NEW WAYS OF USING RAFFIA

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 February 1923, Page 28

NEW WAYS OF USING RAFFIA

by M.L.T.

T>AFFIA grass is nowadays very different in its application from the straw coloured commodity of a few years ago, which one associated solely with tying up plants in the garden. It can be purchased in the most beautiful colours, an ounce of each colour only, if a variety in small amounts is needed—and its uses are legion. The loveliest toilettes in fine cloth or delicate organdie arc embroidered in thin, many-coloured strands of raffia ; quaint and striking embroidery can be done on house furnishings, cushions, and curtains; while endless lovely bags, belts, slippers, girdles, hats, and baskets can be made by crochet, knitting or weaving. Many people arc weaving small cushion covers of coloured raffia and fillinpthem with lavender, and rose petals, a finishing touch being given by tassels at each corner. Gay flowers will trim a summer’s hat, and are very | simple to make, in one or in many colours, as your fancy pleases. You will need for the flower illustrated some coarse canvas, raffia and a sailcloth needle, The petals arc worked in big loops, back stitches, and the centre filled with “knobby” back stitches, in a different colour. Arranged on a thick plait of raffia, these make a smart girdle, and you can make the flowers large or small, or both. Many girls crochet exquisite posies and trails of coloured flowers, using fine strands of raffia. PHE crown of a beach hat can be ■*- made a thing of beauty by embroidering big flat blossoms all over it. in vivid colours and coarse stitches, The centres could be rounds of cloth or patent leather. Big thistles can be made like an ordinary tassel, but very full and short, and the ends clipped evenly across, and finely shredded with a needle. A quickly worked porch cushion offers scope for many colour schemes —it is worked on nut-brown burlap in peacock shades. he knitted belt is interesting. These are being worn with sponge cloth or pongee dresses, and are most attractive.

The sample illustrated is knitted in plain knitting, but could also be crochctted in ordinary double crochetstitch. Of course you must choose your raffia, and see that it is pliable and fairly even. If it is hard, soak it well, and hang on the line to nearly dry, and use before it hardens up again. This applies also to the useful and easily made table mats for hot plates.

They are worked in filet crochet and finished with a row of double crochet round the edge. In the ease of coloured raffia, it is usually soft from the dyeing. A pretty bag can be made by working two flat rounds in double crochet — about six inches across —and joining the two half round by a narrow strip. It can be ornamented with tassels or a posy or wreath of tiny crochet raffia flowers, and finished by a plaited handle, which is a continuation of the joining strip. If you want it especially nice you may line it to match.