Look over sheets before they go to the laundry and mend any tears at once. Sheets usually wear first and split in the middle. When this hap pens tear them down the middle, sew together the outer selvage edges to make the middle of new sheets, and hem the torn sides. This should be done as soon as the sheets begin to wear thin, without waiting for them to tear. It will double the life of the sheet.
Quilts and Comforters.—The mod ern factory system has taken out of the home one by one practically all of the domestic arts that occupied so large a portion of the time and atten tion of our grandmothers. Their place is being taken partly by fancy work and partly by the various activities of the different kinds of woman's clubs and similar forms of associated effort.
The use of blankets and factory made puffs, that are cheap, light, and warm, bids fair to displace in time to come the old-fashioned pieced quilt, crazy quilt, or comfortable of our grandmothers. But the custom of piecing and tying quilts still holds its own in many localities, partly on the score of economy—as a means of util izing old pieces of various fabrics— and partly as a pleasant and useful occupation for time that would other wise pass heavily. For the guidance of those who still find it worth while to make homemade quilts and com forters, and as a memorial of one of the last of the domestic arts to pass away, a few suggestions may be in order.
Sorting Pieces.—Sort the accumu lated pieces that are no longer re quired for patching, putting goods of the same general character, as ging hams, woolens, calicoes, silks, and the like, in separate lots. Quilts made of similar goods are more satisfactory than if various kinds of goods are mingled together, and may be used for different purposes. Silk quilts may be used for couches and sofas, woolen quilts for the guest chamber, gingham and calico quilts for every day wear, and quilts from old stock ings for summer quilts, porches, and hammocks.
To Line Quilts. — Quilts may be made from blocks cut in various de signs by means of patterns, or made crazy fashion, filled with cotton or cotton batting or with an old blanket, lined with new goods or calico or simi lar material, and quilted or tied. A helpful suggestion as to filling and lining quilts is to make rather large blocks. Fill and line each block sepa rately. Have the blocks (which may
be made of smaller blocks sewed to gether) two or three feet square. Cut lining the same size, put the pieces together and sew around three sides to make a bag open at one end. Now turn the bag right side out, leaving the seams inside. Introduce one or more thicknesses of cotton batting, tie at intervals to keep the cotton in place, and when the blocks are com pleted sew them together and cross stitch the seam with silk or worsted. The advantage of this method is that the blocks, being relatively small, may be tied without quilting frames.
Or make a foundation for a quilt or comforter by sandwiching cotton bat ting between two thicknesses of cheese cloth and basting all together. This makes a cheese-cloth comforter or pad. Cover this with the patchwork quilt and line in the usual manner. This method is preferable, as the cheese cloth keeps the cotton in place with very little quilting or tying. The cover will need some fastening, but a very few knots will be sufficient; hence the cover may be easily removed and washed or replaced.
Cheap Quilts.—Where the greatest warmth is desired with the least num ber of quilts and absolute economy is necessary a number of thicknesses of newspapers between two pieces of cheese cloth, with or without one or more thicknesses of cotton batting, will give as much warmth as an addi tional pair of blankets. Baste all to gether and cover with a piece quilt and line in the usual manner.
Or use large sheets of tissue paper. But as the quilt is worn the news papers will crumple and cease to rattle.
Or use old blankets for summer comforters, cover with silkoline or other soft, washable material, and tie.
To Make Crazy Quilts.—Use as a foundation old flour sacks sewed to gether, old sheets, or any strong, waste, washable material. Trim odd sized pieces in any shape, mixing small and large together. But use materials of the same general quality, as silk, woolen, and the like, and either stitch them to the foundation by hand or stitch around the edge of each piece on the sewing machine. Afterwards feather stitch the blocks and squares together. Line with any suitable ma terial and tack with cotton wadding to the lining. The advantage of this method is that it saves time and the necessity of using quilting ffames.