The transparent colored curtains of Madras cloth in bright colors and
designs give a lovely effect of illumination when the light shines through
them. White batiste, a soft muslin fabric, in square meshes like
grenadine, is made up most effectually, with wide lace-like stripes,
and the lace striped batiste is edged with antique lace, or finished with
painted borders by the home artist. Curtains of striped, sprigged or
dotted muslin, gathered and arranged close against the sash, to move
with it, are also much used for bed-room, basement and vestibule
windows.
Inexpensive and pretty curtains are made of the best quality of
cheese-cloth, with an edge of antique lace, or a band of flowered chintz.
These long, draped curtains should have a straight valance, trimmed in
the same way as the sides, placed at the top, and falling over the long
curtains.
Curtains formed of strips of lace insertion, alternated with strips of tur-
key-red twill, finished with a border of lace, are very pretty, and not
more expensive than curtains entirely of lace. Strips of open-work mus-
lin can be used in place of lace insertion. More expensive materials
than Turkey twill are employed for these insertion curtains, strips of
brocade, colored silks, or even satin being used.
Heavy Curtains for parlor or library are made of felt, momie
cloth, raw silk, and India goods. The felt comes in the softest art col-
ors— bronze, olive, myrtle, rich crimson and dark wine. These are
148 HOUSE FURNISHING.
trimmed with fringe, or with a plush band, or with both. The band is
attached with gay colored floss stitches in a series of spread fans, and
again they are not outlined at all. The fringes most used on this
material are called chenille, and are made of wool in heavy ropes that
are generally shaded in one or more colors and tipped with a silk ball
in contrast. Turcoman is one of the most elegant curtain goods in the
market. It is in every shade that artists love — crimson and bronze in
every shade, and dark, rich wine and time-honored Pompeiian red.
Turcoman is not unlike Turkish toweling, only heavier, thicker, and has
a wiry surface. These are made up with superb dado and fringe bor-
ders set at the bottom and top. The dado is much lighter than the
fringe, although they are both in perfect harmony with the body of the
curtain and with each other.
Cheaper ones are of Canton flannel, with edges composed of a border
of black velvet, or applique stripes, or gold-colored sateen. Burlaps or
coffee-bagging curtains may be made to resemble the richest Oriental
fabrics, by taking strips of silk, sateen, or some other silky-looking
material, such as silesia, and placing one of orange or yellow next to
another of black, then one of blue ; black velvet is laid on the lower
edge of each strip.
A simpler yet equally artistic style of curtain is made of dark red Can-
ton flannel, trimmed with horizontal strips sewed on with briar-stitch in
yellow silk or worsted.
Two flowing curtains of tapestry, plush or other rich fabric, bordered
across the top and bottom to match the furniture, are selected for the
ground parlors. Cretonne valances very much festooned, or else a per-
fectly straight band are put above muslin or striped lace curtains for
country houses and for chambers in town houses.
Page 130
Presented as published in 1886. 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
The transparent colored curtains of Madras cloth in bright colors and designs give a lovely effect of illumination when the light shines through them. White batiste, a soft muslin fabric, in square meshes like grenadine, is made up most effectually, with wide lace-like stripes, and the lace striped batiste is edged with antique lace, or finished with painted borders by the home artist. Curtains of striped, sprigged or dotted muslin, gathered and arranged close against the sash, to move with it, are also much used for bed-room, basement and vestibule windows.
Inexpensive and pretty curtains are made of the best quality of cheese-cloth, with an edge of antique lace, or a band of flowered chintz. These long, draped curtains should have a straight valance, trimmed in the same way as the sides, placed at the top, and falling over the long curtains.
Curtains formed of strips of lace insertion, alternated with strips of turkey-red twill, finished with a border of lace, are very pretty, and not more expensive than curtains entirely of lace. Strips of open-work muslin can be used in place of lace insertion. More expensive materials than Turkey twill are employed for these insertion curtains, strips of brocade, colored silks, or even satin being used.
Heavy Curtains for parlor or library are made of felt, momie cloth, raw silk, and India goods. The felt comes in the softest art colors— bronze, olive, myrtle, rich crimson and dark wine. These are
trimmed with fringe, or with a plush band, or with both. The band is attached with gay colored floss stitches in a series of spread fans, and again they are not outlined at all. The fringes most used on this material are called chenille, and are made of wool in heavy ropes that are generally shaded in one or more colors and tipped with a silk ball in contrast. Turcoman is one of the most elegant curtain goods in the market. It is in every shade that artists love — crimson and bronze in every shade, and dark, rich wine and time-honored Pompeiian red. Turcoman is not unlike Turkish toweling, only heavier, thicker, and has a wiry surface. These are made up with superb dado and fringe borders set at the bottom and top. The dado is much lighter than the fringe, although they are both in perfect harmony with the body of the curtain and with each other.
Cheaper ones are of Canton flannel, with edges composed of a border of black velvet, or applique stripes, or gold-colored sateen. Burlaps or coffee-bagging curtains may be made to resemble the richest Oriental fabrics, by taking strips of silk, sateen, or some other silky-looking material, such as silesia, and placing one of orange or yellow next to another of black, then one of blue ; black velvet is laid on the lower edge of each strip.
A simpler yet equally artistic style of curtain is made of dark red Canton flannel, trimmed with horizontal strips sewed on with briar-stitch in yellow silk or worsted.
Two flowing curtains of tapestry, plush or other rich fabric, bordered across the top and bottom to match the furniture, are selected for the ground parlors. Cretonne valances very much festooned, or else a perfectly straight band are put above muslin or striped lace curtains for country houses and for chambers in town houses.