South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-04

Though cushion is a word giving
comfortable echo, in these strenuous
and energetic days. they appear 10
be chiefly made 10 be admired, not
used: indeed. they are mostly so re-
gal and gorgeous of mien that Il
almost borders on the brazen 90
dare 10 lean against them. The
male mem bers Of the family. having
long since realized this. are wont
tactfuIlv 10 remove them before oc-
cupy1ng the preferred seati IN truth
the household cat or dog curled
snugly IN his cushioned basket alone
appreciates them IN the oId-fashion-
ed manner, and, laughing Barcastl-
ALLY at the strange vaEaries OF hia
human friends. he hopes that their
next endsavor will not make their
beloved cushions pretty"
However. with due respect TO the
male population. the cat and the
dog. cushions are assets of -calcul-
able worth IN the decorative
schemes with which we delight %
make our homes bright and cheer
ful. So a few words on the subject
may be useful 20 those who have a
fancy 70 try their skill at fashion
ing them.
whatever their future destiny or
decorative purpose. the rundament-
ais Of cushion making are the same.
First. cut out the material a little
larger than the cushion % be cover
ed: next. apply the decoration, then
join the component parts together
on the reverse side, leaving space
open through which to insert the
cushion, after the material has been
once again turned right side out
ward: and. finally. neatly sew the
opening up as invisibiy ass possible.
The cord, braid, or any other edge
trimming is next fixed round and the
cushion is complete.
Round cushions. which appear so
complicated. are really quite simple
20 make Lay the doubled material
upon "A table. place a circular paper
pattern upon IL and cut out. This
gives the two fronts. For the band
edge, which viii eventually join
them. cut "a strip of material the
same length as the circumference OF
u.Ihe circle. if If Is desired 20 have
4 ~ band plain; if It is 10 he tucked,
OF course, it must be longer and
must be run at both edges. so as 20
gather up before being fixed in place.
The band and the circles must now
be joined. either by sewing together
ON the wrong side. leaving the usual
J opening: or. If "a piping cord is TO
Asurround the circles, their outside
dyes must FIST be turEed down,
run fairly near the edge and a cord
drawn through. after which the cir
cles must be stretched quite nat once
again. and the band fixed between
the corded edges after the cushion
has been placed inside.
This is the method by which ell
cushions with side bands giving the
mattress effect, are made, and they
are now exceedingly popular. We
find them long. almost like holsters,
square. oblong. often with bands
quite four or five inches deep, oval
and semi circular; in fact cushions
ut the moment are Of the most gen
erous proportions, and their size IS
.accentuated by the immense tassels
hich are suspended from their cor
Bolster cushions are easily made,
being merely cut narrow in proper
ton TO their length. with the ends
either gathered up under a fiat but
= ton or tassel or into round Of ma
terial, in the same way as the bands
which united the mattress cushions.
Those VINO wish TO transform a bed
into "a sofa may place one OF these
the head and one at the foot of
le bed. with a square or round one
: resting against the wall i'm the cen
ter. and these may be either made
to match or 10 contrast with the
ooverlet
Linen cushions lend themselves TO
variety of decorations. A lemon
yellow one looked eNceediugly smart
with an oval ring. following the lines
OF the cushion. button-holed upon
H. with four bouquets of emerald
rreen conventional flowers worked
ln washing crewel wool across the
ring and partly resting upon the
background Of yellow This circle OF
one color upon another can be used
as 4 frame for a basket or bunch of
lowers worked i'm wool IN the center,
while other cushions have corners
of contrasting linen and thick Der
lin wool or crochet flowers in vivid
ooloring Again. others may Poe