SHORT SKIRTS LENGTHENED.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 19 (Supplement)

SHORT SKIRTS LENGTHENED.

EASY TASK FOR MOST GIRLS. The task of lengthening skirts in order to bring them up to date seems to have frightened many girls. But the work is- 9ot so difficult as it sounds. A short skirt of crepe de chine, or similar thin material may be lengthened quite simply, thus: Cut a strip.of the same material, deep enough to give the additional length required and to allow for the final hem. See also that it is long enough to go round the skirt comfortably. Unpick the existing hem on the skirt, press out flat., and turn in a very narrow hem. Turn in. a similar hem''along the top of the new strip, and tack both to a length of firm papfcr, leaving a quarter of an inch between. Join the edges of these two narrow hems with herringbone stitch in silk or thread which matches the dress in colour, taking a little running stitch alternately into each. Another pretty joining stitch is/tnade by passing the needle from hem to hem, forming little cross-bars which are then covered and strengthened by buttonhole stitching. This method is particularly effective, and forms an original trimming for a white frock if coloured thread is used for the stitchcry. , r In the case of a dress of fairly heavy material, such as serge or gabardine, you will usually find that the hem is rather deep, being so made to giro Weight and a graceful “hang” to the iSkirt. Here the lengthening process is quite simple. Unpick and press out the existing hem, and join a strip of good, lining sateen in the same colour to the edge of the skirt, taking care to tack the two with right sides facing before stitching. Bind the edge of the facino- Sateen and turn it up to foi.n a false hem. Tack it first, hem it invisibly by hand, and finally press ’-t well, putting a damp cloth between the iron 1 and the material.

Sultan’s White Wife. Women are interested in' the possibility of the new Wife uf the Sultan of Johore, formerly Mrs. Helen Wilson, becoming the Sultana, they were mairied in London a few months ago, States an English writer. Under the Moslem law the Sultan is entitled to four wives, of whom the senior eun become Sultana, but she must be so recognised by the State Council and also°havc the approval of the British adviser. The first wife of the Sultan is dead, and there Irt no reason why the Council should object tb the creation of A European Sultana, because the father of the present ruler married a German woman. The Sultan is. wealthy, but an immense amount of Ills money was invested in rubber estates, which now yield him nothing at all. Perhaps life palaces are the best feature of the Shitan’s possessions. They are decidedly attractive. The present Sultan has a family. His eldest son, who was educated iii England, carries on the Government in his abeencc. The second son studied veterinary surgery in England, and. went home to take up the profession on practical lines. He is employed by the State. The Sultans new wife has also a daughter. Founded by a Queen.

The great linen industry of Dunfermline. founded centuries ago by Queen Margaret of Scotland, still employs the methods and the secret processes which made Scottish linen a household word (states an English writer). To meet modern demands colour schemes of all kind.; have been introduced; artists of originality and enterprise have been employed on the designs; shapcis have been altered, and ideas such as the manufacture of breakfast sets and the inclusion of_. crests upon the linen have into effect. These fine tcx : y longer than any other fabr L+’-uome o-reat shipping companies have used the same. Scottish linen for many years—and- into the cloth there is being woven landscapes, ships, and diamonds and flowers, and figures in striking variety. COLD FISH MOULD. Ingredient*: About ‘2lb white fifth, £alt and pepper, two ounces butter, mint to tafste, |oz gelatine, 2 hard-boiled eggft, 2 tomatoes, lemon as required. Boil the fish solwly, adding plenty of salt and pepper, the butter and chap, ped mint. Take up the fifth, reduce the liquid by boiling to not more than three-quarters of a pint; strain it, add the gelatine, and stir over gentle heat till the latter is dissolved.

Skin and bone the fish, and arrange it in a wide difth with layers of sliced eggs and tomatoes. Four the fish juice jelly over all and leave to grow cold and ftet. Turn out carefully and serve with slices of lemon.

ROUND ABOUT THE HOUSE. 1 USEFUL THINGS TO KNOW. When moisture from a damp floor affects linoleum, take, a week’s tealeaves in a pail, pour over them a quart of boiling water, strain, add to the liquid four ounces of alum, and stir until this is dissolved. Apply the solution to the underside of the floor covering, using a flat, Wide brush, and allow two clear days for drying. As the tannin and the alum unite, they form a protective coat. Before unwrapping butter hold tlie packet under the cold water tap for a few seconds. The paper will then come off without any of the butter stickino*. Chair leather that has become hard and cracked should be wiped all over with a cloth wrung out in hot water, and allowed *o dry. Then it should be sponged with hot milk, and, as the grease penetrates, the leather will re rendered soft and pliable. Dry polishinn- with beeswax and turpentine comp.ctes the renovation. If the leather has deteriorated greatly, several applications may be lieceuary fully to restore it. . Do not put lace curtains into the water anyhow when washing. Shake them free of dust, fold each into about three-quarters of a yard square, and keep folded during washing operations, eVen when boiling or starching. Not only will this method be found much easier, but the weight of the water will not break the fine strands and leave the hangings unshapely. . Indiarubber mats which show signs of cracking may be. made. soft and pliable again by soaking in liquid composed of one part ammonia to two parts of water. Shake the mats free of dirt before placing them in the bath, and leave them immersed for halt an hour. If the rubber is in bad condition, two or three immersions may be necessary.

Young Zulu Sculptor. Princess Alice has acquired four examples of the work of Hczckeli Nutli, a seventeen-year-old Zulu, whose sculptured of animal life and Zulu loro have won unstinted praise from experts who have seen them, states a South African paper. The Native Economic Commission in South Africa is making itself responsible for the boy's future education. He makes his models entirely with his. oWn fingers, using no tools to mould the clay. The boy was discovered by Mr. Stanley Williams, who found him one day making a model of a lion. Mr. Williams recognised the boy’s talent at once, and arranged for his introduction to the Department of Native -Affairs. Nutli has wonderful powers of observation and is able to transfer to clay not only what he has seen, but also flights of his own vivid fan-y. rrlle Natal Attorney-General, Mr. Lennox Ward, who has seen the boy> methods, describes them as “sirtiply wonderful,” and his work was awarded Die only prize given to a native at the local agricultural show where it was exhibited.

“Pyjama du Soir.” A Paris correspondent writes of the latest novelty, the pyjama du soir with full, wide trousers embroidered with spangles- and a bodice cut very lew at the back. This is suggested as an appropriate form of dress .for an informal dinner party. Those who adopt this fashion are expected to discard stockings and appear in shoes cut out to show the. bare feet, which are massaged and doctored like the hands and have the nails painted to match those on the fingers. A hostess who chose a black suit with silver spangle embroidery had silvered finger and toe nails—coloured effects can be arranged to suit varied tastes. “Now, if one want* to follow this fashion,” addft the correspondent, “it is understood that the feet must be really prettily shaped. It ift one thing to walk bare foot on the beach and quite another to walk in a closed room under the sharp eyes of little friendw.” RUMANIAN PRUNE CAKES. Ingredients: Two eggs, 4 tablespoonsful sugar, a small cupful cream, Jib pine kernels, Alb prunes, self-raising flour to mix (about Jib). Beat the eggs and sugar together for ten minutes; add the cream and pine kernels, keeping back a few of the latter. Wash, dry and stone the prunes. Halve some of them for decorating purposes, and shred the rest finely. ° Mix the shredded prunes with thj other ingredients, and add flour gradually to form a very loose paste. Half fill greased patty tins with this. Place half a prune in the centre of each and one or two pine kernels. Bake rather quickly.