Fashions and Furbelows

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18442, 18 April 1928, Page 13

Fashions and Furbelows

NOTES BY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS.

DAINTY LINGERIE. It is the ambition of many schoolgirls of fifteen or sixteen to possess dainty lingerie. They envy their mothers’ and their elder sisters’ pretty, fragile garments of georgette or crepe de chine, and long for the time when they will be able to have such things for themselves. No boarding school will permit a child to wear elaborate and unsuitable underclothes. They must, of course, all be serviceable and washable, but there is no reason why they should be unattractive. It is possible to buy well-made articles in the shops nowadays, and underclothes are so simple in shape that even a novice at dressmaking can make them herself. Many mothers find that a love of needlework is developed in their young daughters if they are allowed to make pretty lingerie for themselves while they/- are in the early ’teens. For ordinary everyday use directoire knickersmatching the skirt in colour are generally’ worn, but with light dresses, partyfrocks, etc., pretty silk petticoats arc desirable. A simple straight slip in Japshan, with a square hemstitched neck or a broad piece of strong lace or net forming a yoke and shoulder straps, is ideal for a young girl. Japshan washes beautifully and wears wonderfully. It can be obtained in all the pastel shades as well as in cream, so that a slip to match each summer or party frock is an easy matter, and, while it is extremely dainty’, it is not the least bit unsuitable for a young girl. So give your schoolgirl daughter a few yards of this silk and some simple patterns for petticoats, and knickers, help her to cut them out and perhaps contribute a few hints, and leave her to fashion one or two daintysets for herself. MARKS ON POLISHED WOOD Now that table-mats are used to much instead of tablecloths on polished tables, we are often troubled by little marks caused by hot plates or by hot water, etc., being dropped on the wood. These marks must be removed at once. To do so, soak a piece of blotting-paper in vinegar and place it over the mark. Leave it on for about twenty minutes to half an hour, then remove and polish with unboiled linseed oil. The stain immediately disappears unless the burn has gone so deep as to be beyond ihe polish. TRANSFER work. A USEFUL HINT. When using transfers on linens or

similar coarse cotton materials, place a damp cloth on the right side and preis with a very hot iron before pressing the transfer. In a few minutes place the transfer in position and press on to the material. This method will be found very satisfactory’, as the transfer does not rub off before the pattern is finished. TO CLEAN WHITE FELT. White felt hats are very easily cleaned at home. First the hat. must be well brushed, and then all it needs is a good rubbing with equal parts of flour and breadcrumbs that have been dried in a very- slow oven. OLD SILK STOCKINGS. Silk stockings no longer fit for wear are useful for stuffing into the toes of soft kid shoes and thus keeping them a good shape when they’ are off the feet. Ordinary’ shoe trees are unsatis- • factory for this purpose, and screwedup paper is too hard, but silk stockings are excellent in every way.