CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20890, 20 November 1937, Page 10

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

AN ANNUAL PROBLEM SEWING IS A WAY OUT At the mention of Christmas the thoughts of many of us who are keen needlewomen turn to the question of what we shall make, rather than what we shall buy, for our friends, states an overseas writer. Theoretically, this giving of presents of our own planning and making is delightful, but, in point of fact, In these days of small quarters

and a wholesome dislike of junk, may we not be guilty occasionally of presenting a white elephant, albeit a small one? If we are in constant contact with our friends, if we know the tea service from drinking out of the cups, for instance; it is not difficult to produce an afternoon tea cloth or a traycloth that will slip happily into place; or if we know a friend who cannot have enough little gay bags for this and that occasion, we are again on safe ground. But if we are dot in such close touch how are we to know that the room with the buff walls and all the brown and gold furnishings that could welcome and assimilate anything in the nature of creamy and brown runners and cushions and chairbacks has not gone French grey and pink and chromium?

Misgivings of this kind produced a plan of action over a year ago. When in doubt, ask. True, the element of surprise is removed, but something equally pleasant appears to take its place. “I should like to sew you something for Christmas; any gaps to fill? Any odd jobs to finish?” How well one knows those pieces of work that tor some reason or other have been laid aside to linger in the workbag until they are finally buried in tissue-paper shrouds in the far recesses of some drawer.

The response was prompt. “Do you really mean it? You would be an angel if you would finish these six towels. I bought a length of hand-woven huckaback, meaning to cut it up and hemstitch half a dozen towels, but I seem to make a mess of the hemstitching, and yet they are too good lor ordinary hemming or machining." The towels, with initials thrown in, were hemstitched, washed, ironed, and tied up with holly ribbon till Christmas came round.

Then there was the piece of petitpoint embroidery for the stool top which could never be brought out till tire evenings, and then the colours got muddled up in the artificial light, so the woodwork had been waiting for a couple of years. The embroidery was finished, secretly conveyed to the maker of the stool, and delightedly presented by him on Christmas morning.

Some embroidery on a child’s little party frock, that was another request. Altogether the plan worked so well that it is in operation again this year. A petit-point screen that suffered neglect for a year or so is nearing completion, and soon a dressing-gown will be arriving to be made gay for Its young owner. It is a solution of part of a problem which seems to be much appreciated, and any doubt lest we are adding to the annual glut of white elephants can be banished.