MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1933, Page 9

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ITEMS OF INTEREST

a NEW BERET.

fashioned in macrame

Even in summer, berets arc alwajuseful, for motoring, boating and ether outdoor occasions, winch tie mand a brimless hat tor comtoit. Made of macrame, one beret expresses the latest note of fashion, and could be matched by a belt, bag, or gloves, to form a smart set of accessories. Materials required: Two balls oi macrame, one crochet hook No. 10. The crown is made in four pa l Work. 32 chain, Ist row: Ono double crochet into every stitch. to the end of the row, one chain turn. 2nd row: Work one double crochet into the back stitch of row 1, one chain turn. 3rd row: Miss the first stich and workone double crochet into every stich except, the last stitch, one chain, turn. Repeat the last two rows until there are 12 stitches left. Pull the loop through and finislr off. Make three more pieces in the same manne). To make up the crown join the straight edges of the four pieces, arranging them so that the stripes run in opposite directions. Work all round in double crochet for four rounds. In the next three rounds decrease one stitch at each join. Work to within half of the round of the beret and finish here. Begin work again 12 stitches from the other end of the half-worked row, repeat the last row once more. Work four rounds all round the cap. Finish off firmly. ■ Press the beret carefully. To muko the bow: Work 66 chain and work backwards and forwards on the 66 chain in double crochet, and leave one stitch unworked at each end of every row. The width of the bow is seven rows of double crochet. Pi ess well. Tie into a bow and sew it to the beret at the back.

BEAUTY SLEEP.

HOW MANY HOURS.

Many women nowadays complain that they “sleep badly.” There may, of course, be some health reasons foi this that medical treatment will put right, but more often than not the “bad sleepers” bring the trouble on themselves (states Joan Beringer in a London paper). Women have not got (he masculine faculty of worrying at the right time —and at no other. And they can rarely shake off their worries at night. The consequence is that their digestive apparatus is affected, and with it the quality and necessary quantity of sleep. This brings us to the vexed question of how many hours’ sleep arc necessary for health and beauty. Anything from five to ten hours has been argued. as being the minimum. It is a question, of course, that is impossible to answer for every one. Individuals vary. . , The man or woman who is highly strung, nervy, and active of brain requires, but, very seldom gets, moi c sleep than the man or woman of lethargic temperament. Nervy women should remember that dream-ridden and restless sleep is not the best kind of rest, and make up for it by allowing themselves extra time in bed. They need an extra hour at least in which to get their brains and nerves calmed and to allow for the fact that the periods during which they are enjoying deep sleep (the 1 only sleep that really heals) are probably about halt those of the “good sleeper.” The woman who sleeps too heavily should limit herself. If she is sure of seven hours’ dreamless sleep this should be ample, anil, as the systematically good sleeper is often of the lethargic type that puts on flesh, the extra hour she gains on the average eight hours would be well employed in doing a “daily dozen, playing an early game of tennis or squash, or in taking a brisk walk.

“A CONTENTED EXPRESSION.” T'o ensure a. real beauty sleep, see that the bed is not too soft and does not sag in the middle. It should have the head and not tho side to the wall. The clothes should be light; the new porous blankets being ideal because they give ample warmth Avith the minimum of weight. Throw aside that bolster or second pillow, and sleep as nearly flat as possible. Befoie “going off” and again before rising, consciously stretch the muscles. Start at the base of the neck and follow right through the bodydown to the feet.. Then relax, consciously. the neck, arms, spine, legs. Aim at lying as straight as. possible, cither on the right or the left side, but never on the back.

Don’t “hug” yourself or lot your shoulders hunch forward. Don't allow your head to slouch forward, either. Keep tho chin at a comfortable level, neither dropped on the chest nor thrown, back. Close tho lips gently. Instead of a compressed or “pulled down” expression that shows taut nerves, cultivate an expression of contentment. This will help you to feel at peace with, yourself and the world and will keep at bay those ugly nose-to-mouth lines that every woman dreads.

