Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 3 August 1911, Page 1489

Domestic

——■—-♦ By Maureen.

Easy Way to Hem-Stitch, Draw the required number of threads. Turn the hem down, and tack with the edge in the centre,of the drawn threads. Lessen the tension of your machine and stitch as nearly on the edge of the hem as possible. Remove the tacking threads take the garment in one hand and the hem in the other, and pull the edge of the hem to the bottom of the drawn threads. This is very quickly done, and can scarcely be distinguished from hand work. Hem-stitched tucks are made on the same principle. One Way of Washing Kid Gloves. Have ready a little new milk in one saucer, a piece of brown soap in another, and a clean cloth folded three or four times. Spread out the glove smooth and neat on the cloth. Take a piece of flannel, . dip it in the milk, then rub a good quantity of soap on to the wetted flannel, and commence to rub the glove downward towards the fingers, holding it firmly with the left hand. Continue this process until the glove, if white, looks a dingy yellow : if a colored glove, until it looks dark and spoiled. Lay it to dry. Old gloves will look like new. Neuralgia. At this time of year neuralgia is a common complaint; and victims of this distracting trouble will find much peace and comfort from external application of the following prescription: —Take a medicine bottle to the chemist, and ask him to break a small lump of camphor into a little quantity of methylated spirits. Allow the camphor to dissolve, and then well wet a piece of flannel with the mixture and apply to the aching portion, when it will be found to draw out the exceeding pain and give relief to the sufferer. Care of House Plants. Lovers of plants are sometimes bothered by the problem of caring for a palm or fern when the house is to be closed for a few days. If the plant is well watered and the pot is then wrapped around with a wet cloth, the soil will probably be kept from drying out. Let the wet cloth be wrapped several times around the pot and even overlap the soil itself. To give a house fern a good shape turn each new sprout toward the light until it is well up and begins to bend in the right direction. Tire result will be a beautiful round plant. Kitchen Soap. Directions "for making:Take fib of caustic soda and empty into an earthenware jar with If pints of water; stir it with a spoon or stick; the powder dissolves immediately, and the lye becomes quite hot : set it aside until it is nearly cold. Now melt 31b of clean grease, tallow, or lard in a pan or jar near the fire until it is dissolved. Allow it to cool until®it feels just warm by the hand. Now pour the soda lye into the grease, at the same time stirring with a spoon, or flat wooden stirrer, until the two are thoroughly mixed, and it appears like honey. Do not stir too long, one or two minutes will be long enough. Now pour into a square wooden box for a mould, lining it with a damp calico to prevent the soap sticking. Cover with a cloth, and put it into a warm place until the next day ; then turn out the block of soap, and cut into squares with a piece of string or wire, and you will have six pounds of pure, hard soap, which should be put away for a month previous to use. Be careful not to pour the mixture into a tin, for any rust on the tin will adhere to the soap.