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Show It Makes Cents BY VI JUDGE Dear Readers: I want to tell you how I save money and time by keeping on hand a good supply of yardage. I buy lengths and remnants at bargain prices whenever I see something appealing and useful that I think I can use later. This summer, for example, I got together all the pretty colors of velour and velvet remnants and scraps I'd been collecting for years. These went into a patchwork top for a spread. For its lining I used a luxurious length of heavy green satin purchased several years ago at a once-a-year factory closeout drapery sale, at (Can you believe it?) 45c a yard. By buying ahead at bargain prices all of the materials, including batt and thread, my cost for this king-size, floor-length spread was only about $12. Another example: I thought of discarding a practially new green velour robe because it was too short. However, since it was a gift, I put it back in the closet. A day or so later, while looking through my farics, I spied a remnant of off-white velour. Idea! I dashed to my closet for the robe. Sure enough, the remannt matched the background of a row of embroidery down its front. Luck was with me, there was enough for a wide ruffle around the bottom of the robe, and there was also among my fabrics some green velour. It was a bit darker than the robe, but the color tones matched. A four-inch strip of this at the bottom of the ruffle tied it in so that the robe looked as though it was designed that way. Now I have a warm, comfortable long robe that I throughly enjoy wearing instead of a too-short one that I seldom wore. I love having fabric on hand. It saves money and also lets me sew when I need a gift or am in the mood without taking time to go shopping for the material. My next project is a shirtwaist dress out of a print purchased on sale along time ago. Dear Vi: To preserve the top of a wedding cake, freeze it, dip it in potato white granules, then put it back in the freezer. This prevents the cake from turning yellow, as it will, even in the freezer, unless so treated. Virginia Munroy Dear VI: I like to embroider while visiting with friends, but it's hard not to leave bits of thread on the carpet and upholstered furniture. To avoid this, I keep masking tape in my sewing basket. When I take out my work, I fasten a piece, sticky side out, to a nearby table, chair, or stand, and stick, my bits of thread to it. When the tape gets full, get another piece. This is so much easier than picking up small pieces of thread. At home, I also use the tape everytime I sew. Mabel Dear Vi: The backs of pictures should be inspected from time to time. If there are any holes in the paper backing, fresh pieces should be pasted over them to prevent dust or insects from entering. To clean rhinestone pins and buckles, put them in gasoline for about fifteen minutes, then rub with a flannel cloth. They will look like new. Which reminds me to ask about something that piques my curioristy. Do you know how they clean elaborate crystal chandeliers? Must all of the pieces be taken apart, or what? I don't have one, but when I see all those dangles and strings of crystal beads, I wonder. Fran Berkeley Readers? Can you answer that one? |