The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-25
Have a Hobby
Needle Work Expresses
Love for Art and Color
BY MRS. C. o. ROBINSON,
Tfmes Hobby Editor

Times Hobby Editor
When lovely lady finds her sphere,
And IL this sphere be sewing,
It really is hem -isphere.
Whose con-stitch-uents are growing
n
TN this busy twentieth century
Il world needlework is not as uni
versal a means of entertainment
for women as it was in the past.
Even so, there are today many
women who enjoy expressing with
the needle their love Of color and
design. Unlike many other crafts
whose origin is shrouded in the
mists of antiquity, the beginning
of sewing is recorded definitely.
Eve, of the well known team OF
Adam and Eve, is responsible. We
are told in Genesis, third chapter,
seventh verse, They adam and
Eve) sewed fig leaves and made
themselves aprons"
Adam did not feel that sewing
was beneath his dignity, yea some
where down the ages the majority
of the male sex has acquired an
aversion to the needle, and it has
been relegated to the feminine
side of the house. Perhaps women
usurped the privilege, for, al
though our original ancestors
wished upon us many kinds OF
toll. the true daughters of Eve
thank her for the feminine pre-
rogative of needlework. Since
the earliest dawn of history wonl-
en- have enjoyed beautifying and
celebrating the work of their
hands and in so doing have added
to the refinement Of living.
The development Of needleWork
is allied closely to the spread OF
Christianity, since usually the fin
est work was made to enrich the
decoration of the church. Many
authentic ecclesiastical pieces OF
embroidery exist today in mu-
seums or churches. The dalmatica
Official robe) of Charlemagne in
the Vatican at Rome is one OF the
earliest and most beautiful OF en-
broidered relics, and is supposed
to belong to the eighteenth CEN
tury.
TINE Bayeux Tapestry, which IS
L not tapestry, but the most
famous Of all embroideries, is now
in a former palace at BayeuX, Nor
mandy, and tells the story OF the
conquest of England by William
the Conquer. The embroidery is OF
wool on linen, one of the few early
specimens showing this comblna-
ton. and was made to hang on the
nave of the Bayeux Cathedral. 1t
is attributed to the twelfth CEN
fury.
For a period prior to the Re-
formation, English ecclesiastical
embroidery was adjudged the most
beautiful in the world, but after
Henry VIII banished the Catholic
church from England because
the pope would not sanction his
multitudinous marriages, needle
work interest was centered on the
adornment Of garments and dec
grafton of the home. Queen Eliza
beth was fond of embroidering and
several pieces of her hardiWork
are preserved.
In her reign, needle point was
fashionable, particularly for
making pictures, and now centuries
later needle point remains a
favorite, being chosen today to
accompany and enhance the
beauty of old furniture.
Mrs. T. Chandler Werbe Of An
derson, Ind, is adding legacy Of
her own making to the rare pieces
of antique furniture and beautiful
contemporary paintings which her
sons will inherit. She is skillful
with the needle, she has made ap-
pliqued quilts and pieces of needle
point as potential antiques. In adj
dition to it's beauty, needle-point
is very durable and useful type
of embroidery and has stood the
fashion test of generations. 1t
serves also as a demonstration of
skill and patience as it is both
difficult and tedious. Mrs. Werbe
has qualified as an expert since
many of her antiques are uphol-
stored in her work. She also has
made many small pieces and the
beautiful fire screen.
The vogue for needle point pic
lures so stimulated interest in
needle painting that a stitch was
originated which simulated the