SHRINKING CURTAINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 215, 30 November 1927, Page 9

SHRINKING CURTAINS

TO PRESERVE THEM Curtains of muslin and net have a way of shrinking and of becoming so untidy at the edges that the windows soon take on a bedraggled look. Here are some bints which will help to avoid this: After washing, run light wooden rods through both top and bottom ends of the curtain and throw it over the line to dry with the hems hanging downwards. so that there is a slight pull on -the fabric which will militate against shrinkage. In order to preserve the sides of the curtain in a straight hne, machine a narrow tape all along each selvedge. This will keep the edge in good condition more effectually than a hem. Coloured nets which aie exposed continually to the light usually lose some degree of their tone. It is. tlierefoie, wise to dissolve a small packet of home-dye in the ume shade as the original colour, in tne washing water. \l'ter the curtain is ironed, it is often difficult to insert the rods without damaging the delicate fabric, if the muslin has also been starched the operation may lead to tearing away the hem altogether. To facilitate matters chop a small thimble over the end of the rod. The curved surface will overcome resistance, ana the rod will glide along quite .smoothly. Tears in muslin are not easy to mend invisibly. If. however, a smaJ portion of the same material be soaked in starch-water and placed just ovei the worn place, a hot iroi. will cause it to adhere quite ftrml>. It will liardlv be noticeable.