EXQUISITE NEEDLEWORK

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 13

EXQUISITE NEEDLEWORK

EDDA MUSSOLINI'S. TROUSSEAU

When the Siguoi'ita Edda Mussolini marries Count Galca"zzo Ciano sho will take to her now homo »a trousseau which, for neodlecraft and fine handwork, could not be surpassed by any royal or.wealthy bride in auy part of the world (says a writer in an exchange). The only daughter of tho Ducc, like every girl in Italy, is not only a skilled, but an artistic, needlewoman. The country's tradition of art has come down through tho centuries, and iiuds expression in tho contemporary noodle, for it,' to-day, is as much a medium, of creative work as it was in mediaeval times, when woman produced masterpieces of design, stitch, and colouring- " Only tho linest examples of the craft satisfy the Italian bride; her collection of linens and lingerie would cost a small fortune to purchase in London. It is as heavy as fine cashmere, and more liko a cloth than silk. Petticoats are in all colours, and all the lingerie is embroidered in the same expert manner by the girl herself. The large monograms that the Signorita has worked on her household linens are more liko perfect mouldings than sewing, with a variety of st'itchery that is amazing. Even the daintiest handkerchiefs are sewn, initialled, and embroidered by hand, some tiny .squares of lawn having borders of flowers and fancy edges. The Italian housewife still uses in' profusion tho ' linen chairbaeks, d'oyloys, duchesso mats, and toilet covers, as well as tho necessarily wido range of table, bed, and bathroom linens. All these things, no matter how ordinary their uses, are made with the same artistry. And every brido owns one dining tablecloth that is heavily embroidered; the "centre" made in richelieu work/ and the hems a lacework of Venetian borders. Its price would be anything from £25 to £50 in a London linen shop. Fine Italian linen and datnasfl are used for tho embroidering, closely woven, silky materials that last a lifetime and more. , ■ j As is customary in Italian schools j and convents, the signorita began to embroider as a very small girl in the elementary school, and before sho was ten she could do much finer work than the average English-speaking debutante. Many of the linen towels, perfectly monogramed and embroidered, and the table mats of her trousseau, were done at school. . • Up to the beginning of this century Italian schoolgirls began to mako.th'e linens for their wedding chests when they were babes of six and seven, and in many schools they still do. The modern girl, those in the: generation ot Signorita Mussolini, though they have not acquired the independent feminist spirit of British women, are.too up to date to confess to collecting the "bottom drawer" before they finished their edueation-^still they do the same lovely needlework on linens for them- ' Signorita Edda is an unusual daughter of Italy if sho has not completed before her engagement an embroidered "flnta" with pillow cases to match, which is proudly shown to the girls of her own age, they themselves having the same possessions, awaiting the betrothal before being shown. The "fmta"' is a turn-back tor the top sheet, used during the daytime. Some brides have a, quilt instead, but either piece of needlework takes years and years to complete, and ia very valuable. . . . ■. ■