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How to Make Home Beautiful (Patten, 1884)

1884
Wilene Smith Legacy Project
New York City, New York, United States
How to Make Home Beautiful by Mrs. J. L. Patten in 1884 is a 34-page booklet, plus cover, featuring "A Descriptive List of Patterns for Embroidery" and describes different types of embroidery (not included here). The "Patchwork" chapter shown here describes crazy patchwork, Log Cabin patchwork, three pieced designs with embroidered embellishments, and finally two pages of embroidery stitches.
PATCHWORK.
There seems to be, just at present, quite a furore [sic] in the feminine mind for what is called "crazy patchwork." To those who are unacquainted with the name and the style of work, very little would be understood from the name given, but the effects produced by those who have skilled fingers in the work are really very beautiful.

All kinds and colors of silks, satins, velvet, plush, and colored ribbons, either plain or brocaded, are brought together in one piece of work, creating the most fascinating mosaic effect.

[Caption:] BLOCK OF CRAZY PATCHWORK.

[page] 26 HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL.

These pieces, of the different colors and materials, are taken in every shape conceivable, are basted to blocks of muslin, the edges slightly turned in and then caught down with any or all of the different fancy stitches which may be found illustrated in this article, and in every color of embroidery silk or floss, and when finished the result is both bewildering and brilliant.

Upon the small scraps of silk thus oddly arranged can be worked, painted, or applied, birds, flowers, Japanese figures, fans, monograms, Greenaway figures, &c., &c., in fact anything that taste can suggest or ingenuity dictate; the greater the variety of shapes, shades and colors which can be introduced, the more oriental in effect is the work when completed.

The great variety of shapes and color, with the combination of stitches and figures is what has given this work the name of crazy patchwork, but a better and more appropriate name would be

[Caption:] BLOCK OF LOG CABIN PATCHWORK.

HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL. [page] 27

oriental or mosaic work. There are a great variety of uses to which this work is put with very pleasing effects. It is used as borders for portierres, table-covers, lambrequins, cushions for chairs, sofa pillows, as well as for quilts and spreads.

The blocks can be made from nine inches to any size which can be conveniently worked, but of course should be uniform in size for one piece of work.

Much depends in this work, as in all other fancy work, upon the taste and ingenuity of the worker, and on the neatness with which the work is executed. If a quilt is made, it is much more effective to have it bordered with a dark band of some solid colored material, such as satin, silk, or plush, it sets off the work when done as the frame does a picture, and heightens the effect of the brilliant coloring.

An illustration accompanies this article, which will aid the novice in this work, but after two or three blocks have been arranged no such help will be necessary.

While writing on patchwork, perhaps a few hints on other styles may be acceptable. The "log cabin," which at one time was so much used, is still very handsome, and can be made in such a variety of shading, and of such small scraps of material that it will always be popular. We give here a few hints and an illustration of a block in this style of work.

To make this patchwork; take first a block of muslin of the size you may desire, and baste upon this a thin wadding; this, when the

[page] 28 HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL.

silk strips are sewed through to the lining, secures it and makes all the extra thickness which is desirable in the quilt. If one is to use a quilted lining or any heavy fabric, like flannel or Canton flannel, it is not necessary to baste the wadding in each block.

In the middle of the block of muslin thus prepared, place a two inch square of black velvet or silk, or any other color which you may desire to use for the central block, baste it to the lining so it shall not slip or be misplaced by working. Cut your strips of silk about an inch or more in width, and sew upon the opposite sides of the block of velvet. After this is done turn it over and baste down to the lining, and sew your next strips upon the other two sides of the middle block, leaving the strips of silk long enough to cover the ends of the silk which has already been sewed on. Then turn over and baste as before, and sew your next strips to the ends you first sewed upon, and so on, alternating from one side to the other. In the cut given a clearer idea may perhaps be gained than by a description of words. The shading may be done in a variety of ways--diagonally or straight across, or there may be no shading attempted, but the colors placed hit or miss, which makes really very pretty patchwork when it is not convenient to have colors enough to handsomely shade a quilt.

