Evening star., 1925-05-25
Fabric Napkin Rings Are Approved
BY LYDIA LIE BARON WALKER.

Napkin rings, even though they be
of gold or silver or ivory, chaSte in
pristine tone and ornamented with
traceries of designs in precious metals.
or of wood, howevery finely caurved or
inlald, do not play any important part
today, as formerly, in the setting of a
table. This does not mean, however,
that all napkin rings are relegated to
the chests Of old-fascioned things,
waiting the time of their revival into
vogue. In place of the stiff and beau-
tifully curved napkin rings that once
grated our dining tables, we now have
the softer and less decoratively con-
spicuous holders that are made from
fabrics, and which lie as fiat as the
folds of the napkins themselves. 1t is
true that they do not attract the atten-
ton that the outstanding ones did. but
some of the modern rings" are beau
iful, nevertheless. They can be ex-
quisite examples Of hand embroidery,
which is now so decidedly featured in
napery.
There are many times when napkin
rings are so great a saving in laundry
work that IL is absurd to hesitate to
use them.
Save Work and Washing.
To do without some method of dis
tinguishing napkins when at a Sum-
mer cottage where fabric napery is
preferred to paper makes the task of
the person laying the table an arduous
one, if it does not increase the washing
decidedly. When there are guests who
are remaining for several days in a
home where there are no servants
the matter of marking the napkin is
simplitied by these fabric rings of
dalntily embroidered material or GRO.
chet, always kept immaculate.
How to Get Patterns.
Two styles of embroidered rings are
shown today, patterns for which can
be had by sending a self-addressed and
stamped envelope to Lydia LIE Baron
Walker with a request One is done in
regular embroidery, such as that seen
on andkercniefs. The little roses are
worked with finest embroidery cotton,
preferably mercerized. Each petal
forms one group of stitches. Leaves
are embroidered from edge to edge.
over and over, and not from center to
edge. Tendrils are worked in outline
stitch. This design is exquisite when
done in pastel shades of colors that are
perfect in harmony.
Hardanger Embroidery.
The second napkin ring is in Har-
danger embroidery. The foundation
may be Hardanger canvas, congress
canvas or a heavy scrim. Kloster
stitch is employed. which is one that is
chara aCteristic of Hardanger embroid-
cry. The needlework comes to us from
Norway, although it was known in the
early days of fancy work. For the
benefit of those who are not familiar
with this embroidery. the only stitch
used is kloster. Nothing could be
easier to do, for the weave indicates
exactly where the needle should go.
The embroidery is similar to satin
stitch. Directions for working the
stitch and for adapting it to the but
tonholing in block effect at the shaped
end will be sent. None of the cut work
and weaving of Hardanger embroidery
is seen in the napkin ring. However,
If sufficient interest is shown in this
fascinating type of embroidery, other
designs will be given that will gradu-
ally progress in variety of stitches and
in the application of the work to many
uses.
In connection with the napkin rings