To Make a Shawl

Southland Times, Issue 21100, 4 June 1930, Page 12

To Make a Shawl

(From Our Correspondent.) London. A Spanish shawl is a most useful possession. As a summer evening wrap its popularity is not likely to wane for a considerable time, and at any season it is handy to slip about the shoulders over an evening frock. But not very many of us can afford one of the beautiful embroidered and fringed things from the East or South, which make the stalls of a theatre look like a flower garden. Very effective and pretty substitutes may be more within our reach, however. Recently I saw a square of Paisley silk made the centre of a wide border of silver all-over lace. It was a really lovely shawl. After a dance the other evening, a girl who drew about her shoulders a shawl of black ring velvet fringed with chenille attracted considerable atention. The effect was rich and handsome. Any suitable 1 scarf of square shape, embroidered, printed or plain, may be bordered with triple union or crepe-de-chene, and so extended to shawl size. A long fringe, of course, completes the illusion, but if this is too costly, a picot edging, or broad hem finished with hem-stitching, docs quite as well.

Black triple ninon or good crepe-de-chenc, with a wide border of black Spanish lace, is handsomely sumptuous. Lace on the shawls is not gathered at the corners, but cut cross-ways and joined up so that it lies flat.

Heavy double-width crepe-de-chene, printed silk of smart design, or ninon with a brocaded pattern in velvet or chenille, cut square and bordered with fringe, are the simplest materials for making shawls. Artificial silk, of course, lends itself as readily as real silk. The longest and heaviest of knotted silk, or artificial silk fringe should be used for these, or the whole effect is cheapened and spoilt. The material of the centre can always be replaced if it becomes threadbare while the fringe is still good. A shawl must be embroidered on a frame if this adornment is to be attempted, and a very carefully-planned design should be transferred before needle is put to silk. It js, however, a fascinating occupation to copy some of the beautiful Chinese or Spanish embroideries. A single colour, white, wedgewood blue, jade, or lacquer red, often gives a better result than a riot of tones on a contrasting background. Stencilled patterns and batik designs are frequently applied to shawls; while handpainting "may be as strikingly beautiful and effective as embroidery.

Just at present Paris is favouring broad bands, stripes and triangles of vivid colour, sometimes irregularly rayed from the centre.