Evening star., 1925-02-20
AID FOR NEEDLE WORKERS
Improved Methods Are Suggested to Make More
Effective the Work'of the Housewife -Hemstitch-
ing ard Chainstitching for Various Articles.

| interested in novel ways Of varying
| the plain square which she wishes to
beautify. The handkerchief with the
| roll and whip" border. the hem of
which is rolled tightly by moistening
IL little with the finger tips. and
whipped around and back again with
colored thread to form tiny crosses
, for border. has been such a favorite
that 1T is now being ornamented by
drawn threads of a deeper shade, in
serted parallel to the edge. which
gives a Very effective touch to the
finished handkerchief.
1t is a simple matter to draw these
threads through the linen If they are
attached carefully to the ends OF the
threads of the original fabric, which
are to be removed to make room for
the colored threads. When the old
thread is slipped out, the new one fol-
lows automatically in its place. Two
lines may be inserted parallel, If pre-
ferred, to give more color and char
acter to the design. A simple initial
ing at one corner supplies an added
decoration.
Handkerchief linen can he obtained
in variety of exquisite shades,
which are very attractive when set
off by a finishing touch in darker
color.
Dainty baby Blankets.
You can make for baby an attrac-
tive little rose blanket one yard wide
and one and one-fourth yards long.
The material to use is the thick, soft
white flannel that Is sold for the max
ing of baby blankets, and buttonhole
the edges with light blue. To make
the rose which decorates It. cut three
rings of paper. The first ring has an
inner diameter of two inches and an
outer diameter of three and one-haIf
inches. The second ring has an in
ner diameter of three and one-half
inches and an outer diameter of six
inches. The third ring has an inner
diameter Of six inches and an outer
diameter of seven and thre-fourtEs
inches.
Basic the smallest ring on one cor
ner of the flannel, with it's outer rim
inches from the two edges of the
corner. Fill the center of the ring
with latticework of dark blue wool,
the strands of which should cross
diagonally, held down by a cross
stitch at each intersection. Across
the ring work closely strands of yell
low wool in a long buttonhoIe stitch
that radiates from the center. The
loop is held down by the little cross
stitch at the outer rim. You can now
tear and remove the paper ring and
can then baste the second paper ring
outside of the yellow stitches. Work
long interlacing stitches Of pink over
the second ring. Then, as before, re-
move the paper and baste the third
ring on. over that work light blue
buttonholing as you worked the yell
low over the second ring. Be careful
to draw the stitches tight, and yet not
eight enough to pull and pucker the
flannel
Large blankets for a summer home
can be made in the same way. For
them the roses should be about IA
inches in diameter. although they are
more attractive with a fourth ring
added than with the smaller pattern
enlarged. For the large blankets
stronger colors can be used. Yellow,
red and green, with little black, are
very effective. Sometimes long black
stitches run from the center out
through the rings, but there should
be only a few of them here and there.
When making large blanket, place
a rose in each Of the two upper cor
ners. The small blanket may have
two roses like the large one, or only
one in the center, or 1t may have
four, one in each corner.
Soft Leather Bags.
Sheepskin, goatskin or calfskin in
the ooze finish are excellent feathers
to use for these bags. To make
bag of the most serviceable size, 13
by IS inches, whole skin should be
purchased. The scraps left over can
be used to make small articles like
purses, note books and penwipers.
The bag will need to be stitched only
on two sides. Heavy waxed silk is
the best thread to use. Sits may be
cut about an inch and a half from
the top of the bag for the draw
strings. These may be made from
two narrow strips of leather stitched
together, or from heavy silk cord of
the same color.