120 
KERAMIC STUDIO 
THE LINEN PAGE. 
JETTA EHLERS ------ p AGE Editor 
1 8 East Kinney Street, Newark, N. J. 
A "NEW IDEA" NAPKIN 
MANY are interested in the subject of table linens, but have 
found it difficult to get in touch with the work that is 
being done in the art centers in the big cities. It is not the 
purpose of this new department to run a sort of "fancy work" 
page, but rather by means of suggestions and designs, to be 
helpful to those who are working along this line, as many cer- 
amists are doing at the present time. Completed work will be 
shown, designs and color schemes given, as well as information 
about materials. The editor of this page would welcome sug- 
gestions from readers who are interested. Perhaps, who 
knows, it may prove as helpful as "the lady from Philadelphia" 
did to the Peterkin family. 
One of the foundation rules of good design is that of 
the principle of sub-ordination. One must have a "center 
of interest" and any other ornamentation must not be of 
equal interest, but subordinate to it. Even the humble nap- 
kin may be considered a problem in space division. Treated 
as such, we have a thing which has distinction and indi- 
viduality. One of the chief aims of our work is to get 
away from the hackneyed and ordinary manner in which these 
things have for so long a time been treated. We avoid hem- 
stitching for one thing, not that it is bad, but because it is so 
commonplace. Beside that, it is laborious, and that is another 
one of the things we are avoiding. We are reaching out for 
the thing which has beauty with simplicity, so that the making 
of it is a joy and not a hopeless task. Somewhat out of the 
beaten track is the treatment of the napkin illustrated on this 
page. In this arrangement the design, as may be seen, occupies 
the center of the napkin, and is attractive both before and after 
it is unfolded. If you will look through the back numbers of 
Keramic Studio you will find many designs which could be 
applied in this way. Choose only the simplest ones, otherwise 
you will have an overdone, overdecorated thing. By observing 
the illustration you will discover that the principle of sub- 
ordination has been adhered to, and that even in the folding 
of the napkin there is a feeling of pattern. The motif is an 
adaptation of a bit of Coptic ornament, and is full of suggestion, 
for the ceramist. One of the octagonal figures would work out 
well, used as a rosette, with bands nicely spaced. It would be 
charming carried out in blue and white, or blue and grey. 
Blue linen with the design worked in grey or oyster-white 
thread, would make a very pleasing combination. The illus- 
tration is of white linen with the embroidery carried out in a 
soft grey. It is seventeen inches square, but was cut a half 
inch larger. This allows for the very narrow hem which is the 
first step in the making. Measure the material carefully, 
drawing a thread to cut by, so it will be a perfectly true square. 
In hemming use very fine thread, number one hundred was 
used for this, and a very fine needle. The interesting finish 
to the hem is in fagot stitch, which is also used to outline the 
square in the center. This is very similar to punch work. 
No threads are drawn, and the work is done with a very large 
round eyed fagot needle. A great deal of this stitch is seen 
in the foreign needlework, notably the lovely Italian linens. 
It is very simple and is quickly done. The material used for 
this piece is the "Old Bleach" linen, which is one of the most 
satisfactory weaves we have. This is a beautiful round thread 
Irish linen, which comes in various widths and qualities, rang- 
ing from eighteen inches at seventy cents a yard, up to ninety 
inches wide at three dollars and a quarter. Of course any 
price quotations are subject to change, on account of condi- 
tions abroad. This linen has a lovely even weave, and where 
it is necessary to draw threads, it may be done with little effort. 
This is the linen one may see yard upon yard of, spread on the 
dewy grass of the Emerald Isle, to bleach. It is soft to the 
touch, and has sufficient body to be practical for table use. 
One would not choose a hard and wiry texture for this purpose, 
nor one too thin and light in weight. Having completed the 
hem, pin the piece smoothly on the drawing board or table. 
Measure accurately to get exact center, and then trace the 
design, using impression paper under the tracing paper, just 
as one would transfer a design to china. The embroidery is 
done in stem stitch, sometimes called outline stitch, the stitches 
very close together giving a cord like effect. 
Another lovely weave many are not so familiar with is the 
Spanish linen. It is a much finer thread and tighter in texture 
than the " Old Bleach." This comes in both the pure white and 
ivory. The price of the sixty-seven inch width, is one dollar 
