Welcome to my blog about Home Arts Needlecraft Magazine! I "discovered" this publication about 2 years ago and fell in love with it to the extent that I had to start collecting issues as I ran across them. The magazine began publication with its September, 1909 premier issue, and continued through March, 1941. It has been interesting to follow the changes through the 30 plus years the magazine was published. It is a great source for needlework, fashion, recipes and short stories. Through my journey of sharing my issues online, I hope to discover a pattern of what was popular in different forms of needlecraft over the 3 decades. I hope you enjoy my blog as much as I am (so far!) enjoying posting articles and projects from the issues. Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Answered by the Editor

August, 1913, page 7

 
May we not have directions for the pretty ribbon ornaments so much used?  I am sure many will be glad to see them. – Mrs. F. L. W.
No less glad than Needlecraft is to present them.  You will enjoy and profit by Miss Roberts’ article, and will like to know that this contributor – from whom we all hope to hear very often – will provide samples as well as finished ornaments of flowers to order, at very reasonable price, and give any further information in her power.  Sprays, clusters and tiny wreaths of those ribbon flowers are used with charming effect on the hats of the season, often affording the sole ornamentation.


I am very anxious to learn how to do netting, so that I can make some of the lovely things in that work recently illustrated.  Would you kindly give me directions?  --Emma E. Cook
Space cannot possibly be afforded in this column; but next month, or at longest the month after, the lessons in netting which won so much commendation when they originally appeared, shall be reprinted – this by special request of many subscribers.  Please bear in mind, however, that this concession cannot be again made and be very sure to have your subscription in, so that you may secure the lessons.  I trust every one will note this suggestion; however large the edition.  It will be quickly exhausted, and the only way to be sure of obtaining the issue in question is to subscribe now.

 
I have a centerpiece with wheat on it, and I cannot find out how to work it.  Will you please describe it for me?  ---Minnie Ligget.
The real “wheat-ear” stitch or bullion-stitch very much resembles the roll-stitch in crocheting.  There are two ways of working it; the first, as follows, is more easily made evenly by a beginner:  Bring the needle up through the work at the base of the “kernel” indicated, take a forward or upward stitch the length of the space to be covered, push the needle down through and bring it up again at the first point, leaving the thread in a loose loop on the surface, since this is to be used to wind the needle for the roll.  Wind to the left, over and under, until you have as many “overs” as needed to cover the space indicated, draw the needle carefully through this coil, working slowly and carefully, and pushing the threads close together, yet not letting one overlap or crowd another; insert the needle at the end of the stitch and draw the roll down neatly to the foundation.  By the other method the needle is inserted at the tip of the wheat-kernel and brought out at the other end, but not drawn through; wind the thread ten or twelve times, or according to length of stitch required, around the point of the needle, hold this coil in place with the left thumb and draw the needle carefully through.  Insert the needle again in the same place as at first.  For the spills or beard of the wheat use a fine, close outline- or stem-stitch.
 

I am greatly interested in rose beads, and desire to make a great many of them the present season; but I do want to know how to prevent them turning black, and to give them the different colors.  I should also like some suggestions on how to arrange them with other kinds of beads for necklaces and long chains.  -- Lena Mabie
I have never seen a real rose-bead that was anything but black, or very dark; many people think the blacker they are the better, and add a little copperas to the las “grinding” to produce the desired effect.  There are so-called rose-beads in colors sold at the shops, but I very much doubt whether rose-petals enter into their composition; instead, they are probably of papier-mache or something of that order, rose-scented and colored to suit the fancy.  When we remember the various stages through which the real rose beads pass in process of manufacture—the grindings, and the rusty sheet-iron pan – we must agree that black is their natural tint.  Here are some suggestions for arrangement, gleaned from a charming collection of chains recently inspected:  One chain had a large rose-bead, three small god beads, one larger, of rose-pink, three small gold ones, again the large rose-bead, and so on.  Another had small rose-beads, alternating with smaller pearl beads; another had *one medium-size rose-bead, three small gold beads, one cut-glass yellow bead, three small gold, repeat.  Others had purple and garnet beads instead of the yellow ones.  Another, using the medium-size rose-beads, had one rose-bead, three small gold beads, one rose, three small gold, one cut-glass green bead, three small gold – repeating the arrangement to length required.  Again, an especially pretty chain had one rose-bead, of medium size, a smaller rose-pink-bead, one rose-bead, three small gold beads, one rose-bead, three small gold beads’ repeat.  In anther a large rose-bead alternated with two smaller gold-lined beads.  Variations are almost without limit, and the study is a most pleasing one.



Would voile be a suitable material upon which to embroider the free transfer-pattern given in July?  If so, with what should the work be done?  -- Mrs. H. M. B.

Your question is not sufficiently definite for a satisfactory answer, since you do not state for what purpose you intend using the design or motif in question.  However, it could be prettily carried out on voile, with embroidery-cotton or –silk.  In solid embroidery – eyelets are difficult to work nicely on material of that character.  If you wish to use the voile for a baby’s pillow, it may be embroidered with the delicate color, pink or blue, used for the lining.

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