FRENCH METHOD OF CLEANING KNITTED WOOLLENS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18248, 5 August 1921, Page 2

FRENCH METHOD OF CLEANING KNITTED WOOLLENS.

Washing knitted wool in the ordinary way generally spoils it, more or less; but white or even coloured knitted woollens may be successfully cleaned in the following way, , according to a Frenchwoman. “Your hands,” she says, "must be washed quite clean and well dried before setting to work; and in order to keep them clean and dry, sprinkle them with a few drops of Eau de Cologne and friction them vigorously. Sprinkle some flour on a clean, smooth board; rub in it the woollen article to be cleaned; then take it between the hands and “slap” it sharply. The*flour will become discoloured, when the operation should be repeated with fresh flour. In three treatments you will obtain a whiteness equal to new, and will have the satisfaction of seeing that the knitting has not suffered in the least. “The result,” she added, “is the same with regard to light-coloured knitted woollens, as the flour only removes the impurities that rest in the wool. But the process does not ibply to dhrk-colotired or black woollens., because it would be difficult to remove the flour- so thoroughly that the colour would not be affected by the dust. “Black or dark-coloured knitted, woollens, therefore, must be dipped in lukewarm soapsuds and allowed to soak for a night. The next morning, turn and move about the woollen in the water,' squeeze it without rubbing it, lift it up and down in the suds and shake it and wring it gently. Repeat the process two or three times, then rinse the article in the same way in fresh water and roll it up between two towels, always avoiding to rub it throughout the whole operation. When partly dry, hang it in the air.”

A PEPLUM BLOUSE. Someone observed in a fashionable salon recently that the day of the one-colour, one-material blouse was a. thing of the past. Although this IS far from being true, it is, nevertheless, a fact that fashion at present. leans very much towards mixed materials and colours A favourite combination is that of georgette and satin, and in these materials is a rust-

coloured blouse with front-panel of satin. The blouse is shirred into a short peplum that tails over the skirt—for numbers of the new blouses, quite apart from jumpers, are worn cul.-ido the skirt-hands. Sometimes pjnels of. duvetyn ace introduced cn mouses of georgm: : ar satin. colour-contrast being a feature of >ue sc iemc . : nd tin: o' fashion admits cf economies being elected it. numbers of instances, tomany a woman is thus able to retri vr.te i'a.mmnably a:;..1 cheaply r.t ths seme time, and make good use of what would be practically usciesJ staff. A biouse with peplum waist is illusti ?tod, and Lerj we s-e a design that adapt.', .tsf.il wonderfully well to mixed mate, fills and mixed colours. while <t the <nme time it might '.•<? carried ex' with equal success in one ...low ml matftial. Regirding a ; fittc-l it easy to con /jive th > cr.-.ria of the ulotu<were it made t:;> i;i satin as;! georgette of any p/.1-j. pretty colon-, rrt>n forming the peplum-and bell-cufts and the rest of the blouse being of georgette to match; or develop the blouse in a mixture of hydrangeapink and blue (or mauve) gnd it would be lovely. The embroidery should be carried out in the two colours. The design of this, by the way is particularly pretty and is interpreted by lines of darning stitch broken here and there with solidsjtitch leaves, the central leaf, with a fringe of stitches below, suggesting a pendant. A variation of the peplum illustrated is shown in blouses where the fronts only have peplum effect, and each corner develops into a length that is wound round the waist and forms a sash; or the double peplum is retained and each corner, developing again into a short length of stuff, is knotted; and forms a careless-look-ing trimming over the hips.