Cloths bought by the yard must be evened at the ends by drawing a thread,
and hemmed by hand, never stitched on the machine. The inch hem of a few
years ago has been superseded by the very narrow one which is always in
good taste, regardless of style. Napkins come by the piece and must be
divided and hemmed on two sides, rubbing well between the hands first to
remove the stiffness.
There is nothing handsomer or more elegant than the fine, hemmed table
linen, but if a hemstitched cloth is desired, or one containing some
drawn-work design, it is better to buy the material and do the work
oneself; otherwise; the expense goes into the work, not the linen, and
the cost is usually about double that of the same cloth plainly finished.
Hemstitching and fancy work are appropriate only on cloths for the
luncheon table, which may be of either plain or figured damask, or of
heavy linen, which is often effectively combined with Battenberg and
linen laces. Neither drawn work nor hemstitching wears well, drawing the
threads seeming to weaken the fabric. Very pretty luncheon cloths can be
purchased in different sizes for $1.50, $1.75, $2.00, $2.75, etc.,
according to size, material, and elaboration, with accompanying napkins,
18 by 18 inches, for $2.50 or more a dozen. A cloth just the size of the
table top is a convenient luncheon size. These cloths save much wear on
the large cloths, and laundry work as well.
DOILIES AND TABLE DRESSING
The pretty present-day fashion of using individual plate doilies on a
polished table at breakfast and luncheon is also labor-saving. The plate
doilies, either square, oval, or round, and of plain damask or smooth,
closely woven, rather heavy linen, are hemstitched or finished with a
padded scallop worked with white cotton. The round doily is most used,
and offers a delightful field to the worker in over-and-over embroidery
for the display of her skill. Linen lace combinations are also used, but
they are rather for dress-up than for daily use. The plate doilies
should be at least 9 inches wide, with smaller corresponding ones on
which to set the glass of water or the hot cup, and an extra one or two
for small dishes for relishes and the like that may be kept on the table,
etc. They can he bought for 25 cents a piece and upward, but the average
housekeeper enjoys making her own, taking them for "pick-up" work. Small
fringed napkins are also used in the same way, and for tray covers, but
fringe soon grows to look "dog-eared," and mats in the laundering. Still
another dressing for the bare table is the long hemstitched linen strip,
12 inches wide, which runs the length of the table, hanging over the end,
and is crossed at the middle by a second strip extending over the sides,
two strips thus seating four people. When six are to be seated the
cross-piece is moved to one side and a third corresponding strip placed
about 18 inches from it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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