cotton is indicated
Lunch and breakfast sets of satin
damask with colored figured border are
often seen. The borders are sometimes
IN two colors. sometimes in one. Dark
blue and sage green make an interesting
combination, and one set, with plain
blue border. is very attractive. The nap
kins of these sets are not hemstitched.
but are finished with a narrow hand
hem. like ordinary napkins.
Damask luncheon sets consisting of
plain satin damask buttonholed about the
edges are i'll favor at the moment. Ma
dera work is still popular and the Ma
deira lunch and tea napkins are shown
in many designs. Tea napkins made of
plain heavy linen edged with a narrow
but heavy handmade picot edge are also
used.
Towels are more varied than ever The
machine marked bath towel is a delight
TO the orderly housewife. The colored let
ters are we'll made and are done in many
different shades and colors to harmonic
with different rooms. There are also
pink and green and blue bath towels, of
pale. pretty colors and silky texture.
= !
Bath mats of white Turkish toweling
the center.
Guest and hand towels are made Of
plain or bordered huckaback. Sometimes
the border extends across the ends of
the towels, which are finished below it
with one-inch hemstitched hem. Usu-
ally the ends are unfgured and are
scalloped or hemstitched, and the border
is a narrow one along both sides. Above
the end scalloping or hemstitch there is
sometimes embroidery. done in any of
the popular stitches. and sometimes an
initial, worked in simple or elaborate
design. The most durable towel is one
hemstitched in a two-inch hem and
marked above it with an initial in satin
stitch.
Pillowcases are finished in much the
same manner as towels-with scalloped
or hemstitched edges. sometimes elabo-
rately embroidered and sometimes mark
ed with an initial.
The problem of hemming table linen
is much lightened if a French hem is
10 n dn Tpr hon
and turn it back on itself. Then over
hand it neatly with small, even stitches
and press the hem fiat again.
4 still easier method is this Take the
thread from the needle of the sewing ma
chine and run napkins and tablecloths
through the hemmer set for short stitch
and narrow hem. This turns the hem
and makes holes through which to put
the needle. Then overland the hem in
the manner already described.
Table linen that is worn is worth darn
ing if the worn spots are not many.
If the first thin spot is darned before it
becomes hole the task is easy and
the napkins or cloths wear for long
time. If the linen is very old or if it
has been neglected and has become full
of holes it is better not to try to mend
it. The old cloths can be cut into break
fast napkins. using the unworn portions.
or into cloths for children's tables or
kitchen tables. The old napkins can be
stitched, two or three together. to make
serviceable cloths for washing fine dishes
and for cleaning of many sorts.
Old and worn sheets can sometimes
be cut into smaller sheets for children's
beds. It is usually the center of sheet
that wears first. So when the center
of full-width sheets begins to wear cut
the sheets off at one side to make three
quarter or single width sheets of them
Use the strips cut off for cleaning cloths
This method brings the wear on a new
and strong part of the sheet