HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22778, 14 January 1936, Page 17

HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS

The best and simplest method for cleanly removing the necks from bottles, so as to make them suitable for jam jars, is as follows; —Obtain some used sump oil and place it in the bottle, filling it to the point at which you wish to cut the bottle. Heat to red-hot a thin rod of iron or very thick wire. Plunge it down the neck of the bottle, well into the oil and the top will come off cleanly and evenly at the level of the oil. Wash and sterilise bottles by placing on a slow fire in cold wmter and bringing to the boil. Remember, bottles, such as milk bottles, bearing a name, must not be mutilated.

A linen sheet that has become worn can be used to make a pretty bedspread. A small square cut from the good part of the sh. •, forms the centre, and round this is placed broad insertion, which is met by bands of coloured linen, then, between the coloured linen and an outer band of white cut from the sheet, comes a narrow insertion. The whole is edged with lace to match the insertion. * ♦ *

Frosted holly leaves make an unusual decoration for cakes of sweet boxes, and are very simply made. Procure some nice sprigs of holly, pick the leaves from the stalks, and dry them with a clean cloth. Place them on a dish near the fire_ to dry thoroughly, taking care not to shrivel the leaves, then dip them into oiled butter and sprinkle both sides with coarse powdered sugar, then dry them near the fire. Store them in a dry place as the least dampness spoils their appearance.

When knitting a lacy-patterned jumpei do not shape the armholes as is usual, but merely cast off eight stitches at the beginning of the armnole, and continue straight to the shoulder. When knitting bedwraps for an invalid with chest or throat trouble, do not use swan’s down for edging. It fluffs off easily, and the pieces are dangerous to the patient. To knit a round cord for threading through infants’ woollen garments, cast on three stitches of No. 14 eteel needles, and knit one row plain. Pass the stitches from the bottom to the top of the needle withous turning it; bring the wool across the back from the left to* the_ light side, knit another row, bring the stitches up to the top, and repeat till there is sufficient length of cord, then cast off.

To Remove Iron Rust Marks From Linen Quickly.—lnvert a medium-heated iron, place on it the stained fabric, and gradually squeeze, the juice of a lemon on the stain. The iron-rust mark will be carried off in the steam.

To make floor matting last years louder, give it a thin coat of varnish when first putting it down, then every six months give it another coat. When treated in this way matting is much easier to clean, and always haa a bright appearance.

To Warm up Piee or Any PastryPlace the pie in a paper bag, folding up the ends to make it airtight, before placing it in the oven. The steam cannot escape from the bag, and this will prevent tlte pastry from becoming hard and dry.

If tea' is spread on a clean sheet of paper and placed in a warm—not hot—oven for 10 minutes, it will go much farther and have a much nicer flavour.

Lace bedspreads may be too expensive for the average householder, but a beautiful one can he made for a double bed from a pair of deep cream lace curtains, and five yards of fillet insertion nine inches wide. Cut the edges off one side of each curtain, place a strip of insertion across the exact centre of both curtains, tacking very carefully and cutting away the curtain beneath the insertion, then join the long piece of insertion between the two curtains, being very careful not to stretch the work. Now sew the edge that wae cut off to the top and bottom of the cover. When complete, it will be difficult to detect that the “ spread ” has been made from curtains. It can be left the natural shade or dyed to suit the furnishings, a contrasting plain slip beneath the “spread” throws the lace into relief, and looks charming.

To clean a moquette suite, if only slightly soiled, hot bran may be used. Make the bran very hot in a tin .in the oven, and apply it with a piece of flannel, rubbing fairly vigorously, and renewing the bran constantly. If this fails to take out the soil marks, sponging with petrol would probably be effective. Apply the petrol with a piece of flannel and use light, soft strokes. A suite that is very dusty can be treated thus; Spread a damp towel over the arm portions and beat lightly with a cane; the dust is then drawn up into the towel. —An exchange.