WELCOME GIFT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 140, 10 December 1935, Page 15

WELCOME GIFT

A WORK-BASKET

Hours 'of work are spent in sewing and knitting, and here is a suggestion for a welcome Christmas gift to some industrious friend (states an exchange).

Buy a fairly large waste-paper basket. A plain unpainted one will do, but take care that it has a substantial base. Lacquer or paint it on the outside in some pastel shade, or in a colour which is likely to tone with the recipient's room. The next step is to sew on to, one side of the basket some motifs, leaves, or other ornament. Now line the interior with a pretty material. Measure the circumference of the basket, and allow one and a half times the actual width when preparing the stuff. This will allow for a gathered effect. To get a good shaped inner base which will lie flat on the bottom of the basket, stand the basket on a piece of paper and draw the shape with a pencil.; Allow for turnings when cutting the material. Join the seams of the lining which is to cover the sides of the work-basket. Gather the bottom and the top, and draw up to the size of the basket. Sew the base portion to this. Now fit it into the basket itself, taking care to have the neat sides of the joinings visible. Turn in the edges of the^top of the lining, and sew through the basket, making it secure.

If the work-basket is intended for a bedroom,, rosebud trimming will form a suitable edging for the rim to cover up the stitches, but a ruching or other trimming can be used with great effect. This type of work-basket is most handy when knitting, mending, or bulky sewing has to be tidied away. . The holding capacity of such a receptacle is surprising..