Very few think of using the old-fashioned blue or brown denims in house furnishing, and yet in many places it is very durable and really pretty. It makes a neat carpet for a bedroom, study, or any room where there is not too much wear on the carpet. If blue denim is used, it should first be washed, to take away the slight greenish tinge it has when new. A very dainty carpet can be made of this material by working on it in outline, with white cotton cord, clover leaves scattered here and there, two feet or so apart; or two circles overlapping may be worked instead of clover leaves. Such a carpet makes a very dainty covering for the floor of a girl’s room, and being smooth it is very easily swept. Brown denim may be worked in the same way with red or yellow cotton carpet warp.
Denims also make a serviceable rug for the bathroom,which should never be carpeted, by using two pieces of denim of the desired size by using two pieces of denim of the desired size with a few thicknesses of any old worn-out material between them, and running it across on the sewing machine a few times to hold all together. Bind the edge with white tape or turkey-red calico. This rug protects the feet from the cold floor, and is not injured by the wet, but can be hung out in the sun to air and dry.
In these luxurious days, when we must have cushions under our feet, the covers of these cushions should be of some smooth material that will not gather up the dust from the carpet. Denim answers very well when the carpet and other appointments of the room are not too rich. Embroider in outline some large, flowing design in white cord upon blue denim, and finish the edges of the cushion with upholsterer’s white cotton cord. Such a cushion is pretty covered with Japanese embroidery, so called. This consists simply of zigzag lines, changing the color of the yarn at almost every at almost every turn.
An old, light-colored, cane-seated chair, minus the seat, I saw made quite new and pretty by a coat of varnish and a seat of blue denim. One piece of denim was stretched across the seat and tacked securely. Then a second piece was tacked down on three sides, the space between stuffed with excelsior, and the fourth side tacked, brass-headed tacks being used all around. The seat was then upholstered, or tufted, with stout twine and buttons made of little moles covered with white canton flannel woolly side out.
Another place where this material is very useful is in making school bags. Cut a piece of blue denim fourteen by twenty-four inches. On one half work in white cotton, in stem stitch, the initials or monogram of the one for whom it is intended. Double together and sew in the form of a bag. Bind the edges with red tape, and use the same, double and stitched together, for handles for the bag.
This bag is neat and durable, and can be washed without spoiling its appearance.