Evening star., 1948-07-12
FOR "UNSHR1NK1NG" SWEATER
QUERY2

QUERY?
from Mrs. E. F. F., Arlington.)
I have seen no answers to re-
quests for unshrinking woolens, and
I welcome an opportunity to con-
tribute something This method was
shown to me by my mother for a
pair of woolen mittens which were
put into an automatic washer and
washed and rinsed on "hot." They
were shrunken so badly that even
a very small child's hand would not
60 into them. She says she used
this method for our baby woolens
that were occasionally mishandled
and that it restores the original
softness, as well as enables one to
restore size. My mittens are now
their original size.
Wash the garment in lukewarm
water, which has been made very
foamy with some mild soapfakes.
Il have never tried detergent lathers,
50 can not recommend themD The
lather should be very rich and fine.
Squeeze the suds through the gar
ment thoroughly. AS 1t begins to
soften, stretch it between the hands
in all directions. Do this for several
minutes. Your time will be re-
warded. When you can no longer
seem to increase the size, do not
worry II 1t has not reached the
original size. Do not rinse, just
spread 1t out fiat to dry, shaping 1t
and stretching it as much as pos
sible. AS it dries, pull 1t into shape,
stretching little each time. Then
repeat the whole process. You may
have to do 1t two or three times,
but I think you will finally achieve
complete success. After garment Is
correct size, rinse before drying.
Two or three suggestions: Keep
the water very sudsy II first suds
die after few minutes, squeeze out
garment and start over with fresh
water and flakes. Use only white
soap, since yellow soap may leave
stain when it dries in the wool. Re-
member: Do NOT rinse suds out
before drying until garment is de-
sired size. 1t is the softening action
of the soap that restores the stretch
mess of the wool fiberS.
Now can some one help me? I
have very dry hands. I have tried
all popular commercial skin soften
ers with no success, and many others
not so well known. Some things
have seem to help for few days,
but lose their effectiveness after
ward. When trying new prepara-
ton, am faithful to use 1t each
time I have my hands in water, in
order to give it fair trial. but
usually give up. after a month or
so without results. Some prepara-
tions, after seeming effective for a
short while. seem to have the op-
posite effect later, and increased
doses" just make matters worse.
Most things I have tried help the
outsides of my hands; 1t is the in
side that remains dry.
RE-WEAVING RUSH SEAT OF
CHAIR? WATERCRESS IN YARD?
from E. L. S., Greenbelt.)
Can any kind readers tell me
where I can have a rush seat on
a good chair re-woven? 1t is i'm
perative that pickup and delivery
be made as I have no car. Poly
technic Institute of the Blind does
such work but I can't get the chair
there and back again by trolley and
bus. I am anxious for quick help
as need the chair badly. Does any
one know if I could do 1t myself
from instructions?
May I also repeat my request for
growing watercress in my own yard?
No one answered 1t before. I have
seen it only in western mountain
streams.
OLD WATCH?
| from Mrs. G. B., Wdshtngton.)
I have in my possession an Elgin