THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS.

Southland Times, Issue 19674, 28 October 1922, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS.

test piece of knitting is worked first, removed from the needles, and laid flat on the paper pattern. It is then easy to discover how many stitches must be knitted to the inch. When comparing measurements never stretch the knitting, but always lay it flat on the pattern. Correct tension is essential for complete success. The stitches should offer a slight resistance on the needle when pushed with the finger. If the stitches require effort to move them the tension is too tight; if the stitches slip off the tension is too loose. Edge stitches are important. Purl the first stitch of garter pattern, and plain the first, stitch of purl pattern. This gives a good firm edge. Never join wool or silk in the middle of a row. The professional always joins at the beginning of a row, leaving a good end to be invisibly darned in and out of the edge later. Always cast off on the wrong side loosely enough to* ensure that the edge will not “cockle.” When joining seams the method known as "grafting” should he employed to give the professional touch. Grafting is fully explained in any good book on knitting.— Daily Mail. ORNAMENTAL TASSELS. SOME NEW USES. Tassels have for a long time been a popular form of ornamentation for cushions, bags, curtains, scarves, frocks, bead necklaces, and other articles favoured by women. There are, however, some new uses to which tassels may be put. For example, they are effective as handles for drawers, such as those on a dressing table. Also they can be quite decorative hanging on either side of curtains, suspended from the curtain pole . In this case they need to be definitely large. An uncommon table cover is evolved if the long fringed ends are gathered together to form a tassel. Small “peasant” tassels are easy to make and extremely novel. A tassel makes an attractive finish to a hanging birdcage.