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This itMm is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X n~Vpage3 discoloured, stained or foxed/ L^ Pages ddcolor^es, tacheties ou piquees □ Pages detached/ Pages ddtachees r~^ Showthrough/ I — I Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Qualiti indgale de I'impression r^j^ncludes supplementary material/ L— J Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissi/es, etc.. have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure. etc.. ont ^t^ filmies d nouveau de facon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. 26X 30X y n 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: L'exemplaire filmt>.M't> liow to Make Mats and Rup-s, By Miss A. L. Nay. I am going to do what I can to help you make your worn or faded carpets into hand- some and durable mats and rugs, and will also 'iell you how to make mats and rugs of many other materials. A well made braided or drawn-in rug, if properly taken care of, will last for twenty years or more. I have several that were made more than that number of years ago, and look well to-day. Mats and rugs should be swept with a broom, or thrown over a line and beaten or whipped with a small stick or a whip. Only very light ones should be held in the hands and shaken, as this tends to tear them apart As cast-off wearing apparel of all kinds may be used in making the different styles of mats and rugs, a lack of material need prevent no one from making these useful and pretty arti- cles. Before beginning the work, all your rags should be collected together, all garments ripped or cut apart, and the soiled ones washed. Next comes the dyeing of all faded and a greater part of the light and dull colored pieces. You cannot have handsome rugs if you do not have plenty of good colored rags to work with, and many times several shades of the same color are desirable. For dyeing. Diamond Dyes will give the rc3Uit5. iiierc are nearly variety of colors and shades of colors may b^ produced. These dyes have been before the public for many years,— they were good at first, but have been improved since first put upon the market, and now they are perfect, with their wide range of durable and biilliant colors. The fast and brilliant colors that may be made on cotton rags enable us to use a large quantity of m: terial that was formerly sold to the rag gatherer, because light or dull colored. Now, thanks to Diamond Dyes, this need not be done. A braided, crocheted, knitted, or drawn-in mat or rug of cotton will wear just as long as one made of woolen rags, and the moths will not eat it. There is also another material used but very little for mats and rugs, although large quantities of it are going to waste in " many farmers' barns, and this is sacks and bags made of burlap, that shorts, bran, cotton seed, and other feed for cattle comes in. These sacks are easily ripped apart, washed and dyed with any of the Diamond Dyes for cotton, although if you want fast pink or yel- low, the burlap should be a very light colored soft piece. Diamond Dyes are very easy to color with, and a child could color successfully with them if the articles were small. fifty dyes, „d w.* ,^n almost endless | Before you begin to dye read the direction. _> orer carefully and then follow them. ThU may seem unnecessary advice, but truly, I have known people who failed to do so until the dyeing had proved more or less of a failure ; they had used a few colors and thought they knew how to use them all. When you mix dyes to bbtain different colors, never mix a dye that needs vinegar with one that calls for soda or salt, but you may mix together those that have salt and soda. Fast Pink dye for Cotton and Yellow for Cotton, if mixed in the proper quantities, will make a lovely salmon. I am always careful to have all goods evenly moist before putting into the dye. I partially dry, in the shade, all articles to be dyed, and those that are dyed, and press when very moist. I keep all goods well covered with nice, soft water, adding dye until the required shade is procured, taking out the goods before add- ing the dye, and putting them back when the dye is thoroughly dissolved. Where I wish to be specially careful, I strain all dy?s, after they are well dissolved, before using. A flannel cloth is best for this purpose. I get two or more shades from same color by making a strong bath and adding goods for the darker shade first, and after a few minutes putting in goods for another, and so on; thus I have two or more shades from same color, with very best of results. I usually add salt to the rinse water, as it aids the colors in retaining their brightness. I can truthfully say, by closely following directions for use of the Diamond Dyes, and ^Um aK/-vvA niane TTJW ornnds Viavp alwavs come forth without spot or blemish. I have used different dyes, but none so successfully as the Diamond. Braided Mats. A well made, three-strand braided mat will wear as long as any mat that you can make, and is very pretty if good colors are used. Braided mats may also be made with four and five strands in a braid. To make a really handsome mat, the braids should be quite small. The smoothest work is made with medium thick woolen cloth that is cut almost three times as wide as you want your strand. When it is folded this way, turn in one-third the width of the cloth on one side, then turn the other edge under and over it, catch it in place with a few stitches at the end, turn in two other strips and fasten all together, keep- ing the smooth side of the cloth up. Now begin your braid, and be sure to keep the smooth side of the strand always on top. Never turn the strand over, but turn it from one side to the other. Very heavy cloth-may be turned under to meet in the middle of the strand on the under side; cotton or any other thin goods must be just wrinkled up, taking care not to let the raw edges come on the right side of the braid. When sewing braided mats, great care should be used to sew the braid so the m.-^t will stay flat. To do this the braid must be fulled on around oblong and round mats, also around all corners. It is best to keep the mats on a table while sewing, as you will be more sure to keep them flat. There are two ways of sewing braided mats; one is, sew over and over, and the other way is to sew through the sides of the braids, that is, put the needle through both braids towards you, then turn the needle, and put it through from you, leaving only a short stitch between where the needle comes in and goes out. Be sure the threa^^u use is very strong. Carpet thread is h;pii^^^O^^» -' "tore twi Bi is very good if colored when dyeing your rags. Store twine should always b# saved to use about your mats and rugs. Waverlv Mat.— This is an oblong mat; three dyes were used to color it : Fast Dark Green, Terra Cotta, and Fast Brown Diamond Dyes. Three shades of the brown were used. One shade like that shown on the sample card of colors and two lighter shades. The other two colors were hke those shown on the card. For the center of the mat make three four- strand braids of the highest shade of brown, each braid eighteen inches long. Sew them together; sew around two rows of braid of the middle shade, fastening the ends of the braid together each time you sew around. Next, two rows of the darkest shade of brown; then one row of green. The sixth row around should have five strands in the braid, — four of terra cotta and one of green; seventh row of green; eighth row same as the sixth; ninth row of green; tenth row of the middU shade of brown; eleventh row the dark shade of brown. I have a mat with this numbef of rows, and it measures 30 x 48 inches. The braids are medium size and of woolen. "Wheel Mat.— This mat is round. Three dyes were used to color it : Fast Cardinal Red, three shades; Fast Dark Green, two shades; and Fast Orange for Cotton. I also used gray and black cloth that was already colored- A small part of the dark green should be flan- nel or other very soft goods. This is a beautiful mat. The braids should be small and contain but three strands. For the center of the mat, sew a circle of gray as large around as a tea cup. Fasten the end of the braid by sewing it to the under side of the circle; sew around this a row of black; next a row of gray; then two of the darkest shade of red; next gray; then black; then gray again; and two red. Repeat in this Vder until you have a mat about twenty inches in diameter. Then sew around a row of the dark green and one of the lighter shade; two rows of gray; followed by the lighter green, then the dark. The next thing to do is to braid small circles of the three shades of red; a very little of the fast orange in the center of each circle; and the lightest shade of red around it,— about two rows,— then the darker shades. To get the exact size for the circles, cuJ round pieces of paper, not larger than a saucer, and place them around the mat. When they go completely around without lapping ovei each other or leaving spaces between, you have the right size. When all the circles, are made, place them around the mat, sew them together for about two inches where they join on each side, and oa the mat. This will leave little three-cornered spaces between the mat and the circles; these spaces are to be filled with soft braid made of the green flannel. Now sew around the outside of the circles a row of dark green braid, and around that, one of black. This finishes the mat, and it is the handsomest braided one I ever saw. Vanderbtlt Mat.— The center of this mat is a piece of Brussels carpet thirty inches long. Turn each end under three-fourths of an inch, hem it down, and face the edge with braid on a narrow strip of cloth; or round the corners a little and bind the edge all around with braid. This particular piece of carpeting was not new, and it was faded, but not much worn. The ground was dust color, in the center was a cluster of what had been large pink roses, buds and green leaves. Scattered over the running here and there. a v!ii$ \ / I r I dyed the flowers and buds with Fast Crim- son Diamond Dye, using an old tooth brush to rub ihe dye into the carpet. I did not make the dye very dark at first, and used it where I wanted light shades, and added more dye as I needed darker shades. For the leaves and vine I used Fast Bottle Green and Fast Brown Diamond Dyes. To put the dye on the stems and vines I used a small, stiff brush I had used on a stencil plate. Around the mat I sewed fine, three-strand cotton braids, which were dyed a light brown with Fast Brown for Cotton Diamond Dye. Tuxedo Mat.