THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
197 
Heavy Outline Stitch. 
The effect of outline embroidery is always extremely 
pretty when well done. Form, more than color, is the 
idea to be conveyed by it, though color enhances its 
beauty. Usually the work is executed with etching 
silks, or cotton of a fine quality; but a newer method is 
to use much heavier silk, thus giving a raised or cord¬ 
like appearance to the embroidery. It is worked with 
the ordinary outline stitch, following the design as ac¬ 
curately as possible, and placing the stitches rather 
closer than is ordinarily done. 
Another method is to use the ordinary outline stitch, 
but instead of placing the needle in the usual slanting 
position, it is put in the work nearly upright, as shown 
in the illustration. This gives a heavier, broader out¬ 
line, which is a pretty variation from the usual mode 
of working such designs. The manner of placing the 
needle and appearance of the stitch when finished are 
given in the illustration. 
The work is pretty for tidies, table-scarfs, and various 
articles, and it may also be used on a variety of materials. 
The present fashion of arranging tidies requires that 
they should be long and scarf shaped, with the ends 
fringed out, and a border of drawn work above. Both 
ends should be embroidered. The tidy is then gathered 
in the middle, placed on the back of the chair, or sofa, 
the ends spread out fan-like, thus showing the embroid¬ 
ery to advantage. Where the tidy is gathered, place a 
gay satin-ribbon bow, and the effect is exceedingly 
pleasing. 
Pongee or mornie cloth are pretty materials for this 
purpose. M. E. Whittemore. 
Artistic Economies. 
Emerson said, “ It is not disgraceful to be old, but it 
is immensely disadvantageous,” and the same might be 
said of being poor. In either case, it is consoling to 
reflect on the Divine law of compensation. 
I am really sorry for one who has not had oppor¬ 
tunity of practicing some of the fascinating devices for 
“ making auld things look amaist as well as new.” In 
these days, when velvet, plush and satin are so exten¬ 
sively used in the manufacture of costumes, furniture- 
coverings, window and door draperies, there are many 
doubtless, having odds and ends of these materials who 
would gladly utilize them in some way aside from the 
ubiquitous * crazy ’ work. 
Very elegant little easels are made as follows: Three 
pieces of wood, two of them ten inches, and one four 
inches long. They may be either flat or round. 
Cover each piece neatly with velvet or plush. Cross 
the two long pieces near the top, and tie together with 
strong twine. Now fasten the short piece near the 
bottom of these two, and tie satin ribbons across the 
fastenings, into pretty bows. Drive two gold-headed 
tacks into the lower piece, on which will rest the pho¬ 
tograph, dainty bit of painting, or lovely card souvenir. 
Very attractive little banner screens are seen. On a 
strip of pale-blue felt, six inches long and three wide, 
was embroidered a graceful spray of wild Roses. On 
either side of it were strips of satin ribbon, attached to the 
felt by fancy stitches in silk. At the top, was a little 
velvet lambrequin appliqued in same way, finished with 
tiny silk tassels. The lower edge was cut into three 
points, edged with fringe, and tassels placed at each 
point. The whole, hung from a slender brass rod, 
formed a beautiful ornament. 
A handsomer one was made of bits of satin. Pale 
blue and white, with the centre exquisitely painted. 
This banner, when finished, was hung from a pair of 
large, silvered, fancy hairpins crossed, and tied with 
satin-ribbon bows. The silver balls at each end, the 
tiny silvered tassels at the lower points, with the deli¬ 
cately tinted embroidery silks used, formed a lovely 
combination. 
There is an exceedingly pretty mode of over-door 
decoration now becoming popular which almost any 
one may accomplish. One ingenious little woman used 
portions of a child’s discarded crib for the Queen Anne 
railing round the narrow shelf over her door. • When it 
was fastened into position, with a pair of flat vases, and 
a placque placed behind it, no one would have dreamed 
of the amateur carpenter work. The same little lady 
arranged her windows in a similar fashion and they 
gave her little parlor a very modernly artistic air in¬ 
deed. An embroidered wool piano-cover had become 
hopelessly soiled, torn and stained. The embroidered 
vine running around its edge was cut out, leaving three 
or four inches of the wool foundation on each side ; it 
was dyed a lovely garnet shade. The embroidery stood 
out well, showing a slightly different shade from its 
background, but was made more effective by a rapid 
and graceful outlining with gold-colored silk. When 
complete, it made a lovely band for a table-cover and 
portiere. 
There is a very desirable material for glass decoration 
obtainable now, which is a boon to home decorators. 
It is inexpensive and its capabilities are unlimited. 
Who of us in country homes have not mourned over 
our unlovely front-doors, with the inevitable panes of 
glass above, and down each side. Thanks to ‘ Glazier,’ 
we no longer labor with net transparencies, lace drap¬ 
eries, or anything of the kind. Exquisite stained glass 
designs have taken their place, any lady can accomplish 
it herself. A row of beautiful squares or diamonds at 
the top of a bay-window, a fan-light over a door, a win¬ 
dow at a stair-landing, or one having an undesirable 
outlook, may be trea ted in a most satisfactory and lovely 
manner. Lyde Lynton. 
Silk Quilts. 
In reply to the inquiry for a pretty design for a silk 
quilt we would suggest a modification of the crazy 
patchwork by using various sized triangles. Every 
piece must be three-sided, but the sides need not be of 
equal lengths. A piece of muslin eighteen inches 
square should be used for a foundation to the blocks, 
marking on each a diagonal line as a guide in arranging 
the pieces. To have a “ little method in your madness ” 
will not destroy the careless and unstudied effect which 
has proved the chief charm in “ crazy-work” and made 
it so popular, but will add to it a certain symmetry 
which makes the whole combination extremely pleas¬ 
ing. The triangles are to be joined with feather-stitch 
in gold or black silk, and the several large squares re¬ 
quired for the desired size of the quilt, put together in 
the same way. 
Another pretty design consist of gay stripes seven 
inches in width made up of narrow pieces of silk (one 
