Fabric Hangings for Wall Decoration

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 243, 4 January 1928, Page 4

Fabric Hangings for Wall Decoration

DIGNIFIED EFFECT OF TAPESTRY AT SMALL COST Most of us have a ‘castle in Spain” whose chief apartment is a tapestry chamber. What romance is conjured up by the mere mention of arras-hung walls! The Single Panel that Lends Distinction Many women who have neither antique tapestry nor valuable pictures are wise enough not to wish their walls covered with bad imitations of either. An air of great distinction can, however, be given a room if its principal wall is left entirely bare save for a large wall-hanging, possibly flanked by a pair of sconces for lights. It should be large enough to cover at least half the wall space, and is most effective if placed so that it forms a backing to an important piece of furniture. Adapting Modern Curtain Damask An Oriental rug, or embroidered shawl can sometimes be used in this way with excellent results. If we possess neither of these there is a variety of ways in which a suitable panel can be made up quite inexpensively. One is to get two yards of a 52in. curtain damask or brocade of rich design. It is usually best to get something that, while harmonising with the general scheme of the room, is quite different from the curtains—it should be a piece apart and distinct. Surround this with a 12in. border of perfectly plain silk or velvet of the principal colour of the damask, or, if you wish to be daring, of a contrasting colour. This must be carefully chosen. Now cover both the outer edge and the joining with dull gold braid. Hang the panel loosely, but not in folds, by rings or loops about Bin. apart along the upper edge. An Imposing Hanging in Wool Embroidery Dyed hessian or arras cloth can be treated in the same way, and is, of course, much cheaper than the damask. The coarse texture is most pleasing, especially in a room furnished with oak. A pattern may be stencilled on the panel or the border; it is usually* better not to do both. A boldly stencilled pattern outlined with coloured wool in a simple stitch is excellent. For those with more time to spare, some charming panels can be made by cutting the flowers and birds from a printed linen. (Scraps from old curtains will do.) Arrange these as a bouquet in the centre of a plain velvet panel. They should be outlined in a buttonhole stitch with black or home dark colour wool. Finish the border with gold braid, and the effect will be extremely rich.