— This is a rather odd com- bination of colors; the mat is oval in shape, and the braid is entuely of cotton goods. Four dyes are used to color with: Fast Pink, Fast Yellow, Fast Purple, and Fast Brown Diamond Dyes, all for cotton. To make a salmon pink, mix the pink and yellow dyes. First make a rather weak pink dye, then dissolve some yellow dye in a cup, add a litt'.e to the pink dye, test it with a small bit of cloth, and if the shade is not right, add more pink or yellow dye, whichever is needed. The purple and brown are to be a shade lighter than the color shown on the sample card of colors. Also dye a little very coarse cotton yarn or store twine salmon, and purple. The two center braids in the mat are thirteen inches long; they are three-stand braids, two of the purple and one of the salmon. Sew around these in one continuous braid 24 rows all alike of the purple and salmon; fasten the end to the under side of the mat as smooth as you can, tapering the braid off so as not to make smooth work; sew around this three rows of brown, piecing the end of each row together. Cut some scallopi out of heavy brown woolen cloth, three inchee wide at the base and three and one-half inches deep; cut the edges in fine points, and with the purple and salmon colored yarn work a large star in each scallop, then sew them around the mat on the under side of the last braid. If you have a rather fine braid your mat will measure inside of the scallops about 30 x 42 inches. Louis XIV Mat. — This is for a gold and white chamber. Fast Yellow Diamond Dye is the only dye used. White or light colored goods must be used. Add to the yellow dye enough of the shading dye that comes with it to make the goods as near a gold color as possible. The braid is of four strands, two of gold color and two of white cotton goods, except the outside row, which is all gold color. The center strip is twenty inches long. Sew six rows around this, piecing the ends of each row together. The seventh and last row is of gold color alone. This makes a mat about 30 X 35 inches. Japanese Mat. — Make thirty thi/ty-three- strand braids, each one a yard long, no two braids or strands alike. Arrange the colors as well as you can, sew the strands together in a straight strip, and sew around them three or four rows of black braid. A small piece of Brussels or wool carpeting may be used in the center of the mat, cut any desired shape. If wool carpeting is used, always line it with some kind of heavy goods, and bind it neatly around the edge. When piecing the ends of braids together, do it as neatly as you can and never twice at the same place. If the first row is on one side, piece the next row at the end or the other side. i Knitted Mats and Rugs. Dahlia Rmc— To make this handsome rug you will need four dyes: Fast Old Gold, Fast Garnet, Fast Olive Green, and Fast lilack Diamond Dyes. Color to match the samples on the card, using light weight goods. I'ear or cut and sew the rags the same as for a carpet, and be sure to have the cloth strong. Use ivory, wooden, or very large steel needles for the knitting. Cast on twelve stitches of the garnet goods, knit back and forth plain until you have a strip two yards long. Knit two more strips like this. Knit six strips of old gold color, the same number of olive green, and four of black. Sew all these strjps together. A crimson strip is in the center of the rug, with old gold each side and olive green next. Sew three pieces like this, and then sew all together with a black strip between the olive green strips, and also a black strip on each at the outside. Now knit two more strips of black long enough to sew across the ends, and the rug is finished. For .a smaller rug use a less number of stitches for the strips. Empire Mat.— fhree dyes are needed for for this mat: Fast Dark Blue, Fast Dark Gieen, and Fast Old Gold Diamond Dyes. Knit a rug 30 x 36 inches, sew the colors for it hit or miss, but have peacock blue tlie pre- dominating color. To color peacock blue, first color the rags blue, then dip them into a weak green dye. Knit four strips of peacock blue, eight stitches wide and thirty inches long, and two strips of old gold six stitches wide. Sew a strip of peacock blie on each side of the two old gold strips, and sew one of these pieces on each end of the rug. Scalloped Mat.— This is a round mat or rug. Fast Brown Diamo ^ was the only one used for this mat, and the rags wero dyed four shades of golden brown, the lightest shade no darker than a very deep cream ' color. The rags should be cut rather finer than for a rag carpet. The mal is knit in gores, or rather the center of it is, unless quite a small rug is wanted. Ihe three lightest shades are used for the gores. Cast on your stitches with the darkest of these, knit across once, turn and knit back all except three stitches, which you leave on the left hand needle; turn and knit all the stitches onto that needle; turn and knit back, leaving six stitches unknit this time. Turn and knit all on again, and so continue to do, leaving three more unknit stitches each time until there sre no more to knit; then knit all the stitches onto the other needle; this completes one gore. Begin with the nexf lightest shade of brown and knit all the stitches; turn and knit back, leaving three stitches, and repeat as before directed, until the gore is completed; then knit a gore of the lightest shade, then another gore of the dark, and so on until the circle is complete, then bind off and sew together. This mat has eighteen gores, six of each shade, but the number of gores will depend on the width of your rags and the size of your needles. The border around the mat is knit of the three darkest shades of brown. Sew the shades in regular order, but do not have the strips the same length, from a yard and a half long to half a yard. Cast on twelve stitches and knit back and forth plain, except about once in a finger's length leave three or four unknit stitches on the left hand needle, to curve the piece and help fit it around the circle. When the strip is long enough sew it around the knitted circle. With the darkest shade of U— V. 1- -i _ l ... sjivnii, ^.loxiici a aeep pointed scaiiop around the edge. There will be a small hole in the center of the mat which should be filled with ( I m ^ fine braid made with the secocid light shade of brown. (^- 0, /ELAND Mat.— Knit the center of this mat in a circle. Sew the rags hit or miss, having scarlet and blue the predominating colors; se'v around this fine rows of braid, four strands in a row. The second and fourth row are of blue and scarlet, two strands of each. They are to be colored with Blue for Cotton and Scarlet for Cotton Diamond Dyes. The other three rows are of any dull color. This mat is thiriy-ore inches in diameter, but may be made larger by sewing points or scallops, cut from beaver or other heavy cloth, around the outsidr, Waverly Mat, — Three dyes are needed for this mat; Fast Orange, Fast Garnet and Fast Brown Diamond Dyes for Cotton. Knit the center as in the Cleveland Mat, but use only two colors lor the gores, orange and gar- net, alteiiiately. A strip to go around the mat, is fourteen stitches wide and knit of a sufficient length of garnet and orange, to fit the garnet and orange gores. Sew this border on and around it a few rows of brown braid. Pansy Mat. — Two dyes should be used for this; Fasl Yellow for Cotton and Purple for Wool Diamond Dyes. Dye three shades of the purple, and, a yellow a little darker than that shown on the sample card. Knit the center from the shades of purple, using them as directed in the Scalloped Mat for the brown shades. Make a border the same width as in that mat, from the two darkest shades of purple and a short length of yellow, finishing the outside with a deep crocheted scallop. Daisy Mat. — An ox-eyed daisy mat can be made easily by using lark brown for the center of the circle, or end of the gores, and finishing them with two or three shades of orange. Follow the directions for making the Scalloped Mat. Kni'ited Border for Mat or Rug. — This border may be used to sew around the entire mat or rug, or across the ends only. Use one color for the work. Cast on four stitches, knit across plain, knit back and cast on one stitch at the end of the needle, turn and knit this slltch and all others on the needle; turn, knit back and cast on another stitch; Repeat this until you have twelve stitches on the needle. Knit across twice plain, then narrow first two stitches at the end of the needle ; knit across, turn and knit ba/'''. plain; narrow again at the beginning of the needle; repeat this until you have only four stitches on your needle. This completes one point. Begin and widen again as at first. When you have twelve stitches, narrow as before; repeat this until you have a strip the required length. 8 Crocheted Mats and Rugs. Mats and rugs may be crocheted any size, and almost any desired shape by one who is handy with the crochet hook. They wear as well as knitted ones and need but very little sewing. Borders may be crocheted for them. Always use some simple pattern with a deep scallop or point. Cross stitch may be used on this work. Use only simple patterns. A row of diamonds looks well. Make a cross-ovir stitch of single crochet. Mother Hubbard Mat. — The dyes need- ed are Blue and Green for either Cotton or Wool, Fast Terra Cotta, and Fast Pink for Wool Diamond Dyes. Color robin's egg blue with very light shades of blue and green. \ i I the pink should be the shade called tld rote, made^from one part of pink dye and two parts lerra cotta, a light shade. In making light shades of color, be very careful not to put in too much dye; it is much easier to add a little more dye if the shade is too light than it is to get the dye a lighter shade if too dark. Single crochet stitch is always used for this work, except for borders. The rags are cut or torn the same as for knitted mats or rugs, and a very coarse crochet hook is used. Make a chain with the pink thirty inches long. Work around this three times with single crochet. To make single crochet put the rag over the hook, then into the chain, rag over the hoolc again, draw through the chain, rag over the hook again, and draw through both stitches and repeat as before. When you have three pink rows, sew on the blue and make three rows with that, then the pink, and so on until the mat is is large as you want. The one described is 48 x 27 .nches. If a mat nearer round is preferred do not make so long a chain for the center. Widening must of course be done as you go around the ends. To widen put two stitches \n where one is usually put, putting them in often enough to make the mat lay down flat. Russian Ruo. — For this handsome rug five dyes will be needed, Fast Old Gold, Bismarck, Fast Black for Wool, Fast Cardinal for Cotton and Fast Dark Green for Cotton Diamond Dyes. With the old gold lye make an olive shade by using a strong dye. Let the bismarck match the sample on the color-Cv^vd. With the black, dye a medium ,1^ ^c r^»,. on the sample-card, and the green a little lighter. Begin the rug by making with the gray color a chai^^bout three yards long, then ^crochet 'nto thit with single crochet until you have a strip a little over two yartis long, or longer if you want a larger rug. Work back and forth on this until you have a strip five inches wide; then begin with the bismarck and work a strip two inchct wide, then a four inch \vii^ strip of the cardinal, then one three inches wide of the olivft color, followed by one of green fcut inciics wide, th^n a three inch strip of olive, fovr of cardinal, two of bismarck, four of cardinal, three of olive, four of g» een, three of olive, four of cardinal, two of bismarck and finish with the five inch strip of gray, this makes a width of about fifty-two inches. Crochet a five inch wide strip of gr»j across each end. ^ Finish the ends with a fringe if you like. Fringed and Moss Mats. Harrison Mat. — The handsomest moss mats are made of yarn. Any old woolen goods may be used that you can »avel out. If the yarn is not of good color it must oe dyed. A mat shaded from quite light m the center to qui'^e dark on the outside is always admired, let the color be what it will. 7. recently saw a handsome mat made of several shades of crimson. The lightest shade was a dark pink, and the darkest color was darker than that shown on the color card, and the border was black. Another war. alternate rovi of old gold and old blue. This shade is made of a light shade of indigo blue. Knit strips two inches wide, going back and forth plain. When each strip is long enough, bind off three stitches, slip the others ofif the needle, AXTl^AM «l11 *Ua strips are knit, wet each one and !ay a cloth over it and press or iron it perfectly dry. Be- gin and ravel out eacA strip except the three stitches, sew these strips onto a founaaiion, The ravelings from the stiips should all be bed-ticking, denim, or ourlap, letting the saved and kept straight and used in making st:rips be one inch apart. The foundation may be any shape desued. Always commence these mats by sewing the strips around the outside edge, and finish in the middle. Line the mat with ?ome kind of heavy goods. Princess Mat. — The goods are first dyed. Cut the strips of old knit woolen underwear, stockings, etc., one and o.ie-half inches wide ; ravel out a little more than one inch; Ihis leaves a good heading to sew on by. Strips to be sewed on the same way as for the Har- rison Mat. Carpet Mat. — This style of mat or rug gives you a chance to dispose of an old faded wool carpet, and have some handsome and durable rugs in its place. The colors to be used for dyeing will depend on how light or th<; Diamond Mat. Diamond Mat, Cotton. — The foundation of tiiis mat is knit with store twine, dyed some dark color with any of the Diamond Dyes for cotton, or carpet chain or warp can be used. Use