Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 216, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1910 — CARE GIVEN LINEN [ARTICLE]

CARE GIVEN LINEN

DARNING OF FINE CLOTH IS Fascinating work. fear of Tablecloth Is Prolonged Ts Several Stitches Are Taken In Fold—Proper Repairing of Worn Napkins. Every housekeeper is proud of her linen closet, undoubtedly, and to keep the contents in good condition is more often considered a pleasure than a task, especially when the stitch-in-time-saves-nine rule is applied. Darning fine linen is really fascinating work if one will only take pains, to do it well. Table cloths are apt to show the first signs of wear in the fold down* the middle, but an actual break may be prolonged if a few threads —half a dozen or so—are neatly darned in down this* fold. Some housekeepers reinforce in this way after a few washingß only, but as the damask then is apt to be thick, the darning is a little harder to do than when the cloth has reached the half-worn stage. The thread known as flourishing cotton is used for repairing all kinds of house linen, and will be found to look almost exactly . like a thread drawn from damask. Every one is acquainted with the device of cutting a couple of inches from one end and one side of a tablecloth when it begins to wear, but this shortening may be put off for a long time if the middle fold is strengthened while the cloth is still in good condition. Then there are others who never iron the cloth directly through the middle, but fold it so that it measures from one to two inches wider on one part, because, of course, it is the constant pressing of the iron on the one line that causes the wear. The next sign of wear is indicated by broken threads. If these are allowed to remain unnoticed the result will be a hole in no time, while if a few stitches are set in the ravage will be concealed and the damask look like new again. A simple in and out, j upper and under stitch 1b used, the work being done on the wrong side of the cloth. This is “the stitch in time.” When both woof and warp break, a hole having ragged edges is the result. When this happens there is nothing to do but cut away the frayed part and fill in the> space with the darning stitch. Unless the thread used for working has been shrunken loops should be left all around the edges of the hole/ The wise plan is to leave the loops any way, because the ironing, is apt to stretch the thread and the loops will allow plenty of “give,” while a tight thread will cause a drawing that will in time tear the material mended part away. As the cloth Is always £hin around a hole, the darning should extend beyond it for half an inch or more on all sides. ■* Worn napkins are repaired in the same way as tablecloths.