WOMEN AND THE WAR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLV, Issue 6221, 16 December 1914, Page 4

WOMEN AND THE WAR.

HINTS FOB WORKERS. hOii BliliUlAA BABLISS. Tue following is a pattern ot the knitteu bonnet Uiat is wanted by the Belgian, liases' Worker's (states the Sydney Sun'), it is so simple that people who have ever knitted belore will be able to learn nom it: —Uast on about bo or VU stitches and knit backwards and torwa.ds unul about bb inches are done, tnen cast olf. Use Andalusian wool and ra.riy large needles, as the looser the ku.ttmg me better and sotter'the bonnets, jvoid end to end, then double again, sew edges ddwn oack and gather in at top to make roundness of crown, rout back once round lace, and slip st. ten to keep in piace, sew edges neatly and loosciy together round neck part, and am ribbon through to the under chin.

1A Meuiod Thai Helped. inis is Liie plan that a thoughtful I woman, whose means M'C ikjl suajguteiicu senously by Uie war, nas put into acion, states an liugiish paper. Sue nas lietu a tnorougli review ol nor wardrooe ana um set aside all uie suuableclotiies she possesses, lo be sent, alter having been uuly eieaued and renovated wne.e necessary, to those societies wincii distribute garments u> therelugees and twe j tuoiwanus ol ueeuy gentlewomen tvnose penury knows no clamor but is none the iess nucous and insistent loi all mat. I Having done Litis work ot mercy, she : has eiaereu Iroui her tailor, dressmaker, j muter ana linger.e purveyor new rai- ; nieni to Lake the place ol tne old. Thus | sii|j beneiued tiaUe, tne needy and her- | tt u cannot all loilow her example to | the hal, but many women may do so m pan wiuiout incurring any chat go ol exJ t'avagance or ioolish outlay. I fear Hoies ami No Heels, j A correspondent tells ine (states a lady writer 111 tile 'JJaily Alail) that tile men wuo received woolien and otiier helmets duiing tiie South Alncan War, supplied oy tne women wlio knitted tliem ol neecy wool and such materials, were not permitted to weai them unless there were oar holes as the men wete not able in bear properly with their cais coveren. "Alius is a point which should be rememueted by those who are making Laese cumlurts now. it is recorded by one who was .11 Japan ii»rough the itusso-Japaneiso war iliac those wlio were knitting socks tor Liio soldiers were asked to kuh taico without iieels—just a straight piece 01 kiiiiting to the toe. , These were said to be uioie comlortablo dur.ng the marching than neels that soon wear through and hurt the leet. Silk Handkerchiefs, Many people have old blouses and iorg sca.ves maue 01 soll white Japanese silk. i)i tiie laiter seveial squares can be cm out, caieiuliy hemmed with silk, ana alter washing and ironing sent an liahtiKcivhieis 10 hospitals. Wiieu blouses .are only tucked the tuck.-, can be undone and quite large squares obia:ncd. ihe upper parts 01 • sleeves can be well used, lwo oblong lengths being tla uuly pieced together. ; 'l'hey make deiiciousiy solt handkerchiefs and are much appreciated by lie sick 111 I'll. .As they ate being made up 11110 dozens or lialt-dozens, keep them, alter washing tliem, 111 scented lavender, j Sizes ot Banaages. I nbicached calico, uasked beioie it s . used, is rcqu.rvd lor tile bandages mat are needed, ami Liie sizes ol the bandages a.e at kjHi.H's:—lhosc ol six incites in width iiium uu mx yaids long, and those of live and a-iiait uiclies live and

