HAND-MADE LACE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 17

HAND-MADE LACE

METHODS OF WASHING.

Hand-made lace still plays quite an important part in dress, though it is much less used than a few years ago. The fichu, once so popular, is rarely seen now, unless worn on a tea or rest gown. As clothes have become more practical, so the use of lace has been modified to suit the style.

Most of us cherish some piece of old lace, which once belonged, perhaps, to our grandmother; but whether the lace be old or new, if hand-made, it deserves careful ■handling.

In washing lace, heat need not be considered, but friction in any form must be avoided if the fibres are to remain undamaged. There are several methods of washing lace, and the choice should be made acocrding to the size of the article. One method is to shake the lace well in a bottle filled with warm soapy water. Then rinse the article, first in warm water to remove the soap, and then in cold to clear. Pin the lace • out, wrong side uppermost, on a board covered with flannel. Iron when nearly dry, removing the pins as the work proceeds. Exceptions to _ this rule for ironing are Maltese lace, which is ironed on the right side, and Irish point, which is not pressed at all. The following method is most suitable for short lengths of lace: Tack the lace on a piece of mualin, which is sewn securely round a clean bottle; shake the bottle about in a basin of warm soapy water till the lace is clean; rinse as before in warm and cold water; leave the lace on the bottle till practically dry, when it may be removed, still tacked to the muslin, and iron, the points being well pressed out. A third method is to prepare a bowl of warm soapy water and gently toss the lace in the suds. Squeeze tile lace in the hand, and with the tips of the fingers rub a little of the lather on the soiled partg 11 very soiled, the lace may be stewed in Boapy water m a clean saucepan The lace should be rinsed in .the manner already described, pinned out, and when nearly dry ironed. If the lace is preferred slightly stiff borax may be added to the last rinsine water (one teasponful to a pint). In t f case of coloured lace a little vinegar or salt m the rinsing water will help to stop the colours running. When washing bkek lace, if blue dye comes out, dip i n blue water when the rinsing is done; if yellow dye, clear tea may be used. Iron between sheets of white paper to protect the ironing cloth.

For wool lace, such as Shetland shawls, use the third method described above but do not rinse in cold water. Pin it out on a table till dry, when it may be pressed with a moderately hot iron.