DECORATIVE BELTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1938, Page 14

DECORATIVE BELTS

POSSIBILITIES OF FELT

Decorative and colourful belts, like those seen in some parts of Switzerland, can be made by using a thick firm braid, similar to upholstery webbing, slates a writer in Italy for "The Christian Science Monitor," From a braid about three inches wide cut off the required length and decorate with wool stitchery and patterns cut from scraps of felt appliqued on. Designs should be bold and simple. Bunches of cherries and leaves cut from green and scarlet felt, grouped along the belt and sewn down. Feather or blanket stitch in wool along the,edges. Scattered small flowers in shades of pink and ' crimson grouped or sprinkled among green leaves, or a pattern of oranges or lemons look well. A delightful.belt can be made with a frieze of little Dutch figures made by setting clipped bits of different coloured felt one upon the other to form skirts, aprons, shawls, and other details. A row ->i small houses with a tree set at intervals is another good arrangement. PATTERNS FROM PICTURES. Those who can draw and design will have no difficulty in making patterns for themselves. Others less expert can trace a motif from a child's picture book or a flowerman's catalogue, repeating the tracery along a strip of paper until the whole design is worked out. The effect depends upon bold simple designs, gay blending of colours, and a combination of the cut-out felt designs with ornamental stitchery done in wools or coarse embroidery threads. The belts are fastened in. front with three-or four large hooks and eyes, laid on the outer, decorated side. The hooks should be applied with the projecting side outwards. Scraps of coloured felt are cut in circles, diamonds, or other shapes to serve as a backing for the hooks and eyes which are then worked down with bright woollen stitchery. This clasping-point of the belt can- be decorated also with a few woollen tassels.

SMART CANADIAN TEAM

One of the smartest groups of swim-' mers in Sydney for the Empire Games are the Canadians, states the "Morning Herald." ; They wear pique linen costumes which have huge maroon flowers embroidered'on a white background. • The costumes lace at the sides so that they are comfortable for training work. With them they wear white caps with red bands across them. Although they wfere unable to obtain their uniforms until they reached Sydney, the .Canadians promise to be among the best dressed at the Games. Mrs. M. M. Robinson, the wife of the manager1 of the Canadian team, together - with ■ Miss Anne Clark, the chaperon of the team, chose the frocks for the girls, and; the unanimous opinion of the team was that they were very smart: The frocks 'are to be made of a heavy silk, buttoning from neck to hem, .with a flared skirt, 15 inches from .the ground, and the shoulders are peaked in milltary fashion. With this all-white frock the girls will' wear their green ties and maroon blazers with the maple leaf of Canada embossed on them, Sun tan stockings' will be worn with , white shoes, which are of the walking type, of buckskin and open worked.