a-iiaii yards, K»ng. llivu Uit'y decrease by hail-mclr widuis and hall-yardieugths down -u ft.zi- IWo i n eii os ,i ide by two ieet long. J ilemeinber, no sewing and uo tapes, no anything ai all uxuupl tight, linn ruiiing up and a salety pm stuck tlirougu to keep the rods ill good inn. liv tiie way, rnuik uie bandage loils vvnen put up, "Wa-shud," and mark all garuiem.-, that you may send to your guild vvith liki t wo:d. these bandages o.d nun iv.th Miuiig v, rists can make, and aiso buys and gills. A., 101' tlie liot-water buttle covers tliat i:tne gi.l, fan sew, liiey should be bags made ul liannel with a drawstring, m two sizes 12.1 iby 10m and 14m by 12m. Ideas ,Ji' Workers. Ilie iiiit.sli lied Cl'oss Suctety asks lor bandages, nigiilsli.i u, and bed jackets, 'l'lie iiaiiuages are tu be made of unble.uUiu calico ill ilie loliowmg sizes:— Six iiunco m width, six yards lung; live and a-naii moires by live and a-liall yaids; live melius by live yards, down by iiali-mclies to two mcues wide by two yards :ong. itolf up tlie bandages wlien torn ill tlie strips meniioned and fasten fclie rulls witu saiety pins. i\o tape and no sewmg is required. if you are malting a personal gift to a soidit'r let it be a pot oi vaseline. 11 ruubed oier the ieet and ins.de and outsitie ilie ix.oU ilie relet on the march is great. several readers urge the necessity for washing ail clothes and sheets made by workers ior the troops, so that tlie irutaiion ol new clothing and the danger ol u in tlie case of wounds may be aioided. If washed before being made up the needle-work is rendered easier. Skirting llannels ill Army grey and oilier suitable colorings measure bOin wide and a. shirt can be cut out of thr 'e and a-half yards. ijoofali socks worn inside boots are cool and comfortable to the feet and make a useful gift for a soldier friend.

A spectlic tor lired and swollen lcol uii the march is sent by a leader. 'Jut a strip of "butter muslin" about four indies louder than the loot and foui inches wide. Dip this in water and wiap it closely round u»e loot, then draw the sock on over it all. Covers lor drinking cups to be used in hospital work are useful. They are made of square pieces of muslin weighted at the comers with beads. Comforts Inside Socks. Precautious recommended to those wiio km t socks foi «,idiers on the march are as follows:—< i) Wash the socks beto:'o seuding them lo your guild to prevent blisters ou wearers ; (2) .shake iotn each sock alter it is arj and before it is to your guild a teaspoonful ol buracic acid powder to help to keep the feet healthy; or (3) place in one sock ol a pair a small tin of vaseline and in the other a small tin of boracic acid, both of which the men will find a boon according to their needs. J t is recommended, in order to prolong tiie "life" of the socks to be worn by soldiers on the march, that linen thread

or ordinary sewing cotton of about 24 sine' be kilitted in with the wool of heels unci toes. How To Make A Kit Bag. Twenty thousand kit bags are want etl to supplement the existing' supplies (states -i'V English paper received by the last mail). For two bags allow one yard of 40in strong wide canvas and e ; ght "ixl a-i]iiartx>v yards of on i inch wide' webbing or braid. The bag is one pieco only and to c'.t two bags use the material with, selvedges folded together; but through) the fold to gain two lengths, each measuring 20in wide and 36in long. Cut off four strips of webbing llin long for the strings. '' Cut off a length of webbing or braid 20in long, fold through the centre to bring the sides together, Blip the one end of the bag between, ana machine the webbing down at each edge. 11 Now measure seven inches down from the bound edge and four inches in from each side, and twice machine on two of the lengths of webbing already cut for the strings. Fold the bound edge over towards the opposite edge, which should; extend six inches above it to form the flap, and tack the sides\ and fold edge of the

bag firmly together to keep all flat, i Double the webbing with the side edges together and slip the entire outer edges between. Mitro the webb ng at each corner to make it set, and keep the square effect, and first tack the webbing firmly along, then machine each edge down.. Horn the joint and each corner of the webbing down by hand, as everything must be neat and 'firm.

.fold the flap over, and four inches in from each side and two inches from tho bound edge of the flap tw.ee machine on the two remain ng lengths of webbing for the strings.