Most, modern houses have net as well thicker curtains over the windows. One or other of these, but never both at the same time, should be drawn. A double-cut tained room won’t give you a beauty sleep. Some women have their bedroom windows flung open and uncurtained always, and, if the light bothers them, tl ey sleep with a chiffon scarf or a dark bandage over the eyes to prevent early waking—and wrinkles!

KNITTING CRAZE. LONDON. October 12. The world-wide craze for knitting, which, incidentally, has been a tremendous factor in raising the values of Australian and New Zealand wools, has inspired a Parisian inventor to make knitting needles each with a tiny electric bulb on the tip, lighted by a dry battery concealed in the shaft. The inventor’s idea is that these will enable women to indulge their craze while seated at the cinema, but the question arises whether the knitter would he able to divide her attention between the screen and the needles, furthermoie, how her iv'.’uhbours would tolerate ( ho di.-ln-iclimi of dancing lights at their elbows, -

WOMAN AS SCIENTIST.

FLOCK TO PSYCHOLOGY.

The ease with which many women nowadays discuss abstruse subjects was again demonstrated at the recent conference, in the Zoology Section of the British Association, when Miss D. Jordan Lloyd was among the speakers on “The Structure of Protoplasm.” The woman scientist, who not so long ago was unknown to the British Association, has in recent years made her mark at the meetings, and this year some notably informative papers have been among the thirty or more contributed by women. Botany is one of the subjects in which many women have made themselves recognised specialists, and educational problems naturally make a strong appeal to them. More remarkable is the firm hold that anthropology appears to have on women scientists. This was illustrated in the paper read by Dr Lucy Mair on "The Giowth of Economic Individualism among African Peoples,” the outcome of a long sojourn with natives in the region of Lake Victoria.

An interesting fact is that women confine themselves to serious subjects, and deal with them in the most serious manner.

The psychology section attracts the biggest crowd of women listeners. A well-known male psychologist explained it thus: “It is natural that the human note should make a strong appeal to worn, en. Problems of the mind fascinate them.”

On the other hand, a member of a much less emotional section —that of Economic Science —cynically said, “This flocking of women to the psychology section is probably due to the fact that so much of the language of the lectures on psychology is utterly unintelligible. They have evolved an obscure jargon which . for some inscrutable reason appeals to a certain type of feminine mind. Tins sort of woman regards the psychologist with an awe and reverence comparable to the feelings entertained by the savage for the witch doctor.”

NUTS’ PLACE IN THE DIET. Nuts are usually used as an accessory or as a relish to a meal, but they are of such high food value that they should be regarded as a staple article of diet. Because of this value they are really, out of place served at the end of a heavy meal. Peanuts and almonds contain more tissue building matter than an equal weight of meat, and so may be safely used instead of meat. Brazil nuts, Barcelonas, coconuts, and walnuts are very rich in fat of oil, and in consequence if eaten in large quantities are apt to cause digestive troubles. Salt added to nuts does not increase the nutritive value, or have any influence on their digestibility, but it does increase the flavour. Nuts should always bo kept in airtight containers, particularly shelled nuts, as they very quickly absorb moisture from the air. It. may be found necessary to heat nuts in the oven before using to restore their crispness. WOODEN HANDBAGS. Handbags of wood arc the latest fashion (says a London writer). These bags are l in every shape and size and are made of thin wood in a pleasant shade of grey-brown, which accords well with so many of the new and rather indeterminate greens, greys and browns in autumn textiles.

Long and narrow, square and en-velope-shaped, with sides and trimmings of contrasting coloured leather, these new pochettes are. expected to be the rage of London and Paris. They are British-made, but have been eagerly bought for Paris. Possibly some ultra-smart woman may carry the wood and leather handbag at Doncaster this week. The clasps are of metal. The idea for the racing pochette is to have the leather to match the tailored suit. One long thin shape in wood has the leather parts and siik inner linings in the new dark rod. Another, in a curious round shape, is contrasted with choco-late-coloured leather.

Larger shapes on the same lines are very attractive. For motoring or a day’s shopping, these new handbags —almost miniature dressing-bags—-are smart and practical, being capable of holding many things besides purse, mirror and powder-puff.