368 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
given it an interlining of crinoline and finish the edge 
with a fine silk cord. Join the ends in front and place a 
bow of ribbon at the top, with a safety pin sewed on 
the back of ft to fasten to the dress or vest. 
KftFor the little arrangement to clean the glasses, cut 
two pieces of plush or velvet, and two pieces of chamois 
skin, the shape of an eye-glass, only half as large again. 
Embroider a little flower on the plush pieces; baste 
them on the chamois skin, and button-hole stitch them 
together; then tie the two pieces loosely together with a 
narrow ribbon. E. S. Welch. 
Christmas Gifts. 
Homemade articles are often more truly prized than 
gifts purchased already prepared, for they seem to ex¬ 
press so much more fully the loving thoughtfulness of 
the giver. How precious to the mother is the little 
needle-case or pin-cushion fashioned by tiny fingers 
whose life-work is ended—each straggling little stitch 
proves, as no words could, the love which prompted the 
tired hands to patiently work on—it seems to be a part 
of the worker whose thoughts are woven in it, and 
whether it is a work of art or a clumsy little attempt at 
a present for mamma, it is beautiful, in her eyes, at 
least. 
Among many things which may be suggested as 
both useful and pretty, is a crocheted long shawl 
or cloud, to be used as a light wrap for the 
head and shoulders. For the foundation you will need 
two hanks of 2-thread Saxony; white is the most deli¬ 
cate. Make a loose chain of 163 stitches. In the fourth 
from the end work four double crochet stitches, working 
them very loosely and separating the centre ones by a 
chain stitch. In the fifth from last foundation stitch 
used, work four double crochets as at first, and repeat 
these in every fifth stitch of foundation, for remainder 
of this row. Make three chain and turn; then work 
four double crochets in the centre of each cluster of the 
first row, where the one chain stitch was made, and 
continue the following rows in this way, until you have 
a strip two yards long—it will be about twenty inches 
wide. With pompadour wool, which is a thread of silk 
and wool twisted together, and comes in balls at fifteen 
cents each, work loops of chain over the entire upper 
surface. To do this, fasten the wool at the end of the 
last group of four double crochet stitches; make a 
chain of sixteen stitches, and with a single crochet 
attach it between this group of double crochets and the 
next one, and so on with each row. Fasten a ribbon 
bow of white satin at the centre of one of the sides, so 
when worn over the head it will come on the top. 
A very pretty work-bag of black or bright colored satin, 
according to the uses to which it will be put, is made by 
covering with satin two pieces of paste-board four 
inches long, two and one-half inches wide at the end 
for the top,which is the only straight edge, and one and 
one-half inches from the other end. Make it three- 
quarters of an inch wide, and from this point, round the 
lower end and slope to the narrow width of the top; 
this gives you a horse-shoe shape. Embroider with silks 
a little spray of flowers and grasses arranged diagonally 
across it. Gather a piece of the satin four inches wide 
and long enough to form sufficient fullness when sewed 
to the rounded edges of the covered pieces, to form a 
puff between them, and extend far enough at the top to 
fold in and make a frill, when the bit of elastic is sewed 
in to keep it in shape. Fasten ribbons to the covered 
paste-board pieces and tie them together in a double bow 
with short ends, as a handle to the bag. 
Work-baskets crocheted in single crochet from fish 
twine, are made a size smaller than the wooden box 
from which they are to be shaped, as when wet with 
the starch they stretch considerably. Stiff boiled starch, 
should be thoroughly rubbed in the work, and then 
stretch it over the box, and tie securely to hold in place 
until dry. Then remove from the box and give it a coat of 
shellac dissolved in alcohol. Let this get entirely dry, and 
then give it two more coats, drying between each. After 
which varnish with copal varnish, and if well done it 
will he the color of bamboo. The lid of the work-box 
should be made in the same way. Line both box and 
lid with blue satin. Place inside a little needle-case and 
pin-cushion of the material of the lining and attach the 
lid to the box with ribbons. 
Toilet slippers, though not at all elegant, are very 
comfortable when crocheted from Germantown wool— 
a gray color is the most serviceable. Begin at the toe 
and make a chain of fifteen stitches; work back with, 
single crochet, widening in the middle stitch. Work 
the third row rib stitch, which is done by taking up the 
outside stitches of the chain instead of those on the 
inside. Widen every row in the middle. Fifteen rows 
will make them deep enough, and continue for the heel¬ 
piece by using only fifteen of the stitches from the side. 
Do not widen in these, but turn and crochet back until 
you have a strip long enough to go around the heel and 
fasten on the other side to the front. Crochet small 
loops of chain around the top, and in them a shell 
border. Run elastic through the loops with ribbon over 
it. Bind with braid a pair of cork soles, or leather ones 
can be obtained already bound; and sew the crocheted 
tops firmly to them,'and fasten a ribbon bow on the 
toe of each. 
A plush banner arranged to hold photographs is a, 
suitable present for a gentleman, and one that will be 
appreciated. Cut from paste-board the foundation for 
the back 15£ inches long and 9 inches wide, measure 
1 y a inches on each side of one end, and slope down to 
the edge at the centre, to give you a shallow point for 
the bottom of the banner. Covqr one side of the paste¬ 
board with crimson plush, and the other for lining with 
old gold silesia. Cut from thin paste-board four 
diamond shaped pieces of which the longest measuie, 
from point to point through the centre, should be just 
the width of the banner (9 in.); and the short centre 
measure ?j% in. When covered with the plush and 
lined with silesia, fasten them, one directly above the 
other on the banner. The lower edge of the bottom 
one will correspond exactly with the pointed end of 
the banner, and should be overhanded to it. The 
opposite or upper side of the diamond is left loose to 
slip in the corners of the photographs, fasten each of 
the four pieces along the lower edges and at the ends. 
The fourth piece will lack half an inch from meeting 
the banner top, and should be fastened at its upper 
point. Attach the top to a brass banner-rod, which can 
be obtained at most art stores for thirty cents, and hang 
with a crimson ribbon. Finish the bottom with brass 
crescents, in which crimson silk twist is tied to form 
tassels, or else with double plush balls at each end and 
the centre point. 
