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USEFUL NOVELTIES IN FANCY WORK.

THE present taste in fancy needlework appears to me more in the direction of articles to decorate the house, than in the way of wearing apparel, or personal ornament. This affords a pleasant change for those who have to make presents to friends, for they have less difficulty in choosing what they shall give. When it is a matter only of the decoration of a room, they have only to think of, and find out, the newest and prettiest thing, and make that if they can. In these days of bridal presents, the girl who owns clever and industrious fingers is indeed fortunate, for she is able to save herself much expense, and fortunately there yet remain many people who prefer the home-made, and considerate gift, to that which merely shows that the giver has plenty of money, and generosity enough to spend it on her friends.
My first illustration is a suitable gift for a bride, being a hand. kerchief sachet, the materials - of which are plush of the golden brownish hue known as “seal,” with hands of narrow gold braid, or a fancy galloon, laid across it. The centre is ornamented with cretonne embroidery; the flowers cut out, and appliqué with button-hole stitch round the edges—in coloured silks; the edges are bordered with a rich cord of gold-colour, and parti-coloured red silks; and the inside is lined with quilted canary or gold-coloured satin.
The prevailing fancy for draping doors, windows, mantelshelves, and bookcases has extended itself to nearly every other small article which is used in
drawing or dining-rooms. The illustration of a raped waste-paper basket shows this idea very well; and as drapery is now used for Covering flower-pots, a design can be taken from this illustration. The material employed may be plush, velvet, satin, sheeting, or cretonne—in fact, any material, even to Madras muslin, which you like to use for the extra small decorations of your drawing or dining room. The two pieces of material selected are straight and unshaped, enough depth being left to make them into plaitings at the lower edge, which is caught up, as shown in our illustration, by a tassel of wool or silk. Similar tassels are used at the sides. The waste-paper basket is lined with silk or sateen arranged in folds; but in decorating a flower-pot, only the outside covering would be needed, of course; and it is usually put on with a gathering string round the inside, and folds between the pot and the flower-pot. The embroidery may ha in silks, crewels, or cretonne appliqué with silks.
The small work or needle case shown in our design is of cross- stitch on canvas, the foundation being of dark blue watered. silk ribbon, of the exact width required. The worked strip of canvas is laid 0:1 this and sewn down in feather stitch, the edges are ornamented with a cord, and the inside is furnished with pockets and needle- leaves of flannel. We have lately seen these eases used for covers to the purchased needle-books, which are slipped inside an elastic band.
The great popularity of wall decorations in the shape of bags, fans, or baskets, has led to the lavishing of all kinds of pretty thoughts upon them. The wall pocket shown in our design has a basket for foundation, the bag below being of red silk, with a red silk band and gold lace laid over it round the centre; gold. coloured ribbon bows, and cords.
The work bag is intended for knitting, and is carried as of yore, on the arm. It is of blue silk, gathered several times round the point before the tassel is put on. The band is of guipure work, the upper part of coarse crochet work, in which style the whole may be carried out, if preferred. But now that the guipure work is so moderate in price, many people prefer to buy it.
The crochet edging on plain braid can be copied without difficulty, as it is very clearly designed. It is suitable to trim children’s pinafores, or their woollen frocks, when carried out in wool, in which case the braid must be of wool also.
The newest “chair-backs” are so small, and occupy so little space on the back of the chair or sofa, that they are really more like mats than anything else. Indeed, the one illustrated will answer for a tiny table-cover, mat, or chair-back, according to the size you choose to make it. The materials are plush and ribbon, or plush and any handsome silk material which can be cut to advantage, to form stripes. The fringe is chosen to match. All Eastern combinations of colour are chosen for these new chair-backs. They should be rich and dark in hue and material.
The next illustration is also a chair-back. The foundation may be of cloth or velvet. The design is fully given and may be traced off without difficulty. This coarse embroidery makes delightful work for those whose eyes are weak, or for the old and the invalid. There is scope enough for individuality, while there is sufficient guidance to prevent fatigue. The silks used are coarse purse, or crewel silks, or else wools and the braids may be chosen to match the silks. The foundation may be of red, and the silks and braids of gold-colour.