HINTS AND IDEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 24

HINTS AND IDEAS.

TABLE RUNNERS. The table runner, which »s all that modern taste permita by way of covering for beautifully polished tops, give* great »oopo for originality in decoration. One pretty idea is to introduce lace, such as the greatly favoured guipure, in the form of inset*. Or the lace may simply be applied over the fabric of "which "the runner is made. Quite small oddments of lace may be uwd and cut to the shape required, instead of ready-made motifs. Linen of perfect quality, both in the lovely pastel tone? which flax takes on so perfectly, and also in dark colourings, makes artistic table runners. Satin of a heavy make with a dull surface is another* ideal fabric. Shantung in the natural shade also looks ucll with lace to tone with it. From Iti to IS inches across : « quite a usual length for a mrmcr, an.l it may he any length from a yard and .1 quarter t<» two yards. .\ satin runner, or one made of similar fabric, should have a lining of thin silk or sarsenet in some jiretty contrasting ' colour. Shantung also may be lined or made of double material. Linen is sufficient in itscli. and more easily laundered if unlined. The runner shown in the middle is suggested for black or dark blue satin, with five oval insets of coffee-coloured lace outlined with cioss-stitch in dull gold thread. The edge of the lace is turned in and tacked on, then hemmed

down with very fine stitches before tbt-cross-siitching is applied. If the insets are to he transparent, cut the fabric away underneath, and cither bind the raw edges with narrow ribbon or buttonhole round. On the left i« one shantung, with ends cut in a no\e! shape and lace insets following the same lines, with a pretty effect. Heavy embroidery silk is used to apply the lace. This is chosen in some cfTeeti\o contrasting colour, with silk lassels made to match. The making of the tassel is seen at the Itottom. A piece of cardboard is cut the length which the tassel will he when finished. Over it the silk or other thread is arranged on even lines.. After it is removed a needle and thread

secures the "«ai't" of the tassel, and it may aL«o V caught closely together at the top by running a stitch or two through the urand- there. At the loner edge the strand* arc cut to finish the tasscL By increasing the number of strands ta*scls of any thickness be made in the mhic fashion. I.inen is suggested for the third run ncr. A hem of an inch and a half is carried round the edge, and the stitcbery gives the effect ol pretty open work without the trouble entailed in draw ing thread.* and so on. After the lace has been applied to each corner the stitchery is added over the edge, and is also carried round the hems of the runner. The detail of the stitching is seen below. It is made up of tiny squares of back stitcli done with perfect even ncss. eacli stitcli being the same length. The space between should be about half an inch. To get the best effect heavy embroidery thread should be used, or wool, which enters into all kinds of stitchery. and is quite as usual on silk or satin as on more ordinary fabrics. A row of tassels to form a fringe makes a pretty finish to this runner.