The household (of the Detroit free press)

We return now to our linen sampler. Having left a suitable length for fringe and a plain space above this of three inches, draw half an inch, leave same distance plain, and continue until you have four drawn rows and three solid ones. Now, at the upper side of the drawn-work band, cut threads half inch cross-wise, leave half an inch, cut threads again, and so on across the strip. Do not cut the threads at the lower side, but draw them carefully out, and let them turn down to form a fringe over the plain space above the end fringe; both are to be taken care of later. The drawn spaces will make a chequer-board of alternate squares, solid, thread and open. Button-hole edges cut. With a strong linen thread work matrimony-stitching through threads each way, being careful to make a good, firm knot with the cross thread in the open squares. This is a particularly showy design. A large mull fichu, with this design worked above a hem-stitched border with fine cotton and very small squares, converts a plain kerchief into a gossamer web. Add to it a lace frill, and it becomes a thing of value. Simple Wheels. Another idea for the solid and open squares is this : Secure thread to selvedge and fasten one cluster of threads in fetter-stitch on each side of open square. It will be necessary to catch the thread into the solid squares at the corners. There will be four connecting threads across the open squares. Make four more, going diagonally, and form a wheel in the center of darned work. Beautiful effects are made by drawn work on gauze, pongee, batiste, or any diaphanous material, by using a silk working thread of different shades. The dead blues and reds with artistic Rembrandt shades, between squires of drawn work, rival the Turkish and Cretan scarfs in richness. Each skein of silk should be left for ten minutes in boiling water to strengthen the color. Put the skeins in separate vessels so the colors shall not run into each other. Pillow shams — we hate the word, and substitute for it top-covers — are very pretty with a hem, say an inch and a half hem-stitched ; six threads drawn and hem-stitched both sides; five small tucks; eight threads drawn and worked in matrimony-stitch ; again five tucks and six drawn threads with double hem-stitch. Through the hem-stitched places pass very narrow pink or blue ribbon, tying in numberless loops at the four corners. The square in the centre may contain the monogram. Fancy Designs for Wheel ok Corner. Pin-cushion covers, and covers for toilet boxes, may be made in squares of drawn work, done with amber, or old-gold silk, the edges finished with a hem-stitched fringe. Doyleys have a border of drawn-work above, and separated a little from the fringe. Be careful not to draw too many threads. This must be determined by the warp and woof of the fabric, as in some gauzelike materials it is not necessary for a narrow pattern to draw threads at all. Diagonal corners of drawn work may be made by cutting the threads carefully on the slant. These are effective on a pin-cushion cover. In cambric covers for tiny pillows intended for a baby's carriage, little squares of drawn work at intervals are introduced. In doing these, great nicety is needed in cutting the threads ; small and sharp scissors are a necessity. Suggestion for Fringe.