coarse steel needles, cast on seventeen stitches, and knit across plain. Second row : knit first stitch, take two, three or four threads of the ravelings taken from the strips of car- peting used in the Carpet Mat, the number of threads depending on how coarse they are. Place one end of them between the stitches, knit the next stitch, draw, the raveling down through, leaving a loop one-third of an inch long. Knit the next stitch, draw the raveling up through, leaving it smooth on the under side. Knit the next stitch, draw down the dark the carpet is, and zSs o what colors are raveling, leaving a loop, and so continue until the le&«t faded, but almost any of the dark dyes, especially Fast Dark Green, Fast Brown, Fast Garnet and Fast Maroon, or Fast Dark Wine Dia nond Dyes, will give satisfactory results. Cut the carpet iix lengths of one or two yards, as larger pieces are very heavy to handle, and dye them as it seems best. Cut in strips two inches wide, and ravel out the edges so as to leave a half inch in the middle to sew on by. Have a strong foundation the size and shape you want your mat (a square or brick-shape is best), and hem around it- Th/ead the sewing machine with coarse thread and sew a strip onto one edge of the founda- tion, sewing through the middle of it. Turn the inside edge over onto the outside one and stitch on another row as close as possible. Continue in tuis w\y until the foundation is filled. This mat or rug is very easily made in strips, and a figure can be readily worked in by first marking a pattern on the foundation. across. Third row: plain. Fourth row: same as second. Continue these two rows until the strip is as long as you want your mat, and then bind off. Sew the strips together on the wrong side. A red center and a green border makes a pretty mat. Diamonds of another color or shade are easily knit into these strips in this way : Commence filling a strip with dark green, filling three rows; in the middle of the fourth row, put in a loop of a lighter shade of green; in the fifth row of loops, put in three loops of the lighter shade, the middle one being under the first loop. Continue to increase the number of loops until the diamond is as wide as you like, and then decrease two loops in each row until the diamond is completed. Knit three plain rows and begin another diamond. Other figures may be easily knit in, but although it is not easy to tell how to knit them, almost any kni*^^ter can work them oi i\ ^ Plush Mat, No. i. — Probably but two dyes are needed for this mat: Fast Scarlet and Fast Black Diamond Dycv. The corners of the mat are black, the middle of the border of sides and ends are steel color, the center of the mat is hit or miss, in several shades of brown, drab, cream color, black and white goods, and spots of scarlet in regular order. Cut strips of heavy flannel, ladies' cloth, etc., in pieces one-half inch wide and two inches long. Cut thinner goods wider. No cotton should be used. Coarse stgre twine is used for the foundation. Use large steel knitting needles. Cast on thirty-six stitches, and knit across plain. Second row: knit one and place in an end of one of the black pieces; knit the next stitch and draw the other end up through, taking care to have the two ends even. Knit the next stitch and place in another piece, and so continue across. All the other rows are knit the same way. When you have knit a complete square of the black, begin and place in the steel color scraps. When you have twenty-five inches of this color, put in a square of black and bind off. This completes one side of the mat. Knit another like it. The ends of the third and fourth strips are begun and ended with steel- colored square , and the centers are put in hit or miss, with the exception of the scarlet. Put these in in clusters of four bits as often as you fancy. The size of a mat knit this way is 26 X 36 inches, but it is easy to have a larg-rr mat by making longer strips and more of them. The strips are sewed together on the wrong side after they are knit. Plush Mat No. 2.— This is made very much the same way as Plush Mat No. i, but cotton rags TTk&v be used '^'" «-»«»•»■ ^ f *-^^ filling. Cast on the stitches as in No. i, knit across plain, and put the rags in second row as before. Knit third, fifth and every odd row plain. Many knit mats in this way because it is so much less work, but they arc not nearly so handsome as No. i. Plush Mat No 3.— This is made of old carpeting. Dye, cut and ravel the strips as directed in Carpet Mat. Sew the ends to- gether and wind in balls. A hit or i^.ss is tl e prettiest for this style of rug. U^-: a part of the old carpet undyed and about three other shades or colors. Carry the balls to a carpet weaver and have it wove in the same way as a rag carpet. Dorothy Mai.— This is another mat when small bits of rags are used. Cut the bits from an inch to an inch and a half wide, and four inches long. Take two strips of old print or other soft cotton goods, sufficiently wide to make when twisted a roll as large as an ordinary lead pencil. Pin the ends of the two strips to your knee and lay over the top of the two strands one of the short bits of rag. Draw the two ends up between the two strips, taking care to have the ends even. Lay on another bit as before, pushing them close together, continue in this way until your rags are all used, and then sew like a braided mat. This mat can be mad*; hit or miss, in stripes or in squares. Mats and Rugs of Carpeting. Arabian Mat.— Color a piece of old car- peting one and one-half yards long with Fast Dark Wine Diamond Dye. Put around this a border of crazy work seven inches wide. All seams are to be covered with fancy yarn. The crazy work is to be made of quite heavy cloth; bits of old furniture plush II If ill re-dyed help to make a rich looking border. A fringe knit of dark wine colored German- town and sewed across the end, will also be an improvement. Tuxedo Ruo.^-Last spring I wanted a new rug about two yards wide by two and one-half long. I could not find one the right size and besides art squares were a dollar a square yard and no better quality than carpeting such as I could buy for sixty- five cents a yard. I, wanted the prevailing Colors, peacock blue, cream color, and brown cr old gold. At last I found a piece with a small figure. It was an old style pattern and I got it for fifty cents a yard. I had in the house several long strips of very heavy white felt, six inches wide. I dyed with Fast Dark Brown Diamond Dye a sufficient length to go around my rug, which was five yards of carpeting cut in two, sewed together and hemed across the ends. The felt was dyed a light brown. This I cut in points with a car- penter's chisel that was two inches wide. I cut them so as to have my border four inches wide from the end of a point to the inside of the border, which left me another narrower row. of points for other mats. When this was done I needed some Germantown yarn to work the border with. I succeeded in finding some that was faded and soiled, which I got for five cents a skein, regular price sixteen cents. One skein was blue, ai^ tiiis I colored peacock blue by dipping in a weak dye made of Fast Dark Green Diamond Dye. I colored a skein of white with Fast Old Gold Diamond Dye. With the yarn I worked a large star in each point, using old gold and peacock blue in alternate points. In the plain space below the stars _ I worked a row of coral stitchinsr with the peacock blue, using a cofirse stitch. When this was done I put a loop stitch q{ the gold color on the second three points of the coral siitches on both sides, then three more of the old gold loops, and so on the length of the border. The Border. — When measuring for the length of the border, allow extra length to go around the corners; also, plan how the points are coming there, and put in some extra stitches to cover the piecing. My rug is greatly admired, but I am well awaie it is the Diamond-Dyed border that makes it look so handsome. Washington Mat. — Color with Fast Gar- net Diamond Dye a piece of old carpeting forty inches long. Also color some yarn the same color, to crochet a border that is to be sewed across the end. Yarn. that is raveled from a piece of the carpeting that is not much worn will do nicely if it is quite coarse. For a mat that I have I raveled out the worsted that was in the lower part of some old fash- ioned window tassels, and dyed it with Fast Dark Green Diamond Dye. Dye another piece of carpeting twenty-four inches long, sage green; this is made by first dyeing with Fast Olive Green and then with Fast Dark Green Diamond Dyes. Cut the piece of green through the middle crossway, sew a piece onto each end of the garnet-colored carpet, press the seams open with a warm flat-iron and cat-stitch the edges down. Line the mat with old b,ed-ticking or ^ny heavy cloth, and fiem tTie ends on the lining. With the yarn •crochet some simple pattern of crochet, using a coarse bone hook, and sew this trimming across the ends, or make some fringe if preferred. Crazy Mats. — These may be made any desired shape, square, brick shaped, diamond, octagon, oval, or round. The foundation should be some firm, heavy cloth, old bed- ticking is very good. They should also be lined. All kinds of rather heavy goods may be used. Pieces of old velvets, even if spotted and crushed, if they are dyed a good color will look nicely when they can be used for no other purpose. Always stitch the seams with bright colors in yarn or worsted. The edges of the mats may be finished in several ways. One way is to turn the edges under neatly and feather stitch all around the edge, then sew around points or scallops of heavy cloth. Another way is to turn the edges under and sew aro^ind two or more rows of very fine three strand braid, or you may put an inch wide binding of some dark colored cloth around it, or, if it is a brick shaped mat, put a border of plain cloth across the ends. Hem all round and put across the ends a finish of fringe or a crocheted edge made of yarn. •Queen Mat.— Fast Old Gold Diamond Dye will be the only dye needed for this, as the mat is iupposed to be made of odds and ends left from other mats and rugs. Color as much yarn as will be needed for stitching the old gold color, also some pieces of cloth the same color. This mat. is round. Mark with a pencil on the foundation a circle nearly as large as ihe mat is wanted, and around this mark scallops as deep and nearly as wide as half a saucer. Sew the scraps on the foundation, using any color that old gold wui look well on, as all the stitching is done with this one color. Do not use large scraps. When the pieces are all on and stitched, cut out the scallops, baste on the lining, and biud the edge with a narrow strip of cloth. Now take a piece of paper, fold it, cut a scallop same size as those around the mat, and then fold the paper again, so that it will be folded in quarters. Cut from the straight eiige three- fourth's of an inch, gradually sloping oft towards the outside edge of the scallop. Now open out the pattern, place it between two of the scallops and let it lap under each one- half an inch. Round off the lower part of the pattern that does not show between the scallops, and cut from this pattern a sufficient number of pieces of lining and old gold colored cloth to go between each two scal- lops around the mat. Bind the upper edges of each piece with black, the same as the scallops around the mat, and sew each piece in place. This mat is very rich looking and handsome. Button Mats. These are made with small bits of rags, yet they are very handsome. The making of the buttons is such light, clean, pretty work that one may do it any time or place where fancy work is proper. Windmill Mat.