Or mix in cedar sprays, rose leaves, lavender, and the like.
To Make Pillows.—Make sofa pil lows large and fill them full enough so that they will be comfortable. Cover with silk, linen, or other soft fabric that will be comfortable, as well as artistic. If rough materials or em broidery are used for decoration, have one side of the pillow covered with soft material for use.
Have an inner pillow of cotton or other cheap material, and do not sew the cover to this, but leave an opening at one end. Sew an under facing along each of its two edges, and blind stitch the lower ends of the facings. Along the upper edge of one facing sew small buttons, and on the corre sponding inside edge make button holes. Thus the pillow can be removed when the cover requires cleaning.
Denim, chambray, linen, crash, per cale, and many other materials make inexpensive washable porch or sofa pillows.
Or the wrappings that come about bolts of matting, and that can usually be obtained from dealers for a small sum or gratis, make inexpensive pil lows that are very durable. Baste the edges together and bind with any strong cloth about two inches wide, and stitch all around on the machine.
Or take ordinary burlap sacks such as hold potatoes, sugar, etc. Wash thoroughly and dye any desired color. One side of these may be covered with oilcloth for outdoor use.
Pillow Ticks.—Make ticks of heavy sheeting rather than ordinary pillow ticking, and after making up the tick, turn it inside out and go over the in side with a hot flatiron plentifully rubbed with beeswax. Continue until the inside of the pillow is covered with a coating of wax. This makes
the pillow waterproof and prevents feathers or other material used in stuffing the pillow from working through.
Chair Cushions.—Cover cushions for wicker chairs or Morris chairs with velveteen. This is a cotton fabric (hence not liable to the attacks of moths), and only requires brushing to keep it in order. A linen cover for the top of a Morris chair fastened with tapes helps to keep the cushion clean and can easily be removed when soiled.
Pillow Covers.—Make large, fancy pillow covers (square in shape) of any suitable heavy material, as tapestry, denim, rep, and the like. Leave one end open, turning in a rather wide hem, and place strong hooks and eyes or glove fasteners inside the hem to admit of readily opening and closing the aperture. Into these covers ordi nary pillows that are used at night on folding beds or couches can be crowded each morning, and thus can be made to do double duty. This de vice will be found very convenient for persons who are obliged to use their living rooms as sleeping apartments. But ordinary pillows can thus for economy's sake be utilized as fancy pillows in any circumstances.
Umbrella Stand.—To make a cheap umbrella stand, take two or three smooth sugar-barrel hoops, cut out a piece to make them small enough, bring the ends together, and nail them to lathes about three feet long.\ Place the lathes several inches apart, nailing on the hoop at the top, center, and bottom. Use a tin pan at the bottom, smooth the whole with sandpaper, and paint or stain to any desired color.