in two suds if much soiled ; then rinse thoroughly in clean,
weak suds, wring and hang up ; but do not take flannels out
of warm water and hang out in a freezing air, as that certain-
ly tends to shrink them. It is better to dry them in the
house, unless the sun shines. In washing worsted goods,
such as men's pantaloons, pursue the same course ; only do
not wring them, but hang them up and let them drain ;
while a little damp, bring in and press smoothly with as hot
an iron as you can use without scorching the goods. The
reason for not wringing them is to prevent wrinkles.
How to Make an Ottoman. — A neat and useful ottoman
may be made by taking a box in which fine-cut tobacco is
packed, and covering it with cretonne. The top may be
taken off and put on without diflBculty if, after covering, a
narrow ruffle to fall over the edge is tacked on. An otto-
man of this sort is convenient in the bedroom, where it
may serve as a receptacle for stockings. If one does not
care to buy cretonne, bits of carpet may be used for the
covering. Burlap also makes a pretty cover, worked in
some simple but showy pattern.
Slippers. — How many times I have heard this said : "I
could get along nicely with my work if my feet did not feel
so uncomfortable, and even painful." Without any doubt
the woman who makes this remark goes about the house in
thin, loose slippers. I used to do it myself. I thought I
had to because others did ; but a few experiments convinced
me that the only way to do work, comfortably is to wear
thick-soled shoes. One very soon becomes accustomed to
them, and will find great relief. There is always more or
less running out of doors to be done, and there is great
danger of taking cold if the feet are not well protected.
Curtains. — Pretty curtains can be made of unbleached
cotton cloth, trimmed with a stripe of cambric. Choose a
delicate and pretty vine, harmonizing in color with the
other appointments of the room. If you do not care for
80 HOUSEHOLD HINTS.
or can not afford a cornice, make a box-plaiting of the cam-
bric for a heading.
Furniture Covers. — Nothing gives so dismal and inhos-
pitable an appearance to a room as to have the chairs and
sofa or couch covered with stiff, unfriendly-looking linen ;
but pretty furniture that is used every day must be protected
in some way, and there are many coverings which are really
ornamental. For instance, a couch may be kept from fad-
ing by taking a piece of Turkish toweling the required
length — that is, a little longer than the couch, so that it
will fall over the ends, and not slide down and wrinkle ;
put scallops of flannel on the edge. A border or center-piece,
or simply a vine worked in some bright color across the ends,
makes a pretty addition to it. Tidies that are very service-
able may be made of brown linen with an applique stripe of
cretonne flowers. The easiest and most satisfactory way to
prepare cretonne for transferring is to first work the figure
which is to be cut out with the button-hole stitch, and
then cut around that. When it is placed upon broadcloth,
or any material which will not require washing, sew it with
long stitches on the wrong side ; but when transferring to
the linen, sew it firmly, so that it will keep its place when
washed. The tidies may be finished by putting fringe or
yellow lace across the ends ; turn down and hem on the
sides, and feather-stitch with worsted or working cotton or
silk.
Household hints
1881Page 39
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
in two suds if much soiled ; then rinse thoroughly in clean, weak suds, wring and hang up ; but do not take flannels out of warm water and hang out in a freezing air, as that certainly tends to shrink them. It is better to dry them in the house, unless the sun shines. In washing worsted goods, such as men's pantaloons, pursue the same course ; only do not wring them, but hang them up and let them drain ; while a little damp, bring in and press smoothly with as hot an iron as you can use without scorching the goods. The reason for not wringing them is to prevent wrinkles.
How to Make an Ottoman. — A neat and useful ottoman may be made by taking a box in which fine-cut tobacco is packed, and covering it with cretonne. The top may be taken off and put on without difficulty if, after covering, a narrow ruffle to fall over the edge is tacked on. An ottoman of this sort is convenient in the bedroom, where it may serve as a receptacle for stockings. If one does not care to buy cretonne, bits of carpet may be used for the covering. Burlap also makes a pretty cover, worked in some simple but showy pattern.
Slippers. — How many times I have heard this said : "I could get along nicely with my work if my feet did not feel so uncomfortable, and even painful." Without any doubt the woman who makes this remark goes about the house in thin, loose slippers. I used to do it myself. I thought I had to because others did ; but a few experiments convinced me that the only way to do work, comfortably is to wear thick-soled shoes. One very soon becomes accustomed to them, and will find great relief. There is always more or less running out of doors to be done, and there is great danger of taking cold if the feet are not well protected.
Curtains. — Pretty curtains can be made of unbleached cotton cloth, trimmed with a stripe of cambric. Choose a delicate and pretty vine, harmonizing in color with the other appointments of the room. If you do not care for
or can not afford a cornice, make a box-plaiting of the cambric for a heading.
Furniture Covers. — Nothing gives so dismal and inhospitable an appearance to a room as to have the chairs and sofa or couch covered with stiff, unfriendly-looking linen ; but pretty furniture that is used every day must be protected in some way, and there are many coverings which are really ornamental. For instance, a couch may be kept from fading by taking a piece of Turkish toweling the required length — that is, a little longer than the couch, so that it will fall over the ends, and not slide down and wrinkle ; put scallops of flannel on the edge. A border or center-piece, or simply a vine worked in some bright color across the ends, makes a pretty addition to it. Tidies that are very serviceable may be made of brown linen with an applique stripe of cretonne flowers. The easiest and most satisfactory way to prepare cretonne for transferring is to first work the figure which is to be cut out with the button-hole stitch, and then cut around that. When it is placed upon broadcloth, or any material which will not require washing, sew it with long stitches on the wrong side ; but when transferring to the linen, sew it firmly, so that it will keep its place when washed. The tidies may be finished by putting fringe or yellow lace across the ends ; turn down and hem on the sides, and feather-stitch with worsted or working cotton or silk.