Another style of patchwork which is still more simple for spreads than even the log cabin, is made in imitation of the Roman ribbon

HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL. [page] 29

so much used for sashes, the strips of silk being sewed directly across; no description is needed, as every one knows what a Roman ribbon is like. A very good effect is made by alternating the Roman stripes, which should be about six inches in width, with a plain stripe of black silk or satin about four inches in width. No embroidery is needed with this style of work, but it is quite an improvement to cover the long seams between the stripes with narrow black velvet ribbon. The short seams running across the

[Caption:] DESIGN IN PATCHWORK. (NO. 1.)
Contributor's note: This engraving, or portions thereof, has also been found in Farm and Home (Phelps, Springfield, MA), June 1, 1887, and Farm and Fireside (Crowell, Springfield, OH), June 1, 1890.

[page] 30 HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL.

[Caption:] No. 2.

Roman stripes should be pressed open to give it the appearance of one continuous piece of ribbon.

We give also cuts of two or three other styles of patchwork, which can be used with either silk or cotton goods. Old ladies who were taught to make patchwork in early life, particularly enjoy this kind of work, which is simple and easy.

In the design marked No. 1, there are three distinct patterns for the work. One is a perfect square of five inches, another square of two and a half inches, and the diamond marked A, which we give full size. This design can be made of two shades of satin, say, for instance, of old gold and maroon, which will make a very pretty combination for a sofa pillow, chair cushion or bed spread; the pieces can then each be embroidered as seen in the diagram, using a lighter shade of maroon silk upon the gold and pale blue upon

HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL. [page] 31

the maroon. When the embroidery is done, it is necessary to line each piece of silk with muslin. If the work is put together in over-and-over stitches on the wrong side, the stitches will not be visible, and the work will bear greater wear.

In designs marked Nos. 2 and 3 will be found other pretty styles of patchwork, either for silk or cotton goods. If cotton goods are used, no embroidery is advisable, as such work does not bear washing.

The large hectagon block seen in the designs given, should have each of its sides exactly two and a half inches in length. Perhaps the most simple way to get this would be to draw a perfect circle of five inches in diameter, which can be done with a pair of compasses; then divide the circumference into six equal parts, drawing a straight line from point to point of the divisions.

The diagrams given, and marked B and C, are both used in work illustrated by cut No. 2, while only the hectagon block and the diagram B are used in No. 3.

[Caption:] No. 3.

[page] 32 HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL.

[Caption:] STITCHES FOR CRAZY PATCHWORK.

HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL. [page] 33

[Caption:] STITCHES FOR CRAZY PATCHWORK.

[page] 34 HOW TO MAKE HOME BEAUTIFUL.

These designs are both pretty made in silk or satin, or combined with velvet, and embroidered with silk; but they also make very useful designs for cotton spreads when it is desirable to combine two colors.

ODDS AND ENDS.
Many persons who have done a great variety of fancy work will often find that they have a quantity of odds and ends on their hands, of velvets, plush, and cloth of various kinds, and of silks, filloselle, &c. A very good way to use these, is to take some kind of cloth which is good in color, such as serge, for a foundation, and upon this design a branch of oak, with large acorns, a branch of the orange tree with oranges, or the chestnut with its bursting chestnut pods. Make the fruit or nuts of the velvet or plush, and raise them by padding them underneath, edge either with a small gold cord, or silk in couching stitch. The leaves can be made of small scraps of cloth which otherwise would be thrown away. Curtains can be made in this way, or chair backs, table covers, carriage rugs, bags for scraps, &c., &c. A little taste used, and a little skill in arranging, will convert these scraps into useful and beautiful work.

Contributor's note: According to various sources, Mrs. Joseph L. Patten and the Patten Publishing Company also published Designs and Patterns for Needlework in 1873, and Manual of Needlework in 1883.

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