MISCELLANEOUS TIPS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 February 1925, Page 15

MISCELLANEOUS TIPS.

NEEDLE HELPS. A quick way to make tucks of any size in an article when you don’t wish to baste them is to take a strip of paper the width of the tuck and about lOin long; crease the material, and hold the paper on the edge of the crease. Stitch on the inside of the oilier edge of the paper. I used to find my darning wools get. hopelessly mixed until I adopted this plan. Get. a new brass curtain-polo ring, and after cutting the darning skein, ready for use, loop it in the centre, put this loop through the ring, and draw the two ends through the loop. When you sit down to darn, you can see at a glance the colour you want, and the skein is easily removed and replaced, and no tangling takes place. When you are going- to join a piece of e.’opo tic chine or thin material to a heavy cloth, ho sure to have the finer material on the top for machining. Tt works much iietter. Also, when putting a false hem on the bottom of a skirt or dress, cut the fnlse-hem piece on the cross. ' It will set much better than if cut on the straight.

ft saves, much time in. emergencies if you always leave a needle threaded with white cotton, and another with black, in your needlecase. Then you can repair at once the bit of braid or lining that comes undone just as you are going out. A needleful oi darning wool*is also exceedingly useful. HAIR BRUSHES. Perfectly clean brushes and combs are the mark of the woman who takes a pride in her hair. Brushes should be washed, in a strong soda water or in water in which a few drons of ammonia have been dissolved. Dip the bristles up and down in the hot water until the brush looks clean, but don’t let the water touch the back or handle. Rinse in cold water—this will stiffen the brushes — anj wipe the hack of the brush in case drops remain, on it. Put to dry in the sun if possible, or failing that, at a good distance from the fire. An old nail brush is very useful for cleaning combs after they have been wetted.* These can be washed in soapy water or in soda water, and should bo dried with an old rag. Clothes brushes, even black ones, can and should he washed frequently in the same way as described for hair brushes.

“ " RENOVATING RIBBON. When washing ribbon never rub soap directly upon it, but squeeze it in a warm lather. All wo it to hang up but a very little while, then roll down in a cloth, afterwards ironing while it is still damp. Crushing and creasing from tied bows spoils the appearance of a length of ribbon which is not sufficiently soiled to justify laundering. In such circumstances sprinkle a little water over it, place between the folds of a damp towel, and press with a hot iron. When washing coloured ribbons that have faded, add a little_ vinegar -to the rinsing water and it will give them brightness. In the same way a teaspoonful of sugar added to the rinsing water will give a. slight stiffness to ribbon that has become limp. Tf it is inconvenient to iron ribbon while it is yet damp, tightly wind around a bottle or similar object, ft will then dry quite smooth and free from creases.

MA KING TABLE NAPKINS

Although lacking the borders of the heavy-made napkin, home-made table napkins are in most ways just as Rood, and for the sake of economy many women prefer to make their own. The accepted and most lasting material is damask, and very often good pieces from outworn tablecloths may he cut for the purpose. i Twenty-four inches square is a fullsized table napkin, though many, are smaller. However, it would not be suitable to cut them less than eighteen inches square. .Special lengths of damask are sold with marked squares which merely need cutting. This type is given a hem on each cut side, the opposite and .selvedge side's being left. Ten serviettes are generally twelve in lies square, and made of plain linen, with drawn thread work, lace, or embroidery. Coloured tea serviettes are popular and pretty when they are carried out in linen with hemstitched borders, and perhaps an initial or crest in one corner.

