Cleaning Caps

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1931, Page 15

Cleaning Caps

Good lace must be carofuly washed in warm water in which a little soap jelly has been dissolved; rinso'in clear water, ana. stiffen with a very little gum arabic solution (says a London' writer). The' average proportion used is a tablespoonful of gum solution to a gill of water. If the laeo is white, a small quantity of blue should be added to tho gum water. If gum water is not available, rico water or sugar water may bo used. For tinting lace that has lost its colour through washing, use an infusion of tea, coffee, or saffron mixed with the gum water. After washing and stiffening the lace, you must press it. A good, . old-fash-ioned method is to wind it carefully round a glass bottle covered with flannel. Lace of elaborate pattern may be pinned to a piece of flannel, wrong- side up, and pressed carefully with a warm iron. The pinning: out is quite a busi.neas. Tho selvedge . must bo placed near the edge of the board, and ■ the pins must Ho parallel with-the edge of tho lace. If there.'aro points in the pattern, .each must bo stretched to the. right length and pinned separately. Piece lace should be pinned out over flannel and left to dry.: A moderately hot small iron should then bo passed along, the middle, after .which; the., pins must be removed . and. tho selvedge ironed. ".- ■ ■ • ,