HOUSEHOLD THRIFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18197, 16 September 1922, Page 4 (Supplement)

HOUSEHOLD THRIFT.

One of the knottiest problems which beset a housewife is to decide which odd bits to throw away,' and which to keo] f on the offchance of after-use. The possibilities of the oddment are unlimited, and before anything is thrown away, the thriftv housewife should satisfy herself that it cannot be adapted to fulfil of rter needs. ' The good portions of kid gloves ot wlTfch the fingers are worn out can be utilised to make an effective patchwork tammy, or worked up into small fancy articles in the same way as ordinary leather. Again, it is sometimes difficult to know what to do with an old knitted sweater, If tho seams bo undone and the wool unwound, a now sleeveless tunic might be made which would be useful for wear on chilly days. Sleeveless woolly knitted jumpers are handy, as they can be worn underneath a coat with comfort, and do not feel thick. ' Egg shells should not be thrown away but should bo crushed and used for cleaning badly stained decanters and other glass bottles, also for scouring d*hcate casseroles and enamel pans; the gardener can use them, when finely crushed, as a dressing, placing them a little below tho surface soil, to benefit plants. Egg shells are composed chiefly of lime, and roses like nothing better. Choice seeds may also be planted in egg shells, picking a fair-sized hole in the bottom of tho shell for drainage. Seed germinated in this way can be transplanted in tho shell without fear of root disturbance; the shell will rot and nourish the plant. , Odd pieces of carpet and felt, like odd pieces of wallpaper, still in use, should generally be kept, as the carpet may at any time bo required for patching, while the felt will come in, if not on the floor, as a protective covering for the polished dinner table. Remnants of carpet and art felt afford also a solution of tho slipmat question, which is oft on a source of considerable expense. If the pieces are not sufficiently thick, a backing of ordinary under-felt can be joined to tho carpet "by means of invisible stitching in coarse thread. If carpet such as Axminster or Wilton is used, tho cut sides must first be neatly bound with strong furnishing tape, and" afterwards decorated at each end by means of woollen rug fringe. The more adept will be able to make the fringe for themeslves with rug woo!, and a coarse steel crochet hook Or packing needle