— Four sizes of circles are used in this mat. The rags may all be of light quality like flannel, ladies' cloth, etc., except the larger circle should be cut from felt or some heavy goods used for men's three inches in diameter, from grey or steel- colored and sixty -six from black cloth. This is a sufficient number for the foundation cir- cles. The mat is formed of a center circle or button, with six rows around it. No two rows need be alike in colors, but each entire row should be. They are stitched on a cloth foundation, denirn is good. Place one cir- cle in the center of the cloth foundation, and around this place six circles. For the second row place circles outside of these between each two circles, — this will take six circles. Now, place one between every two of these. You now have six sides to your mat. Place the circles in each succeec ng row in the same manner until you have placed six rows. It will need six additional circles in each row : six for 1st, twelve for 2d, eighteen for the 3d, and so on. Three smaller circles of various colors are to be cut for each button; the second size, two and one-half inches in diam- eter; third size, two inches; the fourth, one and one-half inches in diameter. Each circle is stitched on the next larger circle with No. 8 white or colored thread. I L vi always seen white used and have used it until now because colored coarse thread could not be bought, but now I color it with Diamond Dyes for Cotton. Coral and briar stitch are the prettiest to use for the stitching. When the buttons are all made, stitch them to the foundation, and finish the outside of the mat with a row of scallops with half circles stitched in each scallop. When this is done, line the mat. This is the way I arranged the colors, on my last button mat : Centre button and first row : gray. Fast Indigo Blue, very deep shade of Fast Orange, Fast Green. Second row: gray, Fast Indigo Blue, Fast Olive Green, a deep shade of Fast Old Gold Fast Dark Blue. Third row : gray, Fast Seal Browti, buff, a light shsde of Fast Orange, oiive. Fourth row : gray» Fast Olive Green, Fast Magenta, "Fast Dark Blue. Fifth row : F«st Black for Wool, Fast Green, Fut Indigo Blue, a very deep shade of Fast Orange. Sixth row : Fast Black for Wool, Fast Crim- son, Bismarck, Fast Old Gold. Scallops: Fast Black for Wool, Fast Oirason. Diamond Mat. — Form a diamond of seven rows of buttons, seven buttons in a row. Put a plain piece of cloth around the mat, one and one-half inches wide. With colored thread put two rows of fancy stitching on the border, turn in the outside edge, and line tlie mat. This is a very pretty shape to place before a large recHning or sleepy hollow chair. Star Mat. — ^This mat is star shaped, and is made by placing six diamonds so as to form a star. Each diamond is formed of four rows of buttons, four in a row. Finish the edge with a narrow binding and one row of stitching. How to Use Burlap for Mats. Very pretty mats are made of this material, and it is very easily dyed with Diamond Dyes. In almost every farmer's barn plenty of burlap sacks are to be found. Door Mat, — This is a braided mat to put by an outside door. Two dyes are needed for it; Fast Dark Green for Cotton, and Fast Garnet for Cotton Diamond Dyes. Color some burlap with both dyes. Oval is a good shape for a door mat. Beg^n with a center braid ten inches long. Cut the burlap in strips wide enough to make a good sized braid of three strands. Make the middle of the mat of green and a border of two or three rows of garnet. Fast Brown Diamond Dye lor the middle of a mat and a garnet or green border is also a good combination of colors for a door mat. 14 e^^ Fringed Mat. — This is prettiest when made of but one or two colors. Use the Diamond (Dyes for Cotton. An ent'.re mat of Fast i Orange or Fast Cardinal is very pretty, and at a short distance away it looks very much like the wool carriage mats that are used so much. The Green for Cotton dyes burlap beautifully. This color for the center of a mat and a border of F'ast Garnet makes a handsome mat. First, color the burlap, and sew down a two inch wide hem around a piece the size you want your mat. This piece is for the foundation. Draw out a thread every six inches in a piece of burlap, and then cut apart where the threads are drawn. Take each strip, cut in several places, two and one-half inches on each side, draw out the threads, leaving one inch not raveled in the center. When you have a quantity of strips fringed, double them in the middle and whip them to the foundation by the unraveled center, one inch apart. Bedroom Mat. — This is an easily made mat to lay by the side of a bed. It is made of 9. piece of burlap 42 x 64 inches, (the size that makes a sack to hold two hundred pounds of shorts). Three dyes are used: Fast Brown, Fast Turkey Red, and Fast Orange Diamond DyiS for Cotton. Dye the burlap a medium shade of brown, and some cotton flannel a darker shade of brown. Dye some store twine or coarse cotton yarn Turkey Red and Orange. In the center of the mat outline a figure of some kind with the turkey red yarn, and then baste the burlap en a firm lining of some kind, — a thin old bedquilt is best. An inch and one-half from the edge, work two or three rows of crosses, one mch apart. The stitches in each cross are to be an inch long, made with the red yarn, and crossed at the center with the orange. The crosses are to he made through the lining and outside, which holds them firmly together. Bind the edge with the dark brown and the mat is finished. The mat may be dyed any color to correspond with the color of the furnishings in the room, blue for a blue room, and so on. Arabian Mat.— This is a pretty mat for a chamber, and I have seen it used in a sitting room. Color a piece of burlap with the Fast Navy Blue for Cotton Diamond Dye, and some store twine with Fast Turkey Red. Cut circles the size of a teacup from any pieces of dark colored cloth you happen to have. With the Turkey Red twine, but- tonhole stitch these on the burlap, one inch apart. Finish the outside edge with some of the circles cut in halves with fanlike rays worked with red in each piece. Line the mat. Southern Mat, No. i.— ^Take a piece of burlap two inches larger all around than the mat is wanted. Pull out every fifth and sixth thread lengthwise and crosswise. Tack or sew it into a frame the same as you would to " draw in" a rug, or tack a comfortable. Fill the burlap with a cross stitch pattern. Use fine cut or torn rags, threaded into a coarse darn* ing needle, for the filling. Turn in the two extra inches of the burlap for a hem, and line the mat. Southern Mat, No. 2. — Draw out every fifth thread of the burlap both ways, and put in a frame as directed in No. i. Use yarn (old or new) for a filling in place of rags. f 1? A17 TUT AT . T^t"Ar\0«*4k tflA Ki.^Im*^ ^0 ^i:«*^ in the preceding. Cut out some pretty shaped leaves from green felt or other heavy rags. Lightly hem these on the burlap for a border. 15 and place a few in the center if desired. Pill in with cross stitcK in yarn. Be sure to cover the leaves with the yarn and they may also be veined with it. Diamonds, circles or any other shape may be used if preferred in the place of leaves. Grecian Mat. — Color the burlap and some store twine with Diamond Dyes. Put the burlap in a frame as before, ?.nd with the twine work a Grecian border, and also some simple pattern in the center. Line the mat. With a hook crochet from the twine a pretty edging to sew around the mat. "Wool yarn may be used* in place of the twine. Washington Mat. — This mat is woven or plaited, and is made of heavy woolen rags like felt or full cloth. Have the strips cut straight and even, one and one-half inches wide, and press any seams that are sewed. One yard is a good length for a mat that is twenty-four to twenty-s^ven inches wide. Two or three colors are enough. When the strips are cut, tack them on a wooden frame of ihe proper size for the mat, two tacks in the end of each long strip, and let each strip be about l-i6 of an inch apart. When this is done, weave the short strips in and out through them, allowing two inches at the ends and sides for fringe. The strips should be close enough together to make a snug weave. If there is a space, the first strips are too far apart; if it wrinkles, they are too close; in either case remedy the trouble, remembering that the thicker the cloth the more space is needed. When all are woven in, remove from the frame and with the sewing machine stitch is done, make vnth yarn a small star or cross in each outside check all around the mat, and another row of stars in the third row of checks. A mat made with Fast Black and Fast Terra Cotta strips and stars of Fast Old Gold Diamond Dyes would be very pretty. Fast Pink and a rather light shade of Fast Olive Green, with pink on the green plaids, and green on the pink ones would be also a pleas- ing combination. Mats of Silk. I should not advise the use of silk for floor mats, if it was good enough to use in any other way, although some of these mats might wear well. Diamond Mat, Si/k. — Knit this mat in the same way as the Diamond Mat on page 10, except silk is to be used in the place of wool. Make a narrow border of black. Duchess Mat. — This is a braided silk mat. Make it of very heavy and stiff pieces of ribbon and silk that are too badly spotted and creased to use for any other purpose. Use only strong pieces. The silk strips need not be cut very wide, as they should be folded over old pieces of print or other soft cotton goods. Make quite a fine braid, and sew the same as any braided mat. Oval is the prettiest shape. Have plenty of bright colors. Sew deep scallops or points around the mat. Cut these out of some thick cloth, and make a star in each one with bright colored wool or cotton yarn. Chenille Rug. — Cut strips of soft flannel, dress goods, etc., one inch wide and ?'\v length. Thread a darning needle with coarse knitting cotton, double it, and gather w.:j^i> ^f n-*.v-.- tightly and twist around as you go so as to make a round roll. Sew these gathered strips to a firm foundation, or what is better, take them to a carpet weaver and have them wove. ^l ^k uiade this way they are very beautiful as well as durable and both sides are alike. If the rug is wove, there should be a border across each end of the following named colors; one row of each will make a good combination. Us2 Diamond Dyes to color with. Fast Black, fast Yellow, Fast Brown, Fast Scarlet or Crimion, Fast Dark Blue or Purple, P'ast Orange, and P'ast Dark Green. The middle of a woven rug with a border across the ends is prettier when made hit or miss. No Name Mats. N' . I. — Cut pieces of any kind or color of cloth the size of a silver quarter of a dollar. String through the center on double store twine. When a sufficient length, sew on a fiirm foundation, No. 2. — Cut the pieces as before directed^ String on linen twine, and sew together with the twine by passing it around the rolls and between the pieces until the string you are sewing with rests on the string you have strung the pieces on. Make the stitches close together. This gives a mat alike on both sides. Husk Mats. Pretty and durable door mats are made with corn-husks. Any of the Diamond Dyes for Cotton will color the husks, but red is particu- larly pleasing. The soft inside husks are used. Start a three strand braid with the rough ends of the husk out. Add a husk every time you cross a strand, letting the end stick out one inch. A very large husk may be torn in two pieces. The husks should be a little damp when braided. Oval is the best shape for these mats. Drawn-In Ru^s. A drawn-in rug will wear remarkably well, and no other home-made rug looks so hand- some and artistic. With the proper colors a very successful imitation of the high priced imported rugs, or some of our nice domestic ones can be made. First, get a rug to copy from, and then with Diamond Dyes color your rags or yarn or both. When the rags are dyed, procure a piece of nice burlap the right size and two inches larger all around. This is to be turned under and hemmed down after the rug is all draWn in. Drav/ the pattern with colored pencils. If you are not used to drawing, patterns may be cut from paper like the principal figures, put on the burlap and marked around. If preferred, you can buy the burlap already stamped in colors, but many of the patterns are neither artistic nor pretty. Before beginning the work the burlap should be firmly sewed into a frame that is nailed together at each corner. The hook to be used is like a very large crochet hook, and is put through the burlap from the upper side, the rag or yarn is caught on it and drawn tlirough to the upper side, where it is left in