Effective Dress Trimmings that Can be Made at Home - Cuffs Made from Satin Ribbon and

Insertion - Materials Required - Instructions for Working

A New and handsome dress trimming can be made from the narrow ribbon used so extensively for ribbon embroidery, in conjunction with a mercerised thread, such as "Gem Brighteye" or fine "Ososilkie," to correspond with the colour of the ribbon as well as the garment with which it is to be worn. It is particularly suitable for serge, so that a dress made of this material, and trimmed in this manner, would be both smart and effective in appearance.

It takes the form of an insertion, and is first worked on a metal pin, such as is used for hairpin work (see page 4438), and as these can be obtained in various sizes no difficulty should be experienced in producing any width of trimming required. The first illustration shows a very useful and suitable width of insertion for letting in above the hem of a skirt, also over the shoulders and on the sleeves of a Magyar blouse.

The second illustration is a suggestion for a cuff, formed of three strips of satin ribbon, for either a three-quarter or full length sleeve. The top and bottom strips measure an inch wide, the centre strip an inch and a quarter; but these measurements can be regulated to individual taste. If strips of the same material as the sleeves are preferred instead of ribbon, the effect would be equally satisfactory.

Insertion for Cuff. Take a pin seven-eighths of an inch wide, a crochet hook size 1 1/2, and some "giant" ribbon.

Holding the prongs of the pin upward, keep an inch or two of the end of ribbon under the left thumb on the left prong. Pass the ribbon under and over this prong, then under and over the right prong. Make a stitch in the centre of the pin by putting the hook under the ribbon and drawing the working strand on to the hook, and then working a stitch. Work a d. cr. stitch, taking in the end of the ribbon under the left thumb. This will form two loops, one on each prong. * 1 ch., turn pin, taking the ribbon round the prong; draw the ribbon through the loop. Repeat from * until the pin is full. Take the work off the pin, slip the pin through the two last loops, and proceed as before.

Wide insertion for trimming a serge dress. It is quickly made, and the result is both novel and pretty

When turning the ribbon round the pin, care should be taken to see that it does not twist, also that the stitches are kept in the exact centre of the work, as they are somewhat liable to become one-sided.

On completion of the necessary length, work an edging on both sides in the mercerised thread as follows:

Cuff in satin ribbbon, with hairpin-work insertion carried out in narrow ribbon. An effective decoration for sleeves

Secure the thread into the first loop.

* 12 ch., I d. cr. into the ninth ch. from hook. Put the hook under the chain, and work I d. cr., thus strengthening the loop. 3 ch., I d. cr. into the next ribbon loop, and continue from *, bearing in mind to take up the loops in their correct order.

Finish off the edges of the insertion by working 2 d. cr. into the first chain loop,

* 5 ch., 2 d. cr. into the next chain loop. Repeat from *.

Carefully run the insertion on the strips of ribbon at the inner line of chain and again by the outer, using silk of the exact shade. This will leave a pretty open-work centre of the narrow ribbon.

Wide Insertion In Ribbon Trimming:

The wide insertion is worked on a pin one and five-eighths of an inch wide, with a crochet hook size 1 1/2, and "giant" ribbon.

Commence by twisting the ribbon in and out of the pin as described for the insertion for cuff. I d. cr. into left-hand loop; turn, taking the ribbon round the pin; * I d. cr. into d. cr. of previous row, I d. cr. into left hand loop. Turn, and repeat from *.

When the pin is full take the work off, slip the prongs through the last two loops, and continue working as before. After a sufficient quantity has been done, work an edging on both sides in mercerised thread of 2 tr. into each loop, with 6 ch. between. Sew to the dress by the lines of chain.

This kind of trimming is very suitable for children's frocks. A white or cream serge, cashmere, or other woollen material finished with a trimming of cream ribbon work would be extremely dainty and effective. Or, if a touch of colour were desired, the ribbon work might be carried out in pale blue, or the mercerised thread used might be in that shade.