The Use of Galon and Gold Thread - A Lace Purse Lined with Silk - An Automatic

Fastening for a Crochet Purse

The bridge-player likes a dainty purse, and three that can be quickly made are here given. The first is made of a fancy galon in lovely colourings, with some gold metallic threads running through it. A quarter of a yard is required, which should first be faced on the wrong side with soft brocade or satin ribbon, and tacked along the edges, except at the end which is to turn over to form the flap, where it must be slip-stitched. A piece 3 1/2 inches deep is then turned up on the right side to form a pocket, and oversewn closely to the edges.

Get a quarter of a yard of gold bobble fringe. Fray the braid on which the bobbles are hanging, so that they will slip off, and sew four on to the bottom of the purse at intervals. A fifth is used as a fastener, and a little piece of cord sewn along the edge of the flap forms a loop to go over it. Stitch on to the lining of the flap a piece more narrow cord, sufficiently long to pass around the neck, and allow the purse to tuck into the belt, and your task is complete.

A second very dainty bridge purse is formed of a couple of white guipure lace medallions, lined with pale blue, pink, or mauve silk or satin, and strung on a narrow ribbon to match. The medallions are bought by the yard, and should be about 3 3/4 inches long and 2 1/2 inches across.

Cut out two little pieces of lino of the same size and shape as the medallions. Cover them with the silk or satin, slipstitching it around the edges. Turn in the top point of the one with pale-coloured satin or silk and finished with a tassel and jewelled button which is to form the front of the purse. Place the two pieces together, and oversew them around the edge. Be careful to use the neatest of stitches and make your work as strong as the fragility of the material used will allow. Coins are weighty, and soon wear fabrics into holes - a fatal result of careless needlecraft, and one that may spoil an evening's pleasure.

A novel bridge purse made of fancy galon, decorated with small gold balls and provided with a long neck-cord

A dainty purse made of two medallions of guipure lace, lined

Now cover the purse with the medallions. Tuck in the point of the upper one, and slip-stitch the silk on the inner side of the purse over it. Make a little worked loop on the flap to pass over a jewelled button. On the end of the purse sew a little tassel, made by putting two narrow pieces of cord together, with a thread between them. Wind some cotton round and round the cords. Tie the thread round the several thicknesses of cotton at the top edge of the cards, pass a pair of scissors between the cords at the lower edge, and cut the threads. You now have your tassel finished, except for the "waist," which is made by winding a piece of thread around near the top. A narrow satin ribbon, finished with little loops or rosettes, is sewn on at either side of the top.

This ribbon should, of course, be long, to serve as a neck-chain for the bag. It will look best if of the same shade as the silk lining of the purse, since this is visible through the meshes of the lace.

As the beauty of these dainty trifles depends greatly upon their immaculate freshness, the work should be done as quickly as possible, and with little handling.