a short loop. This is repeated, making the loops close enough together to make a smooth, even surface of perfect loops. Another way is not to be too particular about the evenness of the loops and ends, and then clip the surface smooth with the shears. Whca this method is used the figures aiv'; sometimes done in raised work. This is very pretty for a scroll border or for flower patterns. To do this work the loops must be drawn up higher In the center of the pattern, gradually sloping down to the edges. In making flowers some part of each petal is raised. Crazy Chenille Rug. — First, draw in a border »U around, and then fill in the center 7 with a variety of odd-shaped patches in differ- ent colors, taking care to place contrasting colors together. Turkish Rug. — If the proper colors are used, this rug has quite an oriental look. Cut out a pattern of an oak, maple, or any pretty shaped leaf, and mark these out quite close together on the burlap. Do not place them in regular order, but scatter around in all positions. Outline each leaf wi^h Fast Black or Fast Bottle Green Diamond Dyes, and also vein the leaves with the same colors. Fill the leaves in with bright colors like autumn leaves, and fill in around the leaves with steel color, gray or Fast Drab. A fringe of some kind should finish thi ends, and if this is» done fringe need not be used, although it is an improvement. Canadian Mat. — ^This mat is made of thin goods like cashmere, serge, etc., also cot- ton rags. Two dyes will be needed; Fast Orange for Cotton, and Blue for Cotton. Color the rags, and also pick up small bits of whatever other colors you may happen to have. You will also need some old cotton rags of any color, — old bed ticking or denim is very good. Tear it into strips wide enough to make when twisted a roll the size of the end of your little finger. Fasten two ends together, and tear or cut the small pieces of rags into inch wide strips. Sew them to- gether hit or miss, and fold in the middle with the seams inside. Pin the two ends of ticking or whatever is used, to the knee. Now put the colored rags over one strip, under and over the other, then under the first strip and over that, and S(» on. Always keep the raw edges below and cover with the fold each time the trip is brought from the under side. Make a sufficient length of hit or miss to w«ik^ a center for a round or oval shaped mat. It is to be sewed the same int. This mat should be lined. Fan Mat. — This mat is patch and applique. Two dyes are probably all that will be re- quired: Fast Black for Wool, for gray, and Fast Navy Blue Diamond Dyes. Do not dye FAN mat. the blue quite so deep a shade as the .ample shown on the color card. The blocks are cut five by eight inches, and seamed together as shown in the illustration, the white ones repre- senting the gray and the dark ones the blue. Applique the fans on the blocks before they are seamed together. Sew together in strips, press the seams, sew the strips together, and press the long seams. The fans are all cut from bits of flannel, and all buttonhole-stitched on around the edges with worsted, and worsted is used for the work on the fans. The corner fans are scarlet, stitched around with gold color, and the work on the faces is in white. The middle fans at the ends and sides are a very little lighter than the Fast Dark Brown shown on the Diamond Dye sample card. The buttonhole work is done with scarlet, and the face worked with old gold. The other eight fans are a medium shade of dul) blue, buttonhole-Ptitched around with black, find tbc face work done with shaded i;ed m^ BORDER FOR FAN MAT. orange worsted. The border is black, stitched with scarlet and navy blue worsted, as shown in the illustration. Aster Rug. — This rug is also a patch and applique. It can be made any desired size, but if larger put more flowers, leaves and buds on the border to make it look all right. The blocks in this rug are gray like those in the Fan Mat, and Fast Brown like the shade on first, except at the corners. The flowert and buds are of scarlet velvet, buttonhole- stitched on with shaded red worsted, and having a star of old gold color in the center of the flowers. The leaves and the lower part of the flower buds are light olive green. Stitch these on around the edges, and do the veining with black or very dark green thread on the sewing machine. The stems are chain- stitched with coarse, dark olive green yarn. The small circles in the center of the rug are of olive green felt, buttonhole-stitched around with scarlet worsted, with small crosses of the same in the center. When this is all done, turn in the outside edge, stitch it down, sew on the points, and line it. Royal Patch Rug. — You will need three dye» for this handsome patch rug : Fast Old Gold, Fast Garnet and Fast Brown Diamond Dyes. Made with the materials'! usci, it is handsome enough for almost any parlor. The half squares are a medium shade of garnet. They are crushed plush from a set of furniture that was re-covered, and were re-dyed. The center piece, border aster rug. shown on the sample card of colors. The border is black, with tiny specks of white. The scallops are very dark brown, and the crosses in them are made with scarlet worsted. The blocks are five and one-fourth inches by six and three-fourths. The border is four and „^„ t.^ir ; 1 ...:j_ r<- ^i _„•_■• as directed for the Fan Mat. Then sew the lx>rder around, putting the flowers and leaves ROYAL PATCH RUG. and cross pieces between the half squares, are from an old bed blanket that was badly worn, bijt }ia4 some good pieces in «Q It. The center is colored olive, the small cross pieces are old gold, the border is bronze. The stitching around the center piece and border is a slanting Imttonhole- slitch, and the stitches are half an inch deep and a quarter of an inch apart, made with garnet-colored yarn used double. The coral stitching across the ends of the rug is also garnet. The stitching that goes all the way around is old gold. The stitching on the cross pieces is peacock blue yarn. The blocks^ when finished, are ten inches square, and the cross pieces are two inches wide. To get a pattern, cut from paper a ten inch square, mark this off, cut it apart and use for a pattern^ allowing for seams. The center piece is ten inches wide and nineteen and one-half long. The side border is five inches wide and the end ten. The fringe is a mixture of garnet, old gold and bronze, and is made in this way : Double a piece of yarn, thread it into the darning needle and double again. "With a colored pencil make a line through the center of a piece of olive-colored cloth one and one- half inches wide. Put your needle through this line at one end, and a quart? of an inch from where your needle comes through, put i^ back, leaving the ends of the yarn thn ^ inches long, and a loop half an inch long. Now cut the yarn, leaving one end three inches long. This is the beginning of the fringe. Take another color and put in the same way. Then use your last color. Repeat this until your strip is as long as required. Then fold and baste the edges of the cloth together with the loops inside. Now, with the sewing machine, make two rows of stitching firmly so it will not pull out. Sew on the ends of the mat and line it OucHEss Rug. — This rug has been much admired. Two dyes were used, Fast Pink an Fast Olive Green Diamond Dyes. The green is a little lighter than that shown on the sample card of colors. The blocks were cut six inches square and seamed together alter- nately, but so as to have pink at each corner. Make the mat five rows wide and seyen long, with six-inch wide border of bronze green, which has a row of feather stitching with pink yarn around the edges. Points of olive green, with a pink star in each, are seamed across the ends. Grandmother's Rug. — Fast Yellow, a dark shade, and Fast Seal Brown Diamond Dyes are used for this rug. The blocks are cuL four inches square, and put together so as to have brown blocks in the corners. A six-inch wide border of brown has yellow leaves stitched on it, and a cluster of them in the corners extends down into the brown blocks Canadian Mat, No. i. — Make twelve blockf in log cabin work, using shades of purple for one half, steel color and black for the other half, and scarlet for the center piece. Sew- together so as to have the stripes run bias -r^^s the mat. It will be three blocks wide \ fji* i *our long. Canadian Mat, No. 2. — Make twelve blocks in log cabin work, using shades of magenta and olive i^Teei^ or each half with a dark yellow center. Sew them into three square* with four blocks in each, having the magenta in the center of each. Now, sew these together. Patchwork and applique mats and nigs must have all seams well pressed, and they must be lined. Imperial Mat. — Cut a piece of cnmson cloth 24 X 30 incheii, sew across the ends several narrow strips of gray and crimsoi^ turn in the edges, and line the mat. 31 kemarki : — Sometimes patchwork patterns may be used for rugs and mats with good effect, as in Canadian Mats. One block much enlarged may be used, but more often several blocks will look best. Applique Rugf. The illustration gives a good idea of this beautiful rug. Three dyes are probably all that will be needed, although a few bits of cloth of other colors are used. Fast Black fnr Wool Diamond Dye is to be used for the center of the rug, also for the squares in the border, which are all black except the corners; the half squares in the border are steel color, dyed with the Fast Black; the corners are :a light wood brown. Color a few small pieces ■of flannel or felt with Fast Crimson or Fast Cardinal Red Diamond Dyes. Dye two shades APPLIQUE Rug. vith Fast Dark Green Diamond Dyes, The black blocks in the border are five and one- half inches square. The half squares are ^1 i. J.:.. : 1 it-- _i. . .. . • ^ 1 • 1 mIIXSUSv s>a iliUiiCS vJit liiC snUit alQCa, WfilCli will allow for seams and keep the black squares perfect. The border for the sides and ends should be sewed together before the larger cen r piece is cut for the rug, then cut that to fit the borde^; it will be about fifty inches long by twenty-three wide. The figures and flowers should be stitched on the blocks before the border is sewed together. Tht rosette shaped figures in the alternatf! blocks are steel-coloied, chain stitched on with coarse blue thread. The leaves in the alternate blocks are of the darkest shade of green and are chain stitched arouna with linen carpet thread of a green color, three rows of stitching being used for the stems. The flowers are crimson, chain stitched around with hnen carpet thread of a red color. The stem of the vine that runs around the center of the rug is cut from the darkest gieen cloth, and the leaves are all of the lighter shade of green. The vine and leaves are all chain stitched with the same thread as was used on the leaves in the border. The flower like shapes inside the vine are all crimson, chain stitched with straw colored thread, and worked with the same color in the center. The four round pieces outside of the viiic are straw colored chain stitched with red. Dx.