Evening star., 1953-10-14
Readers Clearing House Conducted Betsy o4s"sA.
AMATEUR UPHoLsTERING

AMATEUR UPHOLSTERING
mrs. J. H., Siluer Spring.
Sometime ago one of your
readers asked for information
about reupholstering piece of
furniture. She mentioned that
she was interested in hearing
from an amateur. I hope oul
experience will be of some
help to her. We had never
tried to reupholSter anything
before our current attempt to
cover a chair.
Our first step took us to
the library where we selected
several books on upholstery.
Through these we became ia
miliar with some of the terms
and required materials. We
also got an idea of the kind
of work involved. Most every
book we studied stated that
by taking a chair apart and
keeping notes of each oper-
alton, the beginner could learn
more than the book could
teach.
Our next step took us to
one of the local mail-order
houses where we looked for
upholstery supplies in the cata-
logue. We chose the supplies
which we felt were needed for
the chair we wished to work
with. They were as follows:
Webbing stretcher, hemp
twine, fax twine, curved up
holstery needle, straight up
holStery needle and jute web-
olng to support the springs.
AS we were heSitant to ruin
good material on our first try
we bought an attractive striped
denim. My husband bravely
took the chair apart and made
notes here and there. He did
a beautiful job of covering the
chair. My part of the con-
trloutlon was the covering of
tne cushions. For finishing
Z toucheS you will probably need
piping or cording to go on the
Z outside of the cushions. ginn
! and gimp tackS. 1 am sure
II you obtain a library book
as introduction you will have
no trouble. This project is
taking us at least a month to
accomplish, simply because
we are working only as long
as we enjoy it and are quitting
"hen we become frustrated.
AS for the question about
. renting a sewing machine that
seWS heavy-duty materials Won
might call the store that sells
the nationally advertised me4
chlne that begins with S,
nave never done any sewing
prior to this time, but am
! hndlng that one can learn
much by reading instructions.
/. We bought one of the machines
made by this company and it
SeWS any kind of material. as
Will any one of their machines.
We are strictly amateurs and
didn't write before because
was so busy finding out if
IL could be done. If I can be
OF further assistance to Won.
contact me through RICH.
DRYING GOURDS:
MALT BEER.
MRS. w. S. H., KensinotonJ
Someone wrote in asking
directions for drying gourds
This was printed in the NAV
1858 issue of Better Homes
and Gardens" Wash gourds
with lime sulfur solution, or
solution of l part formalin
, by volume to so parts water.
Hang gourds up to cure for
several weeks in a dry airy
place. Rub all gourds occa-
, sionally with floor or auto
wax.
Also for the gentleman who
. wrote in requesting a reprint
of the recipe for malt beer
printed last spring, here it is:
. One 5-gallon crock or jar, l
quart can malt sirup, / grated
, raw potato, 6 cups sugar,
granulated or brown, / yeast
cake in 1 cup warm water, 8
quarts boiling water, 11A
quarts cold or tepid water.
Put malt in crock. Pour in
boiling water. Add sugar and
potato. Stir thoroughly. Let
stand an hour or so. Add cold
water to cool the mix. Add
yeast. Let stand 48 to 72
hours until it stops foaming.
Skim off foam. Pour into
clean bottles and cap. Let
stand for about a week. Then
1t will be ready to use.
I have not tried this recipe
since I have been unable to
locate any malt syrup. If the
gentleman requesting this re-
cipe knows where it may be
bought I would appreciate
hearing.