Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30
BY BETSY CAI.LISTER.

~ T all the linen-saving devices
10 DC had 10 cover the taoie
for breakfast and luncheon
and the informal dinner or
sumner. those made of rama
are among the most desi able. And few
housewives now question the proprlety
of using some such substitute Tor nnen
cover at the informal home meal. IL is
not only because of the expense Oh
laundry work. but because OF the oevas.
tatinc effect of hasty washing ana
ironing that we often gladly use these
more substantial table covers.
There are many sorts to choose from.
Runners or pads made from oilclotn
are attractive and may be wiped OH
even though they do sometimes Sho"
cracks when actually washed. one
woman has circles of leather with
large leather centerpieCe to use on nef
dark oak table for informal meals.
They protect the table from the not
dishes laid upon them and can be
wiped off also. Light-toned oolone
mats from Japan: made OF wloe ia!
grass woven closely and bound OF at
thu edge. make convenient set. The
mats are large enough to hold plate.
silver. tumbler and bread and butter
dish.
But these new raffia mats have the
advantage that they are substantial
enough to protect thu table from hot
dishes. are most inexpensive when you
can make them yourself ana can De
actually washed without any difficulty
In making them you may select any
chape or size for the plate mats, though
those mad round are easiest. Mats Ia
inches in diameter are useful for thu
plates. with smaller rounds for bread
and butter plates or tumblers. larger
circle provides centerpiece BY usire
natural colored rafIia for thu center of
each mat and one or two colorS for the
edge vCu can Get an attractive color
scheme to harmonic with your decora-
tions
Rsffia work is decidedly easv. and
as it is coarse can be done without
strain to the eyes. All you need is
coarse raffia needle and the raffia. as
these mats are made Of raffia on raffia
Heavier mats are sometimes made of
rafia on thin willow and sometimes the
raffia is used on hemp Irvine. but for
the table set raffia foundation is better
as the mats so made are more plant.
One doesn't expect to wash mats of
this sort as often as linen. but when
necessary, YOU will have no difficulty
with this. as they may be dipped into
lukewarm water in which very little
soda or h0raX mas O9en OlSSOlVeQ ana
brought out perfectly cleaned. Then
they should be laid on fiat surface
to dry. The rsffia needed may be
bought in A kindergarten supply store
or in almost any large department
store.
You can make very attractive work
bags Of raff1a-cne way is to darn the
raffia into a cheap canvas bag In an
attractive pattern and in interesting
colors. And you can work out YOUR
color schemes so that such workings
match the rooms where they are used.
They furnish an inexpensive decora-
tive note indeed for guest room. bed
room and living room.
And then there ere raf1a lamp shades.
made by working the raffis into pat
t~rn on canvas mounted on wire lamn-
shade frames. These are not at all
difficult to make.
II you would like to know precisely
how to make them, please send me
stamped. sclf-sddressad envelope. and
will send YOU full directions at once.
After Won have made set for your
self. I think you will want to make
anotbar set or so to use for Christmas
gifts later on.
tCopyriEht. 1897