- ■ ners of the border are light wood brown. The leaves of the flowerlike figure are of the lighter green, stitched around the same js the others. The fan shaped pieces are old blue cuain, stitched around and dotted with gray linen carpet thread. All seans in this rug should be carefully pressed. The points around the outside of the rug are black. Line it with some heavy goods or a piece of thin old bed quilt. Machine-Made Rug. jTirai, maKc a ftamc Ihe required size, of four ,»trips of pine w^od -one inch thick and about two and one-half inches broad. Two of these strips are placed across the longer strips so as to form legs when the frame is stood again4 22 the wall. The frame is made so as to leave a space of one inch or more all around be- tween pattern and frame. All around the frame (innet cuges of it to extend about one- fourth of an inch over), are tacked strong strips of cloth to sew the pattern in by. Turn all edges over on the pattern side and hem down on a sewing machine, leaving an c/en margin all around the pattern. Fasten in all the corners firmly with strong cotton twine, making each c"- ner an equal distance from the frame, and s as to bring the center of the pattern to the center of the long strips. Sew in the pattern as firm and tight as possible, catching back and forth through the hems and edges of the cloth, and making stitches not more than one inch apart. Then with a looper-needle or embroidering machine, nurchascd from E. S. Frost & Co., 22 Tremont Row, Boston, ' ass., and costing one dollar, begin work on the pattern, which may also be purchased from Frost & Co. This machine is & simple contrivance, con- sisting of a needle and a looper block, which ars held lightly, one in each hand. The needle is threaded with two, three or more threads of yarn, according to size and close- ness desired to be v/orked. The yarn used is from skeins which are cut, as this is the most convenient way of using. Thread the needle by fiist putting through the screw eye on the needle block, and then into the needle, leaving one inch on the other side of the needle. Then draw the looper block back with the right hand, and ran the needle through the pattern on the line designed to work. Hold the needle there and run the looDer through, which forms a loop on the opposite side of the pattern; hold the looper rtill and draw out the needle and insert again; then hold the needle there while drawing out the looper and run it !n again; and so con- tinue to form one loop at a time. Work the outline of the pattern first, and then lill it in. After the entire pattern has been worked, work the background. After the work is completed, lay frame and all upon the floor and cover the under side of the ruf^ with a thick coat of flour paste, to prevent the loops from catching or pulling out. Rub the paste in well. When dry, remove from the frame and begin the shearing with An ordinary pair of sharp shears, keeping the handles well wrapped with cloth to prevent the hands from blistering, and shear until all the loops are cut. As much as possible, shear so as to< leave the pattern a little higher than the back- ground, as this gives the work a beautifull raised appearance. Borders, Fringes, Re-Dyeing, Etc. Re-dyeing Old Mats.— In the spring I wanted two new mats, but had little time to spend in making them. I found two old knit mats that I had thrown aside because they were badly faded and a part of the strips badly worn. I ripped out the good strips and washed them. One blue and two green ones I colored with Fast Black for Wool Diamond Dyes. These I seamed around a piece of oval shaped red and drab carpeting which was first lined with burlap and bound around the edge with red flannel. Some strips of hit or miss I colored with Fast Cardinal for Cotton Diamond Dye, and sewed them around a braided center. Both mats, looked almost as well as if they were entirely new. We have a Brussels carriage mat that has been re-dyed the second time with Fast Dark Gr'ren Diamond Dye, and it looks almost as. nice as new. n Woov carriage mats are easily re-dyed to their original color. Sew a loop to each corner of the mat, free it firom dust, wash clean, and then let one person take hold of each end by the loops and dip the wool into the hot dye. When the mat is dry, card the wool until it is straight and fluffy. Borders for Fur Mats and Rugs. — If you wish to enlarge a fur mat or rug, there are two ways to do it. One way is for very long wool on a sheep's pelt. Dye this with Dia- mond Dyes very nearly the color of the fur you wish to border, then cut the pelt in strips an inch wide, and sew these around the mat or rug. Another way is to cut scallops from heavy cloth that has been dyed very nearly the color of the fur, and sew these around the edge on the under side. The scallops also prevent the fur from wearing off so quickly around the edges. Tanning Sheep Pelts, etc. — Sheep pelts and other small skins are easily tanned at home. M;ike a strong lather with hot water and soap and let it sfand till cold. Wash the fresh sheepskin in it, carefully squeezing out ail dirt from the wool. V^ash in cold water till all the soap is out. Dissolve one pound each of salt and alum in two gallons of hot water, put the skin into a tub and pour the liquid over it. If not sufficient to cover, add more hot water. Let it soak for twelve hours, and then hang on a pole to drain. When well drained, stretch carefully on a board to dry, and stretch several times while drying. Before quite dry, sprinkle on the flesh side one ounce each of pulverized alum and saltpeter, rubbing in well. F the wool is not firm on the skin, let the skin remain a couple of days, .«j i.i.^_ TT-I J il- - 6- -1- sides together and hang in the shade two or three days, turning over each day till quite dry. Scrape the flesh side well with a dyn knife and rub well with pumice or rotten-stone to make the skin soft. When used for mats and rug? they do quite as well if a little hard, unless you want to sew the skins together, when they should be soft. Several skins may be sewed together to make large rugs. Wool Mats and Dusters. — These are not floor mats, but lamp or vase mats. If you have a sheep pelt with very long wool, lovely mats may be made from it. Color the wod first. Cut the pelt into small squares, and comb the wool out each way from the center, making it fluffy and pretty. It is just fun to make them. Use any of the bright colored Diamond Dyes. These mats make nice little presents and also sell well. So do the v,'ool dusters made of the small pieces cut in strips and wound around turned wooden handles The dusters are far superior to feather ones, for they hold the dust and never scratch. Crumb Cloth for the Floor. — A crumb cloth should be always under a dining table. It should be light, so as to be easily taken up and shaken. The linen covers are very easily soiled, the fringe tangles, and the edges curl up, so that they are soon voted a nuisance. Burlap grain sacks closely woven and a heavy quality, make entirely satisfactory crumb clothes. Take four of the seamless kind and cut apart, dye with any color of Diamond Dyes for Cotton. When dry and pressed, seam together. It does not curl up at the edges, and when it becomes soiled it is easily washed in soapsuds. If it has become faded or spotted, dip it in a weak solution of the dye, and when dry it will look as fresh and as nice as new. Fringe for Ends of Mats. — The ma- terials needed are two very heavy coarse steel 11 y f c c H needles, carpet yarn or coarse l3ermantown yarn, and a very thin piece of hard wood, four inches long and three inches wide, which must be very smooth and the edges and corners rounded a little. Cast on twelve stitches. First row .-—plain. Second row : — knit three plain, thread over, narrow, two plain, thread over, narrow, three plain. Third row:— put the yarn around the wood once and knit across plain, knitting the loops as stitches; this will give you . /elve again. Fourth row: — like second. Fifth row • — like third. And so on. When the wood is covered with loops, slip them off and fill again, and so on until your strip is as long as you wish; then bind off the end. Crocheted Fringe for Mats. — Use coarse woolen yarn and a bone hook or a coarse steel one. Chain four stitches, turn and make a single crochet into the first three chains, wind the yam around the wood three times, then ilip your hook under the yarn on the wood and with a single crochet stitch, drawn very tight, fasten them together. Now make three single crochet stitches in the row you have already made ; chain one, turn and make ♦^^hree single crochet as before; wind the yarn three times around the wood and repeat as before and so on until your strip is as long as you desire. Another Crocheted Fringe. — Make the fame as directed above, except make a wider heading, chain thirteen or sixteen stitches and have twelve or fifteen single crochet stitches. When the fringe is long enough, break off the thread. With another colored yam make a row of coral or briar stitch through the middle of the heading,— this makes it very pretty. ART WORK — FANCY WORK. HOW TO MAKE ART COLORS FROM DIAMOND DYES. Diamond Art Colors may be termed Liquid Art Colors and are used for almost all purposes for which the regular water colors are used. They are especially valuable for painting or coloring photographs, engravings, maps, etc.; for fabric, tapestry and lustra painting, etching upon cotton or linen, dye-embroidery, etc. Any person gifted with taste in the arrange- ment of colors can quickly learn to do beauti- ful work. The colors being transparent the lights and shadows show through them, and thereby most charming effects are readily produced without any special skill on the part of the user. After a little practice a person will acquire sufficient skill to take orders, so it will quickly prove to be very remunerative. The colors made from the Diamond Dyes are superior to the colors sold under high sounding names at extravagant prices. With one dollar's worth of Dyes twenty times as much color can be made as is contained in the boxes sold for three dollars. The portion of the Dyes not needed for this purpose can, of course, be used for coloring any article, or for making Ink, etc. No other kind of Dyes can be used for this purpose. Dissolve the amount of Diamond Dye named in a quart of hot water: — For Violet, dissolve 1 package Violet Dye ♦' ♦■ '* aiaifenti^ Dye For Purple, " Green, , " Brown, " Rose, " Cardinal, " Dark Wine, '* Blue, " Crimson, " Orange, " Yellow, *' Scarlet, . " Black, dissolve 1 package Purple Dye Gn^en Dye ' Bisiimrck Dye Eosine Dyi- " " " Cardinal Dye " " Dark Wine Dve " . " Light Blue Dv- ' Crimson Dy.^ " " Orange Dye " " Yellow Dye " " Scarlet Dve " " Slate Dye Dark Brown, mix one part Violet with three parts Brown. Flesh Color, mix equal parts Orange and Cardinal. These are the principal colors, but other colors can be made from other dyes if desired. When one in dyeing uses any of these colors it is a good way to take as much as will lie on a lo cent piece of each dye used, and dissolve in a gill (4 oz.) of hot water, and bottle. In this way one does not have such a quantity of the color. It is, however, a good plan to make up a whole package of each color, and keep well corked, as a glance through this little book will show ample uses for a quart of each color. Coloring Photographs, Engrav- ings, Mats, Etc. \ The beautiful art of coloring photographs, etc., with Liquid Art Colors, is the most fascinating form of art work. The very best i I colors cm be made from Diamond Dyes at one-tenth the expense of those sold under high sounding names, as " Royal Art," etc. Full directions for making the colors and complete instructions so that any person can work without taking lessons, sent to any address on receipt of a stamp. The Diamond Paints — Gold, Silver, Copper and Bronze, — can often be used to good ad- vantage in connection with this work. Children's books can be decorated in Kate Gr<:enaway style, with beautiful effect. Maps or sketches can be ^rawn in black, and the colors can be put on over the drawing, without changing the black. Do not use the colors too strong. School children will be greatly interested in coloring their drawings in this way. adding another drop of dye to the water. For mixing or blending colors see circular of directions for coloring photographs. Water Color Painting With Diamond Art Colors. Under this head comes painting upon paper, cardboard, holly-wood, etc. The easiest of all is coloring outline sketches in flat colors. This consists of simply giving a single wash of the desired color, without regard to shading. To prepare the colors for use, put a half tea- spoonful of water into a small dish (like a butter plate) , and add a drop of the dissolved color desired, by dipping the brush or a stick into the color. If not dark enough, add a drop at a time until the desired shade is ob- tained. Use a separate dish for each color, or else wash the dish before putting another color into it. Use camel's hair brushes of different sizes, and after dipping into the color, press the brush against the side of the dish to remove as much surplus color as possible. Pass the brush over the part to be colored, using care not to go outside of the outline. If not dark enough, when dry go over it again, Painting on Velvet. — Stained Velvet. Velvet having a nap requires different treat- ment from silk. A medium is made as follows : One level teaspoonful gum arabic, two table- spoonfuls hot water, ten drops of glycerine, and half a level teaspoonful of whiting. Mix thoroughly into a paste. If too thick to lay on well with a brush, dilute with a little water. Stamp the design and go over it all with the medium. When thoroughly dry, go over it again and continue so doing until there is a smooth surface to paint upon. Sometimes it is advisable to add a coat of the Chinese white before coloring. Another way is to make a starch, as used in mounting photographs, add- ing five drops of glycerine to each teaspoonful of starch, and use the same way as the above. Stained Velvet. — When this is nicely done it can hardly be told from woven goods. White, cream, pink, or Nile green are the best colors, as upon these tints one can put almost any color of flowers. Stamp the design with delicate colored powder and do not set it. (To make this stamping powder pour a little diluted dye over com starch; then dry and pulverize it. It will not soil the most delicate fabric, and can be blown off when the painting is done) . Take the desired color, and with very little of it upon the brush, pass it over the parts to be painted. Do not try to hurry, as to do nice work one must work slowly and carefully. A most beautiful sachet can be made of cream velvet. At regular intervals stamp good-sized pansy blossoms. By a little ingenuity, no two blossoms need be alike. 