CUSHION IN CRINOLINE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 147, 18 March 1937, Page 6

CUSHION IN CRINOLINE

Simple Stitching Makes A Gay Lady With A Comfortable Lap

Handcrafts No. s—By Violet M. Williams

r pHIS novelty cushion cover is made from gaily checked gingham or spotted cotton, and cream linen. It is amazingly attractive in use, but the crinoline Ipdy who provides a gay touch of colour as she sits in the chair serves also a practical purpose.

'J'HE cushion cover is very simple to make, despite its original and effective appearance. The head and body portion is cut out in one piece, a pattern for which is given here. The only embroidery is the simple stitching which indicates hair, eyes, nose, mouth, etc. The materials required for the cover are, firstly, cream linen—to be used for the doll’s head and body, etc. Two pieces of linen, each measuring Sin. square, are required here. Secondly, a yard of gingh.am is needed for the lady’s daintily-frilled skirts.

A yard of cheap cotton is necessa id skeins of stranded cotton in 1 illowing shades will be used for 1

embroidery :—Two skeins of orange for the hair, scraps of scarlet for mouth, cheeks and nose, and a length of blue for the eyes. Then there is the filling. Ordinary filling of feathers, kapok, down, etc., will swell the m.ain portion of the cushion, that is. inside the skirt. A washable filling for the head and body portion would be very convenient, as it need not be removed when the cover requires washing. Then the removable cushion can be taken from the skirt portion, and the rest washed as simply :i« any ordinary cushion cover. The stuffed body portion must be wellsqueezed and allowed to dry thoroughly. A few drops of water could be

sprinkled over it before pressing so the linen may iron up nicely.

'T'HE first thing to do is to take ii piece of white paper, a pencil, and a ruler. Draw out a square eight inches by eight inches, and divide this up into one-inch squares, as in the diagram. Then fake the printed diagram and carefully copy the simple shape of the doll’s head, body, arms, etc., on to it. Arrange them as in the small printed diagram, thus copying the doll in the larger size required for the actual cushion.

When this is done, cut round the outline and use it as a pattern for the shape required by placing it upon the cre.am linen. Chalk or pencil round it and finally cut out. Allow quarterinch all round for turnings. Two portions must be cut, of course, one for the front of the doll and another for the back. Now the embroidery. Pencil in two dots for the eyes, one for the nose and the line for the mouth, also two crosses on the cheeks. Draw in lightly the shape of the hair. Make blue french knots for the eyes and a red one for the nose, then work in the rest of the “features” accordingly. The hair, also, consists of french knots. Work these very close together, packing them so tightly th,at the finished effect resembles a cluster of tight little curls. This is effective ami is quickly carried out when all threads of the stranded cotton are used. In the back portion, the whole of the head is to be covered with the french knols. Now press the embroidery well on the wrong side and. placing the two right sides together, carefully machine around the edges, quarter-inch away from the extreme edge. Turn to the right side and the shape is ready. Force the stuffing right down into the hands, etc., making the whole lliing well-filled and (irmly packed. Sew up the waist to keep the filling in position and tie a single thread of red stranded cotton tightly around the wrists.

take the gingham and cut off ’ two long strips, each measuring | 36 inches by about two inches. Tlie.se i are to form the frill. Join them up i and hem one side, then run a thread I along the other edge. , Now fold the rest of tne gingham ■ over .and machine up one side. Hem j the top and bottom, running a thread along the top which is to be drawn , into the waist of the doll. Draw up ; Hie frill and fit it io the bottom edge of the ".skirt,” then machine it into position H inches away from the edge, i Slip the doll inside the waist of the | skirt, draw up the latter, and allaehj it to the doll with small, firm si itches. I Now make the case for the filling. I An ordinary square will be suitable. I Stuff the filling inside it and sew up i the opening. Then insert the cushion i inside the skirt from the frilled wlge, : and sew up this opening with large yei neat stitches, which arc? easily ripped i out when the cover requires washing. Finish off with a large ribbon bow around ilie waist of the doll, or else make n mati-liing one from a strip of j i be material. j