Class _T rJX^ Book ^.j ^ 7 CopyrightN^. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. '/ The ^'^ 'Art Interchange ART WORK LEAFLETS. Silk Rag Curtains. No. I. 1 5 NEW YORK: The Art Interchange Publishing Co., 140 Nassau Street. «^^ Copyrighted 1880 by ^.wy Arthur B. Turnure — William Whitlock, Publishers ahd Proprietors Addressy 140 Nassau Street^ New York. $ 2.00 ..4 Year i n Advance . THE ART INTERCHANGE, VOL. IV. JANUARY— JUNE, 1880. I. DEVOTED TO THE PROMOTION OF THE POLITE ARTS IN AMERICA. II. UNIQUE IN GIVING THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION IN ART WORK. III. THE LEADING AUTHORITY ON DECORATIVE ART. IV. THE ONLY ART NEWSPAPER. Atte?ition is invited to the excellence of the Book Reviews and Literary News, the Dramatic and Musical Criticisms, and the Notes and Queries. PUBLISHER'S NOTE. The publishers call attention with pleasure to the features of The Art Interchange for 1880, as enumerated in the prospectus. In order to make the journal both entertaining and invaluable to every reader interested in. art, latest topics are discussed in the most at- tractive manner. Specialists write its "Class Room," its "Book Reviews" and its "Notes and Queries." "The Morning Room," is bright and pleasing. The illustrations of the stage are peculiarly original and novel in style, and the subject of art work is effectively treated by fresh patterns, designs, and instructive text. The traits of leading artists are exemplified by their own sketches, and in every portion of the journal there is either valuable news, drawings, or criticisms, referring to the progress of the polite arts. 16 ' /^05O Silk Rag Curtains. SMONG the decorations of a modern room none, perhaps, are more important than the portiere. Though they often mar a room by not harmonising either in color, or material, or in being badly propor- tioned, they may almost in themselves make a room by hiding bare ugly woodwork, and shutting out draughts, by pleasing color effects, and by giving an indefinable sense of comfort and cosiness that delights and attracts. For these reasons they are deservedly popular, and, with the general interest in decorative art, that seeks for means as well as ends, have warranted the issue of this leaflet, that gives directions how to obtain a serviceable, effec- tive portiere, with comparatively slight expenditure, by utilising silk rags. Portieres, made in this way, were de- scribed in The Art Interchange of July 23d, 1879, by a writer whose rooms had been furnished with them. The number of queries that the short notice elicited has suggested this publication as the first of a proposed se- ries on similar subjects of art work for home workers. Silk rags are so abundant in every household, their 4 collection and assortment such a comparatively easy and pleasant task, the cost of manufacture so slight, and the appearance and effect of the finished work so artistic and rich, that the general interest manifested in the subject which we have alluded to, is not to be wondered at. If the following very plain directions are carefully studied and followed, no difficulty should be found. Care has been taken to make the description both accurate and extended. COLLECTING SCRAPS. Every scrap of silk can be made use of, whether soiled or fresh, pieces of narrow ribbon, old cravats and sashes, crepe, ribbons, etc. PREPARING THE STRIPS. The scraps having been collected, cut the silk into strips from about quarter of an inch to half an inch wide, no narrower or wider. The longer they are the less work there will be in sewing them together. Unevenly cut and irregularly shaped pieces, bias and straight, broad and narrow, can all be sewn together, as it appears to make no difference when they are woven. There is no necessity for a chain. After sewing the""pieces strongly together, by machine, if desired (and be sure they are strongly sewn), either with flat'seam, or hemmed together with thick seam, roll them into balls, being par- ticular to keep each color and shade in a ball by itself. After making a number of balls, send them to a weaver. QUANTITY REQUIRED. The number of balls necessary must be determined by the size of the portiere, or curtain, desired. It is of little consequence how many yards there are in a ball, as the weaver is obliged to use his own discretion in dividing the balls when making his pattern. It will take one and a half pounds of silk to make a yard of material, three quarters of a yard or a yard wide, which is the width of almost all looms. Weigh the balls, allowing for this pro- portion, and the amount necessary can thus be ascer- tained. DIRECTIONS TO WEAVER. Very few weavers have looms wider than a yard, which makes a portiere quite wide enough for an ordinary door, hanging the stuff on each side of the door. If half a yard more than the height of the door be allowed, and that half yard pieced, so that it hangs over the rest of the curtain, it makes a simple and effective finish. If any difficulty is found in combining the colors effectively, tell the weaver how you wish the colors placed, and the width of the stripes desired, or take a handsome Roman scarf, if procurable, for a guide, and get the colors as nearly like it as possible. The weaver has to arrange the lengths, and should be directed to copy the arrange- ment and combination of colors as nearly as possible. There is no worsted filling ; the strips are folded in nar- row bands by the weaver to suit himself. The woof is of linen thread, and hardly shows. PRICE FOR WEAVING. The weaver's charges should not be over 30 cents a yard, and, for a moderate sized portiere, the total cost of weaving and expressage, or postage, should not exceed $2.50 in all. Certainly no cheaper and better way of utilising the many remnants of silk to be found in every house, otherwise useless and in the way, could be devised. JAMES LISTER, WEAVER, West New Brighton, S. I., New York. Will weave Curtains and Portieres of Silk Rags according to following directions : No amount less than 1 1 lbs. received. No curtains woven other than width of looms, which are jj inches wide. Express charges on all bundles to West Brighton m^ist be prepaid, or the goods zuill not be received from the Express Company. Goods returned C O. D. Price of weaving 28 cents per yard. All bu7tdles must be sent by Woods Express, iSy Washington Street, New York, prepaid through to West New Brighton. .B '04 ^.