TRIMMING THE CRADLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 553, 4 January 1929, Page 4

TRIMMING THE CRADLE

Some time ago, when going through ■ Napoleon's apartments at Fontainei bleau, I was interested to see the i cradle in which the empress placed the son who afterwards was known by i the nickname of L’Aiglon. It was of i walnut, most elaborately gilt and j carved, and both sides and ends were I upholstered (!) in yellow satin, padded 1 so that the design stood out boldly. ! Every mother imbued with principles lof hygiene must have shuddered to contemplate this costly cot. The demands of hygiene come before everything in our day. All trimmings must be washable, and capable of being removed without trouble for frequent launderings. Hence the fashion of making the hangings in a single piece that can be merely laid over an “arm” of metal or wood, projecting from the back of the cradle at a right angle To keep the curtains in place, slots or buttonholes on a large scale are worked Into them, so that by passing ribbons through these the material can be tied in position. The ribbons themselves are of the washable order. White trimmings have gone out of fashion for cradles, and many of the modern cots are as colourful as is the modern wedding dress. Artificial silk nets in blush pink and palest blue make delightful hangings, so do those that look like a sunlit rainbow. Mosquito net bordered with coloured wools darned Into the weave makes original cot curtain draperies. The wools should be in pastel shades, and must be worked in closely to make a firm edge. No lace is needed in this j case. Flowered voiles, with scattered , | butterflies and rosebuds printed among j their other embellishments, look es | pecially dainty when draped upon I cradles of painted wood, i M.L.