27 The following combinations are good. Yellow and purple, lavender and orange, light and dark blue, brown and yellow, purple and lavender. A beautiful bag to be filled with dried rose leaves can be made by painting roses and buds instead of pansies. Lavender velvet with purple and brownish yellow pansies is a good combination. bolting cloth or Chinese silk, pkce it ovei blotting paper and use the dye sparingly. Painting upon Chamois or Kid. Stretch the material tightly to a board and pin with thumb tacks. The design may first be delicately outlined with Diamond Gold. or Copper Paint. Then proceed to color the design as desired. Use but little dye, as it is liable to spread. Where the gold outline is used and allowed to get thoroughly dry, there is but little danger of the colors spreading beyond it. Kid is painted the same way, or with the colored lacquers. See page 31. Painting on Wood. In painting upon holly or other white woods trace the design with a pen, using for the out- line the same color as is to be used to fill in. Go over the entire design with the gum arable sizing mentioned before. When dry, go over and shade, using care to take as much color as possible off tjjie brush before using. Painting upon Silk and Satin. For this work it is best to use Chinese white, a water cc'.or which is opaque and is used for white and to give body to the other colors. If white or pale tinted satin or silk is used, the Chinese white can be omitted and gum arabic sizing used instead. Stamp or transfer the design upon the fabric. If the dry Chinese white is used, wet it up and « lay in " the entire design in white; when dry, go over it again, and continue this until the design presents a smooth white surface. It is then ready to color according to nature. Care must be exercised to paint over the entire Wrface of the white, but not to go beyond. IVhitfi fl r\tirA.>e A.*^ .!._ J si.iv p-aiiii^u •Villi liiC V/iiincSC rvhite alone, using a tint of gray or green ii'here a shade is needed. In painting upon 26 Dye Embroidery, Spatter Work, Etc. Dye Embroidery.— This and the two next kinds of work are the newest in art work. This work can be applied to any fabric. Stamp the design (usually conventional), then paint the flowers and leaves solid, without any shading whatever. Two or more colors can be used, but the correct way is to use one, and then to outline the work with a lighter or darker shade of rope silk, floss or filo-floss. Imitation Sorrento Work.— This differs from the above in having the background instead of the design painted or stained. The leaves and flowers are outlined and veined. Upon the finer fabrics the outlining is some- times done with Diamond Gold Paint. Alliance Embroidery differs from either and is much harder to do. For this a bunch of flowers ( pansies or roses are easiest ) are stamped upon the material, and then each leaf and flower is stamped upon white satin, and painted .in natural colors, and nicely shaded. They are then cut out and applied lo Ihc work. Before applying them go over the design with gum water, and when partly dry press them on. They are then fastened ir.to place by stitches &long the edge, made of silk of a suitable color, v^jnnecting stems, grasses, etc., are worked with silk. It re- sembles Kensington embroidery, but is more finely shaded, if well done, and is much quicker work. It can also be done by using white velvet instead of white satin. Spatter Work. — ^This is an old but attrac- tive sort of work, and can be made by using any color of Diamond Dyes. A bottle of Diamond Dye ink, a small, stiff tooth brush, and a piece of wire netting three or four inches wide are the materials required. This work can be done so nicely as to resemble steel engraving or mono-chrome work, and can be done upon paper, cambric, oil cloth, leather, or silk. Ferns, leaves, mottoes, or other designs are fastened to the article to be decorated, by means of pins stuck straight up. When all is ready, dip the brush into the ink, shake off as much surplus ink as possible, and gently rub the brush across the wire netting which is held above the article to be orna- mented. The surface will be covered by fine spatters of the ink. Keep going over it until as dark as desirv;d. When done with blue ink, it resembles a "blue print." Carefully remove the pins, taking with them the les^es, etc. The places where the leaves were, remain the original color. In this way picture mats, match sets, mottoes, flower pots, paper and letter holders, tidies, book covers, lambre- quins, etc., can be easily and artistically made. Flower pots or boxes, first painted white and spattered plainly with brown or black, resem- ble granite. Tapestry Painting Is one of the most useful branches of decorative art, and when well done, resembles old hand- work tapestry. The canvas can be obtained at any art store. It should be tightly dxawn over a frame, and the design iketched with either a soft, sharp pointed crayon or soft pencil. The Diamond Art Colors, made as directed on page 26, are rubbed in with fine bristle brushes, a separajte brush for each color. The canvas is white, and where white is required it is left natural color. If a landscape is selected, put in the sky first with very delicate blue, leaving the clouds white, or going over them with delicate yellow or pink, or both. Where the sky grows darker, use the blue stronger. One had better use a colored print to go by unless used to coloring by eye. Where one knows nothing about the work, it is well to buy a cheap hand-book on tapestry painting, as space forbids a lengthy article upon it in this little book. The Diamond Dye colors will be found greatly superior to most of the expen- sive tapestry colors. They have been pro- nounced superior for this work by artists who have used all the different makes of tapestry colors in market. V.t a fair recently there was upon exhibition a beautiful screen, which attracted much at- tention. It was supposed at first that the panels were hand-worked, but close inspection showed them to be painted. They were made of common white Java can- vas painted with DJam«nd Dyes. One panel represented Spring, a femali figure in pink drapery, crowned with flowers, and Cupids bearing a profusion of many colored blossoms, against a sky background. The other two panels were landscape backgrounds, with branches of flowers flung across them. The frame was pine, ebonized with Diamond Artist's Black, and decorated with Diamond Gold Paint. In painting upon cotton, care must be used to choose cotton dyes, and be- fore applying ihcm, xfash over ihc spot where they are to go, with a weak lolution of the I 39 mordant, when there is one. When dry, the color can be applied. Beautiful chair backs, cushions and pillows can be made in this way at a very small expense, by using Java canvas. Etching Jpon Cotton or Linen. This is much easier and more quickly done than with the needle. Starch the good? very stiff and iron until glossy. Use the dyes very strong and apply with a pen. An old-fash- ioned stylographic pen is superior to all others, but a glass or steel pen will do. Violet and black are the most favored colors for this work. When one desires to use the colors which require the mordant, wash the goods in the solution before ironing. Where one de- sires to paint a full colored design upon wash fabrics, prepare the cloth as above. Then make a little thick, clear corn-starch poste. Stamp the design and go over the goods all around the design with the paste, using a small brush. Cover every part except the design where it is to be painted, for several inches around. When dry, go over it again, and for several successive times. This pre vents the dye clouding the background when the fabric is washed. To insure perfect suc- cess, one must work slowly and with care. This is an easy way to beautifully decorate tidies, doylies, handkerchiefs, etc. Swiss muslin, bolting cloth, and crepe are favorite materials for water color painting. Being very thin, these fabrics are pinned over blot- ting paper before being painted upon. Swiss muslin pillow shams are very fashionable, and can be used for a year without laundrying if care is used. They can be painted with the Diamond Dye colors, and will still retain their beauty after being washed. Banners of bolt- ing cloth painted in colors in a conventional 30 style, and dotted and lined with gold paint, can be made to very nearly resemble the expensive Chinese creations upon crepe. Where a dead white or other opaque color is desired, use the Chinese white. On the im- ported banners there is usually a peacock or other birds, and they are generally worked with silk, as are a few of the larger flowers. Pamted bolting cloth forms lovely covers for scent sachets, glove and handkerchief cases, pin cushions, and picture draperies. Draperies of white sheet wadding painted with Diamond Dye colors and fringed at the ends with tassels of embroidery silks, are easily made and of fairy-like beauty. Lustra Painting Is one of the easiest and most showy of all decorative painting. All that is required is a few sable brushes, and a package each of Diamond Gold, Silver, Copper, and Bronze Paints, and a bottle of Diamond Paint Liquid. Ladies will find, after a trial of our bronze powders, that the same quantity and quality could not be purchased for less than thirty cents at an art store. Our price is but ten cfhts per package. A very little powder and medium are mixed and quickly applied to the article to be bronzed. In some cases the liquid is applied to the article, and when par- tially dry, the powder is sprinkled over it, and what does not adhere is gently shaken off. These powders only come in four colors, viz. : Gold, silver, bronze and copper, but they may be colored any desired shade as follows : A large branch of maple leaves is stamped upon dark brown felt or velvet. The veins are put in with one color and the body with another. Paint them all solid with gold or silver, or both. When perfectly dry, wash them over in spots with different colored Diamond Dye - colors, or with colored lacquers, made as di- rected on this page. The metallic brilliancy will still remain, while all the different shades and colors can be produced. This does away with the high priced ^xes of metallic colors. This dry, the wboie is bronzed in one or more colors. Designs can be formed with cone leaves, coffee berries or seeds. Flower pots, toilet boxes and bottles, vases, and frames can be made in the same way. Heads of grain, work can be done upon silk, satin, velvet, insects like butterflies, and many other things leather, etc., or, in fact, on almost any known material. Nothing can be prettier than bronzed leather, which