For the children’s use coloured table napkins are certainly more economical from the laundering standpoint, checked gingham in some clean colour, such as yellow and white or blue and white, being very successful. All they need is a band-felled hem. When table napkins wear and fray around the edges they should be turned in and given a narrow hem. MAKING A WEDDING VEIL. Many girls make their own wedding veils for the simple reason that it is much more economical than to buy them ready made. line wide .Brussels 1 net should he houglvt for the purpose, the amount- needed, of course, being dictated by the size of the veil required. In making up a two-inch hem should be turned over oil to the right side of the veil. In arranging this hem. make the first fold of the hem two inches as well as the second. This is necessary, because a narrow fold or net would show a raw edge through the transparency of the net. The corners should be turned Very neatly, and the mitres kept in place-with some fine invisible stitches. The hem itself .should he kept in position with neat running stitches made in bright ivory embroidery silk. A small design may be embroidered in the corners, though nothing too elaborate should be attempted, for the net cannot he placed in an embroidery frame and. a large design worked without a frame is apt to pucker. „ . ’ . Another pretty way of trimming the hem is to run it along with line silk-- : nil then finish it off with tiny seed pearls sewn at half-inch intervals. These pearls not only provide an attractive trimming, but add a little stiffness to the veil, making it stand out in billows when it is worn. FASHIONS IN SLEEVES.

Now that long sleeves have, again become fashionable, there are mane ways of finishing- them which will add to the smart appearance of - a dress or coat. The tightly fitting sleeve finished with a neat turnback cuff, is perhaps the favourite for the black satin especiallv if the lace also forms the coats, that are s o popular at present.. For a dross there are many,ways or making the sleeve attractive. A fnlj of lace gathered so that it will fall na.’tly over the hand is most effective, collar. Coffee-coloured and beige lace looks well, if used for cuffs and collars, and is particularly suited for black. A pretty way to finish a rather full sleeve is to gather it into a tight; cuff fatsen-

ed to fit the wrist. Material like georgette and soft lace looks effective if used in this way to complete a frock of some thicker material. Another idea for a sleeve is to sew a row of close buttons from the small cuff to tho elbow. A return to the fashions of long ago, is seen in the sleeve that is full above the elbow, and then fits the arm tightly to the wrist. Bell sleeves are also popular, and may be effectively finished with frills of silk muslin. Sheer organdie muslin, on a colour, to tone with the frock is also a pretty finish for a frock, and looks well if turned back on a tight sleeve, and trimmed with two or three rows of lace. A collar made in the same way will also add to the appearance of a dress. Tight sleeves of black lace, and a yoke of lace to match, are suit-' able for the afternoon gown-

SUNBURN AND OTHER. REMEDIES, i When a sun-burned skin becomes much inflamed and seems likely to blister there is no safer remedy than borneie starch jelly. This is made in the following manner: —To four tablespoonfuls of finely-powered white starch add one of boracic powder. Pour on cold water a little at a time until the the whole is made into a smooth, thick paste. Then add half a pint of boiling water, stirring until a clear jelly is formed. When cool, spread some on- a piece of linen which is about the size of the burned skin and then, before applying cover the affected part with a piece of very fine muslin or gauze. The application has a most soothing effect and reduces the inflamation. An excellent lotion for clearing the complexion is a solution of tinpture of benzoin. -Add one drachm of the tincture to one pint of cold water. Bathe the face freely with the lotion and dry In- dabbing the skin with a soft twoel. To prevent the elbows from becoming rough and red, rub them rather vigorously each day with a flannel and warm soapy water. Dry, and then anoint with' a little cold cream, completing the process with a dusting of talcum powder. When the veins of the hands tend to become prominent the following treatment will often give wonderful re-sults-.—Dissolve a tablespoonful of ordinary salt in a basin ok tepid water, soak the hands iu this for about a minute. and then hold them upwards from the wrist while counting a hundred. Dry, and then rqb. gently from the fingers’ tips to the wrist with a little vanishing cream. A very old-fashioned and mosWeffective remedy for freckles and an. excessive tanning of the skin is mad©-with oatmeal and toilet vinegar. Put a tablespoonful of ordinary oatmeal breakfast cup of vinegar.. Place the whole in a small jar and then stand id a pan of water. Bring the oatmeal and vinegar to the boil for about a quarter of an hour. Then cool and strain away the liquid through muslin. Store the lotion in a well -stoppered bottle and apply to the .skin the lotion as required.

CARE OF FINGER NAILS..*,‘^S: ' • . . ' Lemon juice will keep the nails from splitting or becoming brittle. It is£a good plan to keep half a. lemon near the wash, basiu and make a practice of pressing the finger nails into the pulp once or twice a day. Lemon juhje removes stains- from fingers* or nails and will whiten the hands, if use'd regularly.