Hints and Suggestions. -.

Otago Witness, Issue 2855, 2 December 1908, Page 74

Hints and Suggestions. -.

When the cuffs and collar of a shirt j get frayed, wash out the starch, .then bind the edges with white linen tape. When washed and starched again iron fiTmly,~and the binding is unnoticeable. To prevent thread from knotting always thread your needle at the end of the cotton as you undo it from the reel, and make the knot at other end. If this is done y-our thread will never knot. When tablecloths are beginning to wear out in the folds, cut two or three inches j off one end and one side, and reverse them. \ This process will change the- places' of thefolds, and will add new life to the cloth. To keep flat-irons clean and smooth, rub them first with a piece of wax tied in cloth, and afterwards scour them on a paper of cloth strewn with coarse salt. A button will be much easier to slip through the buttonhole if a pin is placed owr the top, and the thread passed over it. After ths button is sewed on securely pull the pin. out, and holding the button up wrap the cotton several times round the threads beneath, and fasten on the wrong side. This will keep the button on longer, and make it easier to fasten. If you have any butter that you fancy is not quite sweet, place it in a porcelain dish with a little salt and a tiny piece of soda. Place over the fire and let it boil. Turn it into .a stone jar and put in a cool place. The butter will be found when cold perfectly sweet, and not too ealt for cooking purposes. The impimtites will settle at the bottom of the jar. Tlie handiest way to keep reels of cotton tidy is to get a wire, and thread all but the machine reels on it. Tie a ribbon or a tape .to each end of the wire, loop ft in the middle, and hang the whole lot on a nail. There will then be no difficulty in finding the black cotton or the white, the fine or the coaree, and there will be no tangled ends. Some people put the reels on a card or a ribbon, but the wire is the best. Of cotfr.se, -~a,t&in brass^rod or an enammelled piece of wood would look prettier, but wire can be enamelled, and is nd expense. One of the many -dainty articles -that can be made from hahdk*er<ihief6 is a collar for a child. The handkerchief may- be either silk or muslin hemstitched. Fold in the shape of a triangle, cut a round put of centre for- the neck and down fhrongh one point. -Hem neatly round neck and along cut edges. Sew a frill of lace round corner edges, or if liked can he crocheted with Irish lace thread. Work the border ground- neck anoL down fronts with a fancy stitching in white or coloured washing eilk.

— Waist Belts.—

If you are fat, study your belts. A tapering line from back to front will make a generous waist look fairly slender. The stout girl should cultivate narrowness, subdued colours :>r monotones and stiffness in her- treatment of the waistline. A shaped leather belt, provided it can be kept from slipping up, is the beet kind for faking a slender waist when you have it not. ' Some of the new leather belts taper untd they become discreetly narrow in front, and are foutftl in all sorts of supple skins in charming dull tones of blue, red, green, brown, and purple. Quite as good a choice is the moire belting. Choose the plain colours rather than the fetching ones in different colours, and be sure to have it* narrow. Anyone inclined to stoutness should fight shy of the all-white belt. White always seems to add to the size •of the figure, while black has a directly opposite effect. Gradually there is being evidenced a de&ire to lengthen the space between waist and armhole, and this is a fashion which will noticeably tend to decrease the apparent size of the waist.

W Descriptions of balls, Ac, BMt be «ndorted by »itUv the Witnee* eorre»pondent for tUe dUlrlot or by th» secretary of tb* tall committee. Th« MB. •! any correspondents who do not comply with th-.s rule will be sent to the secretary tor endorsement prior to appearing. — EMMELINE. To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue letti-r* should reach the Witcewi office if possible on Saturday night, but on no aocount later thao Monday night.

WEDDING AT SUYTHESDALE, VICTOBIA. The marriage of Miss Ethel Grace Ebbel«, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Ebbels of Smythesaal*. Victoria, to Mr J. L. Smail, second son of Mr and Mrs W. Small, Go.c, New Zealand, was celebrated at the residence of the bride's parents on the <th October. The Rev. W. J. Bottoms officiated. The bride who was given away by her father, was becomingly attired in white silk, tucked chiffon, French val, and applique, with drop ornaments, and wore the customary wreath and veil, al3o a handsome star pendant, the gift of the bridegroom. The bridesmaids were Miss J. Ebbels, who wore a pale gTeen Japanese silk, tucked net, Paris insertion, with silver faseels. and Miss E. Beal, m white Japanese silk, spotted silk net, embossed insertion, with silver tassels. The bridegroom's gifts to the bridesmaids were a s ewel case and gold brooch respectively, and each carried a beautiful bouquet, also the gift of the bridegroom. The bride's gift to the bridegroom' was a gold chain and pendant. The bridegroom was supported by Mr "W. Ebbels (jun ) as best man, aud Mr Albert Ebbels. About 40 guests sat down to the wedding breakfast which was presided over by "the Rev. \V. J. Bottoms, when the usual toasts were honoured. The bridal party left by the evening train for Melbourne amidst showers of rice and confetti. The bride travelled in a costume of brown railette de chine, embossed insertion, with silk and velvet ribbons The presents were both numerou-s and co=tly, iccluding cheques, and also a. valuable organ from the bride's brothers. — A Gvzsx c