By Mrs. S.
J. Baldwine
Every little maid’s outfit should include at least
two of the washable hats of white pique, with button-on crown which can be
quickly and easily removed when laundering is needed. If nicely made, even with simplest
embroidery, these hats are quite pretty enough to be worn on special occasions,
and are certainly just the thing for every day, because the small wearer does
not need the caution, so often repeated” “Be careful of your hat, dear!” She knows and mamma knows that however mussed
or soiled it may become, a tubbing will make everything right again, and every
bit as good as new.
The hat may be entirely of white, with white
lining, or it may have a lining of light pink, blue, or any delicate color –
which must be, of course of washable material – with embroidery of the same
tint. The lining is put in after the embroidery
is done, and may be omitted, if preferred, since its real use is to conceal the
under side of the brim. By taking a
little care the embroidery may be made to look almost as well on the wrong side
as on the right, and while there is a decided difference in the two sides of
the fabric, the smooth or plain side is not objectionable.
Solid embroidery is preferred to eyelet,
especially if the hat is not to be lined; the designs illustrated are adapted
to either style of work, however. If
carried out in satin-stitch, as is the model, the padding should be heavy; and
if eyelet-embroidery is used care should be taken to keep the lines perfectly
true and even, and the eyelets, which are intended to be of the same size,
quite uniform. Any deviation from this
rule will be unpleasantly apparent.
Work the buttonholes as indicated, after
completing the embroidery and buttonholing of edges on both brim and crown, and
sew twelve pearl buttons of suitable size at corresponding intervals on the
brim. The hat may be readily adapted to
a larger or smaller head-size when cutting the opening of the brim, which
should be neatly hemmed or bound with bias tape.
These dainty bits of headgear are always
fashionable, the style changing little or not at all from season to season; and
the wise mother of small children who contemplates spending a few weeks or
months of the winter in Florida, or other “summer-the-year-around” resort, is
sure to have a supply of “button-on” hats ready for the little folks to wear.
While exquisite neatness of work is always a prime
essential in needlecraft, it seems particularly so in the fashioning of garments
for little folks. Because the embroidery
is simple, it should be all the more nicely executed, the lace edgings should
be fine and dainty, and the material light and sheer. French nainsook is frequently chosen, as is
lawn of fine quality, while mercerized batiste finds especial favor for “baby’s
best dress,” or even for the little gowns intended for more common wear, being
very soft and lustrous.
A pretty panel in eyelet-embroidery forms the
decoration of the wee dress pictured; if desired, the work may be continued to
the hem, but is very dainty and sufficiently elaborate as it is. The little sleeves are edged at the wrist
with Valenciennes, as is the neck, and every bit of the sewing is done by hand,
with fine thread and finest of stitches.
Take care always that there are no seams which will chafe a baby’s
tender skin; very often the sleeves are buttonholed in place, thus avoiding any
seam whatever around the little arms, save the very narrow and soft one
produced by the buttonholing.
The kimono or “slip-on” nightdress, cut in one
piece and with side seams only, is still the popular style. If a higher neck is wanted it may be filled
in with fine insertion and lace, and drawn up with narrow ribbons, the sleeves
being edged to correspond.
A very attractive though simple design for
embroidering such a garment is shown.
The lines are worked in stem-stitch; first padded by running with short
stitches, which are then whipped with padding-cotton; then with the
embroidery-cotton work over and over the padded line, taking up very little of
the material beneath so that when the work is completed the effect is that of a
small, smooth cord laid upon the goods and following the outline. The remainder of the work is also in padded
satin-stitch, save two of the little, four-petaled figures in each cluster;
these are outlined with the stem-stitch described and filled in with
seed-stitch, so much used in the real French embroidery. This stitch is taken after the manner of the
common back-stitch – a short stitch backward on the surface and a longer stitch
forward underneath; if a heavier “seed” is desired, take two stitches side by
side, the needle emerging and entering almost at the same place in both
stitches. All the four-petal forms may
be worked in this way, if liked, the result being much more delicate in
appearance.
The same design may be sued for a blouse –
omitting the initial – or a corset-cover; hence the transfer- or perforated
pattern will be found of advantage.
The girl or woman who feels the need of “just one
more” new and attractive waist to tide over the days of late summer and early
fall, its addition freshening an outfit which has begun to show a little wear
and tear, will appreciated the simple but very pleasing design in solid,
eyelet- and punched embroidery. Explicit
instructions for doing the latter have appeared; it consists merely in
separating or drawing apart the threads of the material, using a very large
needle, and binding them securely; in other words, a tiny square of the
material, say four or six threads, is surrounded by stitches, two in a place,
forming an opening on each side. The
work is easily done, even though not stamped expressly for the purpose; if,
however, the dots are stamped, it is a great help.
The embroidered band at the top of each sleeve
matches that of the waist, and may be applied to a collar, if desired. On the model a Cluny insertion, matching the
lace which edges the sleeves, is used for collarband, with pretty effect.
From present indications the present style of
blouses, so becoming and comfortable, will see no radical change, and on this
fact womankind is to be congratulated.
There are ultra styles which do not appeal to the woman of good sense,
and she does not adopt them; but when a garment has proven itself to be just
what she wants and needs, she is in no haste to let it go by.
No. 159 C.
Perforated stamping-pattern, 25 cents.
Transfer-pattern, 10 cents.
Stamped on pique, 25 cents.
No. 160 D.
Perforated stamping-pattern, 25 cents.
Transfer-pattern, 10 cents.
Stamped on nainsook, 60 cents.
No. 161 D.
Perforated stamping-pattern, 25 cents.
Transfer-pattern, 10 cents.
Stamped on English longcloth, $1.00.
No. 162 D.
Perforated stamping-pattern, 25 cents.
Transfer-pattern, 10 cents.
Stamped on punch-linen, $1.00.
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