Ladies' Column.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2050, 1 April 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Ladies' Column.

How to Remove Spots.

As long as we have little folk about us we shall have to contend with “ spots,' and indeed, it is not easy for us grown people to keep clear of their disfiguring presence on household drapery and garments. Food will drop upon coats, and vests, and dresses ; sauces will be spilled upon our tablecloths, and no amount of care can always prevent the over-turning of an inkstand, The housekeeper, therefore, if she wishes to preserve an orderly and tidy appearance in her home, must have at hand some recipes whereby to do away with these terrible enemies to neatness and beauty. The following are a few practical methods tor removing different varieties of these constantly appearing blemishes.

The most common of these annoyances is the “grease-spot.” These appear at all times and seasons, and in what would seem the most unlikely places. Of course if the article can be washed with soap and water the remedy is simple and requires no discussion. If, however, the material is silk, or one that would be injured by the application of water, the following plan may be tried ;—Take a little fullers’ earth or pipe-clay and lay it over the spot, having first moistened the absorbing substance with a small amount of water. The latter, evaporating, will leave room for the grease to lie absorbed into the clay. This is an old-fashioned plan, in vogue among our grandmothers. When not quite efficacious it may be followed by the application of a little sulphuric ether, and this again by a slight rubbing with spirits of wine. This treatment will not fail to annihilate the most obstinate grease stain. Sometimes magnesia may be used with success.

To remove grease from cloth or woollen goods, cover the stain with French chalk scraped to a powder, and pass a hot iron over it. The grease will melt and become absorbed by the chalk. A more novel method than any of these, and especially applicable to goods of a delicate texture where the color is easily injured, is the use of potato water. Grate the potatoes to a fine pulp, and add water to the amount of a pint to a pound. Let it stand and when clear pour off all but the potato sediment of the bottom. This is your cleaning mixture, to be applied with a clean linen rag, and followed by the use of a small amount of spirits of wine. Another scouring mixture may be made by combining four ounces of fullers' earth, four ounces of whiting, two pounds of pipe clay and a quarter of a pint of oxgall, Ordinary beer or ale will be found useful in cleaning black goods. There are, of course, many patent scouring mixtures sold under various names, but our object is to mention those that are simple and can easily be obtained in remote places. Where wax candles are in use the falling wax leaves many a troublesome spot. These can be removed by moistening them patiently and repeatedly with turpentine. Where paint has become dry and hard, turpentine is equally efficacious. Apply it with a brush, and give it time to soften the paint and to dry again. Hub the place carefully, and a portion if not the whole of the stain will be removed. Repeat the operation until nothing more of the paint remains ; it should crumble oil' in loose powder. The further application of a little spirits of wine will remove every trace of the recent blemish. Pitch and tar will also give way before turpentine. Benzine is also a most valuable cleansing liquid. In most cases it will do its work and evaporate, leaving no trace of its presence save a very disagreeable odor. This too will disappear in a short time.

One of the worst difficulties we have to contend with in the way of “spots” is ink stains. They are produced by the red oxide of iron which is used largely in the manufacture of ink, and are of the same nature as “iron rust.” Nothing is more difficult to remove. Weak acids may be used, but unless they are strong enough to injure the material they will not always overcome the stain. A great improvement may be wrought, but something of the old spot is apt to remain until the garment is worn out. Blemishes on velvet that will result from the falling of a rain-drop may be removed by steaming the goods and passing it over hot iron. Then with a delicate brush touch the nap. Moistened by the vapor the pile can be raised and the smooth appearance of the nap restored. This is the method used by milliners in restoring ladies’ bonnets. It can be equally well done at home.

Lady’s Crocheted Hood.

Make a foundation chain of 132 stitches, crochet Afghan or any pretty crochet stitch, narrow every fourth row. This is done by crocheting two stitches together at the beginning of a row and drawing the thread through two stitches instead of one at the beginning of a row. Narrow tili you have but live stitches on needle ; draw thread through these and fasten off.

Border—The border is made separately and sewed to hood. Crochet a foundation long enough to go all round hood ; make first, second and third rows of double crochet (putting needle through both top stitches). Fourth row—Seven double crochet with white ; now fasten on blue or pink, and crochet seven picots; these are composed of five chain, one single crochet, the single to be put into the first of chain ; this will make a line of picots. On the edge of these picots, crochet double all round ; now joint this line together, making a round rosette. Let the loop on needle'drop, insert the needle through hole of rosette and draw the loop through on the under side. Continue right on now with double crochet for seven stitches, then make another rosette, and so on the whole length of border. Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth rows— Double crochet of the white wool. Ninth row—Fasten on coloured and crochet scallop of one double, two treble, two double-treble, one double, one single crochet. Sew to the hood.

Sunflower Mat.

Cut two rounds in pasteboard, each to be four and a half inches in diameter. Cover each, on one side only, with black velvet or plush, the other round for the back of mat with silk. Take yellow flannel for the leaves, and cut forty a little over an inch in width and two- inches in length, tapering to a point at one end ; lap the sides over and run them on the edge of the back form ; put the velvet form on the top of this form and make fourteen strands with old gold embroidery silk. Then make fourteen strands to recross the others and the mat is finished.