A new style of work very fashionable and much displayed at expo-
sitions, is made of tiny pieces from four to eight inches square, of cre_
tonne, plush, velvet, silks, or anything that has bright colors and new
designs. These are pieced into spreads, ottomans, stand covers, foot
rests, sofa pillows, etc. They are basted together and stitched with the
seam on the right side, and then the seam is pressed open and covered
with a narrow band of velvet, ribbon or braid (according to material)
74 FANCY WORK.
and then feather-stitched down, or any fancy stitch .can be used with
colored silks. To make this beautiful, whatever the material started
with it must be carried through the whole work, whether chintz, cre-
tonne or velvet. As many colors and patterns as possible must be
chosen and each square arranged in contrast ; pleasing contrasts— not
violent ones — that is, bright red must not be put against bright green.
This is finished on the edge with silk bands that come purposely for
these, in bright Persian colors, and is called Persian work. Heavy
fringe is used below the bands, or one can be used without the other.
A very pretty way to utilize scraps, odds and ends of silk, is to make
them into blocks for a " crazy quilt." All that is necessary for this is
to cut square pieces of dark calico and baste the pieces on them as
they happen to come — in any device or shape, having every block differ-
ent, as it surely will be if they are pieced in the same shape as when
given to the quilt-maker. Tiny pieces, only inch-square strips, triangles,
anything and everything can be utilized. Silk and velvet are the pret-
tiest, and in this day of bright ribbons quite easy to get.
On the plain piece in each block may be worked an emblem, embroi-
dered or painted, or all three may be used on one square. The small
Japanese handkerchiefs give odd designs ; one that can very easily be
copied is a spider web, and caught in the meshes the innocent fly, with
the hungry spider dropping down by one of its long, almost invisible
threads, ready to pounce upon it. Another, a mallet crossed with cro-
quet balls lying near ; a bow and arrows, and target with the arrows
piercing it; a rake and hoe with handles crossed; the ever-present
horseshoe with whip near it, if you please ; the American flag with its
stars and stripes, or initials and monograms.
These quilts should be lined with bright-colored sateen and corded
with heavy silk cord on the edge. No one expects much use of these
handsome quilts, but they are very handsome to lay across the foot of
the bed, couch, divan or even down the back of an easy chair. They
are not extravagant, either, for nearly everyone has odd pieces of ribbons
or parts of silk dresses that would be good for no other purpose. Light
silks may be colored at the dyer's in any of the bright shades one chooses.
It matters not how faded or old-fashioned the silk may be, it will cer-
tainly take some bright and pretty shade.
Page 65
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
A new style of work very fashionable and much displayed at expositions, is made of tiny pieces from four to eight inches square, of cretonne, plush, velvet, silks, or anything that has bright colors and new designs. These are pieced into spreads, ottomans, stand covers, foot rests, sofa pillows, etc. They are basted together and stitched with the seam on the right side, and then the seam is pressed open and covered with a narrow band of velvet, ribbon or braid (according to material)
and then feather-stitched down, or any fancy stitch .can be used with colored silks. To make this beautiful, whatever the material started with it must be carried through the whole work, whether chintz, cretonne or velvet. As many colors and patterns as possible must be chosen and each square arranged in contrast ; pleasing contrasts— not violent ones — that is, bright red must not be put against bright green. This is finished on the edge with silk bands that come purposely for these, in bright Persian colors, and is called Persian work. Heavy fringe is used below the bands, or one can be used without the other.
A very pretty way to utilize scraps, odds and ends of silk, is to make them into blocks for a " crazy quilt." All that is necessary for this is to cut square pieces of dark calico and baste the pieces on them as they happen to come — in any device or shape, having every block different, as it surely will be if they are pieced in the same shape as when given to the quilt-maker. Tiny pieces, only inch-square strips, triangles, anything and everything can be utilized. Silk and velvet are the prettiest, and in this day of bright ribbons quite easy to get.
On the plain piece in each block may be worked an emblem, embroidered or painted, or all three may be used on one square. The small Japanese handkerchiefs give odd designs ; one that can very easily be copied is a spider web, and caught in the meshes the innocent fly, with the hungry spider dropping down by one of its long, almost invisible threads, ready to pounce upon it. Another, a mallet crossed with croquet balls lying near ; a bow and arrows, and target with the arrows piercing it; a rake and hoe with handles crossed; the ever-present horseshoe with whip near it, if you please ; the American flag with its stars and stripes, or initials and monograms.
These quilts should be lined with bright-colored sateen and corded with heavy silk cord on the edge. No one expects much use of these handsome quilts, but they are very handsome to lay across the foot of the bed, couch, divan or even down the back of an easy chair. They are not extravagant, either, for nearly everyone has odd pieces of ribbons or parts of silk dresses that would be good for no other purpose. Light silks may be colored at the dyer's in any of the bright shades one chooses. It matters not how faded or old-fashioned the silk may be, it will certainly take some bright and pretty shade.