"The Distaff."

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2113, 23 January 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

"The Distaff."

SUMMER QUILTS." Ltckt and pretty anilta are welcome for summer, and if bright and appropriate materials; be chosen, they form a daint/ finish to the room. One ot the quickest mo les of forming such is to procure a wliito .lace curtain — preferably one of those made to the design of old points, and measuring three and a half by two and a half yards. L ; ne it by a delicate shade of blue or old-gold sateen, and add i deep frill of the lace as a border on the two sides, the latter slightly festooned at intervals by rosettes of ribbon. Turn up the foot on the guilt to the depth of half a yard, and trim it with lace, thus forming a convenient pocket for night s>eir and slippers. Day slips for the pillows should bo made of the sateen and lace to match, and the whole will preseut a pretty appearance. A deep coffeetiulsd curtain is worthy of more time beiug expended on it, and may be rendered not only handsome, but also dv.able. The pattern will require out-lining by a running of coarse silk or split filoselle, taking up with the needle a couple of the lace threads, just sufficient to keep the silk to the pattern, aod leaving long sSiLches of the silk on the ri^ht side of the material. The centres of the scrolls stud &We r s must be raised by working over a cord with button-hole stitch in silk, or a small thickly-padded centre of sateen can be substituted and secured to the lace by knots of silk. The curtain will be sugcejtive of oriental embroidery if worked in a variety of colors, and thereby all odd scraps of woo I*,1 *, silks, and cotton can be utilised. Also, it is an impro%'ement to introduce a little gold thread. In this ccse a dark chocolate lining will show off in the quilt to advantage. Another mode of rendering the lace exceedingly pretty is to work the outside of the design in a dark shade of rich brown and the centres in the brightest brown colour, the lining selected being of pale blue, and the frill enlivened by a few strands of silk along the sdge. Light and cool-looking quilts can be formed from coarse curt..ia net, darned in bold and effective patterns, with either soft-French cotton or colored crewel, and lined Wy gingham, pink or blue. This woik is not only very agreeable, but quickly accomplished if the design selected . be composed principally of straight lines. Curves should be avoided. TheGiecian pattern can be recommended. The darned net washe3 well and clearly, and will last for years. A border can be rnn in straight rows round the coverlet to the depth of ISm, commencing with a dark shade of crimson, and gradually working the pale shades towards the centre. The rest of the net may be dotled over by rose-buds and forget-me-nots. These can be quickly formed by placing a colored sketch of the flower desired under the net, and, having traced the outline in white cotton, fill in the remainder at pleasure by running the wool over and under he net, without rule, to meet the requirements of the skeuch. Call fringe of the colors forms a suitable borderi- g. Black lace net. lined by crimson or oldgold, and finished by a daisy fringe, harmonises well with some bed hangings. A very pretty coverlet may be formed from netted string, lined by a color and edged by Macrame lace. If preferred, the nested string foundation can be enlivened by occasional lacings of bright braids, the border being a s«: ing fringe and loops of the braid. Most dainty quilts are easily made from coase muslin, and, having cut out a number of cvetonne flowers, arrange them testefully, and paste just lightly to the muslin' to keep their position. Buttonhole stich round with silk sufficiently close to render them firm and prevent fraying. Birds cut from cretonne look pretty thus arranged on dark blue linen, or butterflies scattered over a pale blue, pink, or grey sateen, and bordered by a frill of deep coffee-colored lace. A quilt of cinnamon-brown sateen is well decorated by cream lace and a large lace monogram in the centre. A rich tinted sateen is unique studded all over by daisies. They can be quickly formed from pointed braid gathered round a flat button previously covered by orange flannel, the latter to represent the hear!; of the flower. Speaking of type-writing as a means of livelihood for girls, a gentleman lately, having some long document to dictate, made a trial of one of the trained girl type-writers, and found that she was able to beat his own shorthand clerk, who wan a very quick one, even in the time of taking down the dictation, while in one case the work was finished on the spot, and it the other the trancript had to be made from the shorthand notes afterwards. T he agitation in favor of making^ it obligatory on shopkeepers to provide seats for their employes, says the " Lancet," ought to be revied. We have already done much in the matter, and will gladly do more ; but nothing short of an Act of Parliament will suffice to secure the object in view. It is now suggested that a clause might be introduced into Sir John Lubbock's Bill with a view to provide the required enactment. In Massachusetts and Missouri they are wiser than we are in respect of this matter. Why do we lag behind our cousins or brethren on the other side of the Atlantic?