is now so stylish. Nearly every family possesses some article in a leather case which is more or less battered, and can be made beautiful with a coat of gold or bronze. A pretty way for such articles is to mix up a little each of gold, copper, and bronze, and dip the brush into each before applying to the article; this gives an agreea- ble mottled look. It is well when such articles are dry to give them a thin coat of varnish. Window lambrequins, door draperies, and screens are very handsome painted in a heavy outline. Blue, with a heavy border of conven- tional flowers in gold outline is very handsome. This method is especially suitable for Canton flannel draperies, and the designs should be large and bold. Autumn leaves and ferns can be improved by a little gilding. Cones, acorns, nuts, wheat heads, or small ears of corn make pretty drops for banners or lambrequins. A bunch of cones bronzed in different shades and suspended in a bunch by fastening narrow ribbons of different colors to them, makes a novel wall ornament. A large ear of corn can be gilded, and enough kernels removed to admit a Uttle five cent thermometer in one side, with a large bow of ribbon tacked at the top. Fancy baskets can be made by sewing straws to boxes or by using the straw of old hats and gilding them with Diamond Paints. Very pretty fancy boxes can be made from any box or can of suitable size or shape. First cover them with Ihick. liquid giuc. \jvtx titis is sprinkled rice, oat meal, or gravel. When # can be gilded, silvered, or bronzed, and then made up into very attractive cVecorations. Discolored plaster figures can be made very handsome by a coat of these- Taints. Old frames can be regilded, and plain pine frames can be treated in this way. Chairs, fancy tables, etc., are gilded and resemble brass work. These bronzes are particularly suitable for metals. In a very large hotel in a western city there is a gold and white bridal chamber. The room is finished in white, with gilded moldings, window and door casings; the door panels are gilded, and all the furniture is gold and white. It is the work of the proprietor's busy little wife, and all the gilding was done with Diamond Gold Paint. There are very few articles of furniture or fancy work that are not improved by artistic touches of gold. The above are simply a few hints upon the uses of Diamond Paints, and any lady of taste and refinement will find them to be just what she wants. Colored Lacquer or Transpar- ent Paint. Beautiful colored lacquers or varnishes can be made from the Diamond Dyes by simply dissolving a very small amount of the color needed in white shellac varnish. In this way a handsome colored coating, perfectly trans- parent, can be put on any object wanted, whether of metal, glass, wood, or stone. For a black varnish, use the shoe dressing for The fQllowing Diamond Dyes are those that I 31 can ')e uied for this purpose: Magenta, Eosine (Pink), Blue for Cotton (the dye only), Yellow for Cotton (the dye only), Violet, Purple, Bismarck, Green. To prepare the colored varnish or lacquer, take about one-half tea- spoonful of the dye powder and stir it up thoroughly with a tablespoonful of white shel.ac varnish; then add it to one-fourth pint of the varnish. If the color is too deep add more varnish; if not deep enough add more dye in the same manner. It will take some time for the dye to thoroughly dissolve in the varnish. Any desired combination of these colored lacquers can be made to obtain different shades: magenta and yellow for scarlet; bis- marck and violet for brown; green and bismarck for olive; etc. White shellac varnish is the best to use for these colors, but for the dark colors the orange shellac can be used. Mahogany Varnish for Wicker Work, ETC. — Wicker chairs in mahogany color are very popular now, and many chairs that have become yellow and dark with age can be made as good as new, and in the best of style. This varnish, which by one application will give a handsome effect on any article of wicker or wood work, may be made as follows : Dissolve one-half package of Orange, one- fourth package of Magenta, and one-sixth package each of Blue for Cotton (the dye only), and Yellow for Cotton (the dye only), in one pint of good shellac varnish. Apply with a soft bristle or camel's hair brush. Coloring: Easter Egfgs. The practice of having these beautiful tokens on Easter morning has spread through all Christian lands. From Diamond Dyes the portion of a package of dye to color a dozen eggs, and the balance of the package can be used for some other purpose. Boil fresh, clean, white eggs ten minutes. Add a little dissolved dye, any color wanted, and a tea- spoonful of strong vinegar to a pint of water, then put in the eggs and let them remain until of the desired shade. An easier way, and one preferred by many on several accounts, is to pour a little of each color of dye into a small dish. Boil the eggs, and while yet hot, roll them in the dyes. They dry instantly and are ready for use, while the dye does not penetrate into the egg. White eggs may be painted in flowers with Diamond Dyes, by applying the dye while the egg is warm. To make an egg in three colors : As soon as taken from the boiling water paste a strip of paper around the centre. (It will dry soon). Then dip one end into one color, and the other into another. When cold, place the egg in warm water and wash off the paper. In the same way colored eggs can have white stars, crosses, etc., upon them. Pretty decora- tions can be made upon them with Gold or Silver Diamond Paints. Nam'?* can be written with either gum water or varnish, and sprinkled with gold or silver. Whole eggs can be painted with the Diamond Paints, while the eggs are a little warm. The eggs may be eaten with safety after being colored. The Diamond Easter Dyes are prepared expressly for the purpose of coloring eggs, and four colors are put in one package and sold for ten cents. No. i Easter Dyes contain four light colors: yellow, pink, blue, green; and No. 2 Easter Dyes contain four dark colors: red, violet, orange, and dark green. Diamond Easter Dyes are sold by most druggists. i-«evef ict an Easter pass without eggs coi- « a trifling expense, as it takes but a small ored with the Diamond Easter Dyes. 32 « Sheepskin Rugs. Most beautiful rugi can be made of sheep- skins with the wool on. They can be dyed with Diamond Dyes in any shade. A charm- ing one has an orange center, and around it is sewed an eight inch border of olive green wool. Any other combination could be made. They are the easiest made and warmest rugs imaginable. They can be made by sewing small squares of different colors together like patchwork. In sewing them, sew the seams over and over loosely, so they will lie flat. The following is the method of coloring large skins : Stretch tightly upon a flat board, skin side next the board, and tack it down firmly. It can then be turned upside down, and by proper appliances, lowered just far enough into the bath so the skin will not touch the dye. Let it stay fifteen minutes, and if not dark enough, dip again. Or two persons can stand opposite each other, each holding two corners, and dip the wool side into the dye bath, moving gently until all parts are colored alike. for use. Moisten your grasses and flowers i" warm water, and dip them m the hot solution until the desired shade is obtained. Then hang up by the stems and dry carefully. Stamping Powder. The white powder is usually oxide of zinc, but fine whiting or fine chalk will do. To this powder add enough Violet Diamond Dye, powdered fine, to give it a distinct color. If to be used for wet stamping, wet up with benzine (away from the fire); if for dry stamping, mix with each ounce of the colored powder one-eighth ounce of powdered resin, and pass a hot iron over the work, fixing it by the heat. To Color Grasses, Everlasting Flowers, Etc. Some flowers will color in hot water like other articles, but when the petals are waxy, or when grasses are covered with a hard surface that the dye cannot penetr||£, use the follow- ing process: Dissolve two cinces of borax and two ounces of bleached gum shellac in a quart of water, by boiling. It should be boiled fully fifteen minutes to dissolve the shellac. If it should not wholly dissolve, strain the solution. Then dissolve a package of Diamond Dye (the color you wish) in a pint of water, and add enough of this solution to give the shade desired, and it is then ready Diamond Paints. Gold, Silver, Copper, Bronze, Artist's Black.— For gilding, silvering, bronzing, cop- pering, and ebonizing fancy baskets, frames, emblems, mottoes, furniture, household orna- ments, statuettes, repairing gold frames, and all other gilded work, etc. Diamond Paints are needed in every house- hold. Gas fixtures, lamps, statuettes, furniture, and many other articles can be made to look like new with their aid. None of the fifty cent paints surpass them, either in quality or quantity, and but few are as good. With a ten cent package of one of the Paints and a bottle of Diamond Paint Liquid, even a child can double the worth of many a household ornament. For ebonizing furniture or any wooden or metallic article. Diamond Artist's Black has no equal. Try it over those scratches which mar your ebony furniture. Fancy baskets can be painted with any shade desired, or with a combination. 33 Colors Fast to Light and Washing, The Greatest Improvements Ever Made Iil Dyes for Cotton. The Fast Diamond Dyes for Cotton. Fast Dark Giaen for Cotton, Fast Navy Blue For Cotton, Fast Orange for Cotton, Fast Yellow for Cotton, Fast Garnet for Cotton, Fast Turkey Red for Cotton, Fast Cardinal Red for Cotton, Fast Purple for Cotton, Fast Brown for Cotton, Fast Pink for Cotton, Fast Stocking Black for Cotton. These Fast Diamond Dyes for Cotton are new discoverie and are as superior to other dyes in brilliancy, strength, and fast- ness as the electric light is to candles. If used once you car never be induced to take anything else. They can be fully depended on to hold their color when exposed to light, and will not crock or wash out. ** ii > IP^ Insist upon your dealer selling you the Fast Diamond Dyes; ii kinds for cotton and 30 for wool. 10 cents a package. Sample color card free. WELLS, RICHARDr^,ON & CO., Burlington, Vt. i 34 LACTATED FOOD 5aves Babit^s' Lives. I '! Nearly 82 per cent, of the children who die under two years of age, die from diseases which have their origin in defective and improper foods. The great success that has attended the use of Lactatod Food, proves conclusively that it is the only pure food in the world— the only true nourisher for all weak, puny, cross and peevish babies. Lactated Food protects the baby from the evil and deadly effects of cholera infantum, diarrhoea and dysentery ; it is a builder of flesh, bone and muscle, and promotes health, vigor, good-nature and happiness. Eminent physicians testify to the remarkable success of Lactated Food in their own families. We wish every mother to give Lactated Food a trial, and will gladly send a full-sized package free to any mother who has not used it. Send your full address to 200 Mountain St., Montreal. "OUR HOME," It the brightest, purest and best monthly family paper published in the Dominioa, It is sent to any address for 2$ cents a year. It giv^ a larger amount of intcicsting reading matter than is furnished by any other of CANADA'S publications at double the cost. The best families are subscribing for it, and consider it a wonderful triumph of journalism. You cannot afford to be without this NEW MONTHLY paper. Your boys and girls will need it ; it will interest, instruct and do them good. Every wife and mother should subscribe for and read this new and popular PAPER ! Please note the following offer :— We will send to every yearly subscriber Our Home for one year, as well as a package of "Our Home" Ink Powder, for making sixteen ounces of fine black ink, and a pg-kage of Black Diamond Dye for Wool. This gives you the cheapest paper in the world. Send in your name at once with 2$ cents in money or postage stamps to # WELLS & RICHARDSON CO., aoo Mountain St., MontreaL Jiy This offer holds good for 1893 and 1894 ^^7- When writing be particular to mention ** Rug Book Offer, i$