December, 190^ 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



391 



Applique on Inexpensive Materials 



By Mabel Tuke Priestman 



NTIL a year or two 

 ago the word ap- 

 plique suggested 

 luxury. Costly 

 hangings embel- 

 lished with ap- 

 plique were rarely ever seen by the 

 average person. They were read of 

 in books as adorning the mansions of 

 the wealthy. 



The expensive materials upon 

 which the work was done, and the 

 enormous cost of labor expended in 

 applying intricate designs, placed the 

 hangings at a price far beyond the 

 reach of the ordinary householder. 

 Now we constantly run across good 

 applique work which has been done 

 in linens and mercerized cottons in 

 excellent designs and which has en- 

 tailed only a moderate amount of 

 labor. Such work can be under- 

 taken by many who w T ish to add to the beauty of the home. 

 Most women have some skill with the needle and many 

 have a natural taste in the choice and arrangement of colors. 

 The charm of modern applique work lies in the use of good, 

 bold designs and in the selection of simple and effective color- 

 ings. The frank use of a wide stitch here and there gives 

 a pleasing variety to the outline of a design. The knowl- 

 edge of how to do applique work is really a combination of 

 needlecraft and color sense, and is not at all hard to acquire. 

 In many cases, especially where it is used for wall decora- 



Holland Tablecloth with Applique of Dull 

 Green and Purple in Shaded Linen 



tion, the design is first stenciled and 

 then outlined with embroidery. This 

 is also effective for portieres when it 

 is felt that time can not be spared for 

 more elaborate ornament. 



A bedspread of yellow linen, used 

 in a yellow and brown bedroom, was 

 made in five strips. All the seams 

 were concealed by a stitching of 

 heavy brown embroidery, which also 

 hid the hem line, while a tiny tree 

 ornament in outline appeared above 

 the hem at the base of the valance. 

 The same motif was repeated in the 

 window curtains. Another decorative 

 bit of needlework was shown in a 

 table square, made for a craftsman's 

 dining-room, of white linen, on which 

 corn-colored linen was appliqued for 

 the flower motif. A rich note of 

 brown was introduced in the couch- 

 ing which held the applique in place. 

 One of the best ways of preparing designs for applique 

 work is to trace the design upon the material to be used as 

 the applique and fasten it securely with drawing pins on a 

 table. Then lay red or black transfer paper face down- 

 ward upon the linen or muslin, or whatever material you 

 are going to use. Place your design upon this, going over 

 the lines firmly with a blunt instrument. After removing 

 the paper, if the design is not sufficiently indicated go over it 

 with a lead pencil. Then cut out the shapes and paste them 

 lightly on the groundwork. It is best to sew them at once, 



An Arras Cloth Portiere with 

 Tapestry Border 



Tomato and Green Linen 



Leaves Applied on Holland 



as a Separate Border 



Lattice Window, Showing a Novel Treatment 

 of Curtain Ornaments 



