The Omaha guide., 1937-10-23

as a sizing, which .M
we know is given NAN
new material in
order to add weight and a sem
blance of a finer quality of good.
than it actually is.
Sizing.
Sometimes sizing is advantageous
in new textiles as. for instance, ir
mosquito netting, stiffening for in
terlinings, wells, and numerous 9th
er things. In table linens it is TN
desirable. When buying these lin
ems, be careful not to get those
sized, as this filling will wash out.
and leave the material without the
body" that good napery should
have.
When laundering table linen that.
is old and thin, 1t can be somewhat
restored to its former weight by
lightly starching it. Good new lin
ems require no such treatment.
Starched material must be carefully
handled as it will crease badly and
muss easily.
A finish suggesting that Of double
damask car be impaired to less ex-
cellent table linens by ironing It on
the wrong as well as the right side.
The linen can be reversed when
the right side gets soiled, and II
will still look well unless spotted If
ii has been ironed on the wrong side.
Use quite a hot fiat iron and press
with some weight. Iron slowly.
Starched material scorches more
readily than unstarched, so a hotter
iron can be used on unstarched
laundry. Table damask should al.
ways have a good gloss both for a
fine finish and because the pattern
shows to advantage when it has.
A Word About Cambria.
The word cambria Is known to
every woman, but the meaning LOT
the word is not so familiar. To one
person it signifies an ordinary cot
ton cloth, fine or coarse. To another
it means the finest grade of linen,
and between these two understand
ings of the word, there are various
interpretations. Cambria may be
the choicest of handkerchief linen,
or a glazed cotton cloth used for
Innings. It may be figured, striped,
corded or twilled, and in many col
ors besides white. The word, origi-
nally of high significance has been
changed in textile Technology, and
in the comprehension of it, until ii
has lost its prestige.
Cambria, in its original and prop
Ell meaning, is the highest grade
Of best quality linen, fine, closely
woven, and almost as soft and beau
tiful as silk. Its name comes from
the place in France, Cambria in
the department du Nord. where its
manufacture is reputed to have been
originated by Batista. Another
name for this material Is Batiste.
This name may have a double orr
gin since the soft fine linen was used
to wipe the heads Of infants after
baptism. In early days cambria
was used for handkerchiefs and
n~eckerchiefs sometimes called cam
brio or cambricks.
Original Uses.
One of the original uses Of CAM
brio was to make the rufus so popu-
lar in the days of Queen Elizabeth.
1t was also used for cravats in early
days. and continued to be worn be.
fore collars. as We know them to-
day. came into use. For the cravat
the material was cut on the bias. In
a long strip. and four times the
width worn. It was q work Of art to
fold these cravats. wind them about
the neck and tie the bow in the
back. The appearance was similar
to a priests collar.
limitations Of genuine cambria
were put out under the names Of
Scotch cambria. cotton cambria,
and cambria muslin. all Of cotton.
It is the latter sort cambria muslin
that was woven striped, corded, etc.
and in colors. From this frocks
were made. Fine cotton sheeting IL
termed cambria sheeting, but linen
cambria would be too lightweight,
for sheets being more akin to hand
kerchief linen. Cambria lining Is q
common sort Of cotton cambria. The
use Of the word seems to be waning.
The genuine material continues, but