Mending White Goods and Deli cate- Fabrics.—When mending white goods, the piece with which you mend should be so large that when the arti cle is washed the patch will not tear out.
A good way to make a neat job is to slip the goods to be mended over an embroidery hoop to hold it firm. This will enable you to do the work very neatly and quickly.
To Mend Moth-eaten Garments.— When a silk or woolen garment is badly moth-eaten it is not always pos sible to darn the hole with ravelings from the fabric. In such cases place a small patch of the material under the hole and darn carefully around the edges of the hole on the right side with ravelings. Then press with a moderately hot iron, putting first a damp cloth and then a piece of dry tissue paper between the cloth and the iron.
Waste Silk. — The loose ends of spool silk are excellent for mending and may be placed in a little bag by the workbox.
Darning by Machine. — Baste a piece of net on the wrong side of the garment to be mended. Cut a square or oblong hole. Then with No. 100 thread on the- machine sew back and forth, being careful that the rows of stitching come very close together. Never take the needle out of the goods. After stitching one way across the hole, stitch in the contrary direc tion, always following the weave of the material.
Mending Men's and Boys' Clothes. —It is a very difficult task to mend men's outside garments so that the darns will not deface them. First, place the mending scrap smoothly un der the three-cornered or other hole to be mended. Then thread a needle with silk thread the same shade as the goods, insert it half an inch from the tear, and draw edgewise through the thickness of the cloth about half an inch on the other side, thus draw ing the edges together. Then put the needle in the same hole from which it has just been brought out, turn it a little, and pass through the cloth so as to bring i? out half an inch on the other side of the tear. If the cloth is rather heavy, it is possible to avoid having the thread come to the surface, except when the needle is brought through to turn. So continue and
thus make an invisible darn.
When this is done place a wet cloth over the goods and press with a hot iron. Follow with a dry cloth. Do not allow the iron to stay on it until the first cloth is entirely dry. This prevents the mended spot having a shiny appearance.
Boys' Trousers. — Boys' trousers may be quickly mended with gum tis sue. If every mother knew the value of this tissue she would save herself much work by using it, and would have the satisfaction of always seeing a neat mend. Boys' trousers may also be mended on the machine after the fashion mentioned in " Mending on the Machine," first being careful to baste a strong piece of material smoothly under the thin places. Fine thread should be used the same shade as the goods for this purpose. The stitch should be rather short.
Silk Dresses..—When the sleeves of a silk dress become thin it will last much longer if they are ripped out and new ones put in. It is an advantage, also, to treat worn breadths of the skirt in the same way.
Mending Fringe.—Torn fringe may be renewed by taking a piece of card board and stiff paper as wide and as long as the fringe. Wind suitable thread evenly and closely around the cardboard, then paste this along the edge of the article in place of the worn fringe and stitch on by ma chine. If one strip of cardboard is insufficient make more strips and paste them close together. The card board may be torn out when fin ished, leaving the thread to form the fringe.
Mending Lace. — Crochet a long, loose chain or buttonhole stitch along the worn edges of the lace with thread to match its quality and color. For cream lace use unbleached linen thread, or tint the spool by dipping it in strong coffee.
Mending Waists.—It is not neces sary to discard a lingerie waist be cause the trimming has given way. Draw the torn pieces together first, then baste a piece of white wash net under the entire yoke and machine stitch with very fine thread. Cut away the surplus net, allowing a small mar gin near the stitching to prevent pull ing out when laundered.