Many do not understand the great difference in embroidery silks, and
often inferior kinds are sold them by unscrupulous clerks. Corticelli
Silk is smooth working, of high luster, and is free from imperfections
in stock or finish, while the dyes used are remarkable for brilliancy
and absolute fastness of color. Magnificent mills, modern machinery,
and sixty years experience in manufacturing silk enable the Nonotuck
Silk Company to produce as perfect embroidery silk and floss as can be
made.
Many realize only too late that they should have been more careful
in buying the right brand of Wash Silk. The old saying, "The best
is always the cheapest," comes back to those who have had some
disappointing experience with a patiently worked centerpiece or doily
which failed to stand the final test--the test of washing. Corticelli
Silk took the highest award at the Cotton States and International
Exposition held at Atlanta, Ga., 1895, as well as first prize at the
Chicago World's Fair, 1893, and at the California Midwinter Exposition,
1894. Besides this we call your attention to the large number of well
known needlework authorities that recommend its use. These facts alone
should induce you to give Corticelli a trial in case you have never
done so.
For fine and delicate shading on any smooth closely woven material,
especially linen, use Corticelli Filo Silk (sometimes called Filo
Floss). Owing to its fine size and loose twist a skillful worker can
blend the shades with the utmost nicety, so that flowers, leaves,
fruits, or other objects are most faithfully reproduced.
Corticelli Persian Floss is a silk of two strands, loosely twisted and
of high luster, for work where two threads of Filo would ordinarily
be required. Persian Floss is used extensively for the buttonhole
edges of doilies and centerpieces, first padding the scallops with a
few stitches as shown in Fig. VI _a_, page 17; or the buttonhole edge
may be worked without padding as desired. Corticelli Filo Silk and
Corticelli EE Embroidery Silk are also sometimes used for this work.
Corticelli Roman Floss is somewhat coarser than Corticelli Persian
Floss and is intended for embroidering large designs on heavier
material. Curtains, counterpanes, and cushions are worked with this
thread, although for very bold designs Corticelli Rope Silk is
preferable.
Corticelli Etching Silk, as its name implies, is for outline embroidery
and etching. Corticelli Lace Embroidery Silk should be used for Honiton
and lace work of similar nature. Corticelli EE Embroidery Silk is best
suited for general fancy work and crazy patchwork. This silk is quite
hard twisted and is therefore very durable.
_To Wash Embroidered Linens._[1]
By L. BARTON WILSON.
Avoid all risk of rust or stain by using an earthen wash bowl in
preference to a tin or wooden tub. Wash by dipping in suds as hot as
the hand can comfortably bear, made with "Ivory" or any other pure soap.
If there are any spots on the article wash them out first, before
wetting the entire piece. Beyond this do not rub or fold, but plunge
the linen up and down in the suds. If it is very much soiled or yellow,
a half teaspoonful of borax may be added without the least danger to
the silk. Carefully avoid washing powders and cheap soaps. When clean
rinse by plunging up and down in several tepid waters or until the
water remains perfectly clear. If the soap is not entirely removed by
rinsing, the linen will yellow quickly.
Dry partially by laying between two soft cloths or towels for a few
minutes. A new and very successful method for drying and pressing,
especially small sized linens, is as follows: Lay them close and smooth
on a marble slab or board. The woof and warp should be drawn perfectly
straight and the stitches of the embroidery should be brought into
position--that is, so they will lie as placed when worked. To dry a
large article, place a sheet on the carpet and pin the piece through
it to the carpet straight by the edges, stretching a little. The drying
may be hastened by fanning or by holding a hot iron within half an inch
of the surface. Doilies pinned to a board or frame may be dried in a
minute by holding them in front of a register, and thus treated they
should need no pressing with an iron.
Larger linens may be placed on a fine sheet, face downward, and
"touched up" with a moderately hot iron; the marks of the pins may
be removed by dampening and pressing. Imperfections in the linen's
smoothness may be dampened but the silk should not be wet. The hem will
likely need firm pressing; fringe should be brushed and lightly combed
out; it will then likely need a little trimming.
All Corticelli Silk will remain fast in color if these directions for
washing are followed, and the laundered embroidery will appear no
different from that just finished. The peculiar luster, or bloom, of
this beautiful silk will be retained if the new method of quick drying,
under tension, is carried out.
To set embroidery for the first time, dampen the linen and silk on
the wrong side and dry quickly before removing from the hoop. In all
cases of fabrics that are not washable set embroidery by pasting on the
reverse side.
_The Size of Needle to Use._