You will never guess what the top of this droll little basket is made
of, unless we tell you. It is one of those Japanese cuffs of brown
straw which can be bought nowadays for a small price at any of
the Japanese shops. You may embroider a little pattern over
it--diagonally, if you wish to make it look very Japanese-y; line it
with silk or satin, and fasten a small bag of the same material to the
bottom, drawn up with a ribbon bow or a tassel. A band of wide ribbon
is sewed to the top. Grandmamma will find this just the thing to hang
on her arm for holding her knitting-ball, or the knitting itself if
she wishes to lay it aside. This sort of basket also is useful as a
"catch-all" when hung at the side of a dressing-bureau.
[Illustration: JAPANESE HANGING-BASKET OF STRAW AND SILK]