WORK COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue VI, 10 February 1900, Page 285

WORK COLUMN.

HINTS FOR THE HOME. There is not quite the rage for “smocking” garments for grown up people that there was a few years back, but really nothing has been found to supersede it for children’s dresses, overalls and skirts. lam surprised that more is not done with “ribbon smocking,” which is a particularly pretty variation from the ordinary kind. When the ribbon is smocked on a background of a contrasting colour the effect is particularly pleasing. The smocking may be done in silk to match either the ribbon or the background. The ribbon can be easily marked in the following manner:—Run a drawing pin through the first hole in any row of your chart, then through the end of the ribbon and fasten both securely to a board; stretch the ribbon along the row of holes in the chart and with another drawing pin secure both ribbon and chart to the board at the last hole of the same row. Dot the ribbon in the usual manner, and take care when shifting it to ' dot another length, that the drawing pin at the first end of the chart pierces exactly through the last dot on the ribbon. When you have marked a sufficient quantity of ribbon, cut into the required lengths and gather it. For the first few rows the gathering of the ribbon is a little troublesome, as the ends are rather unmanageable. However this difficulty lessens as you proceed. When gathering take care.that the exact centre of the ribbon comes to the right side and all the edges to the wrong side. Each length of rib-

bon forms one pleat. In the illustration the ribbon used was three-six-teenths of an inch wide, and the dots were marked three eighths of an inch apart. For ribbon half an inch wide the dots should be marked an inch apart.

Among home made gifts there is nothing that will meet with more general appreciation than a pretty wrap. It is so chilly that going out in the evening' without something over the head is attended with considerable risk. At the same time a light wrap is required, as a too heavy one will hopelessly disarrange one’s hair. White Kashmir wool of the finest size will be the best for working a head wrap like the one sketched, which is about a yard square. Choose a hook to fit the wool. It is begun in the centre. Make a little circle of the wool, and draw through this a single, work 3 chain, 1 d.c., 3 chain, 1 d.c. in this circle to make 8 loops, fasten this round with a c.d. in the middle stitch of the next loop, and in the same hole make 3 chain, 1 d.c. (this will be the corner and is worked in the same way every round), 3 chain, d.c. in the middle stitch of the next loop, then the corner again, and repeat. All the centre of the shawl is worked in this way with the hook through the middle stitch of the 3 chain of the last round, taking the stitch double on the pin to keep the work close and even. Work about 34 rounds, then begin the border, first

ascertaining that ther is an odd number of loops between the corner loops. The border: Ist round —In the corner loop work 2 treble, 2 chain, 2 treble, 2 chain. 2 treble, 2 chain, 2 treble, * Make 1 chain, d.c. in the centre stitch of the next loop of the last round, 1 chain; 2 treble, 2 chain, 2 treble in the middle stitch of the next loop; repeat from * till the corner, which work like the last. 2nd round —Work 2 treble, 2 chain, 2 treble, into every loop of 3 chain of the last round. 3rd round—Make 1 chain, d.c. between the two trebles of the last round, 1 chain; in the corner loop work 2 treble, 2 chain, 2 treble, 2 chain, 2 treble. 2 chain, 2 treble. * 1 chain, d.c. between the 2 trebles of the last round, 1 chain, 2 trebles, 2 chain, 2 trebles into the next loop, repeat from *, work the corner as before. Make the border about 12 rounds deep. The edge is done after a repetition of the second round. .loin the round, make 2 chain up at the back of the work, 3 treble into the next hole, then work 3 chain fastened by a single into the stitch below the chain three times in the same hole, then three treble in the same loop,

the last round, 1 chain, 3 trebles, 3 loops of 3 chain, 3 trebles into the next loop, and continue all round * 1 chain, d.c. between the trebles of from *. Run a ribbon the width of the first holes of the border all round the shawl, fastened by a stitch at each corner, and tie a looped bow on the right side out of the upper folding over corner as in the illustration.

This music-case ean be made in many pretty shades of colour, none of which, however, makes a more suitable back-ground ;than a. certain shade of grey-green; and when it is embroidered with a wavy line of dark pinkpetalled daisies treated very conven-

tionally, as will be seen in the sketch, and a centre piece of tulips worked with silk in pink, yellow and white, “laid” after the old Florentine fashion, and the foliage worked in satin stitch,

has an extremely pretty effect. The cover comes slightly beyond its foundation, and is buttonholed round the edges n silk exactly matching the canvas. © ® ® 1 end with the drawing of an orchid pin-cushron which delighted me immensely the other day when I saw it hanging from a dressing-table look-ing-glass. It was made of delicate mauve shaded silk, the shade carefully managed so as to repeat the natural colouring of the flower, the curved leaves are simply strained over wires bent in the shape indicated, and ithe pouch parts are either left open as pockets or filled up to serve as a p’n - cushion. This would make a charming little gift to a. friend, and it is surprising how many birthdays there are.