Guest Towel

Materials

Huckaback (Chap. I, Par. 20 or 47) or

Damask (Chap. I, Par. 13 or 45).

3/4 yard linen toweling. Embroidery cotton. Embroidery needle. Padding cotton. Thread No. 70. Needle No. 8.

Introductory Statement

As the name indicates, the guest towel is designed especially for the use of guests. It is made smaller than the ordinary towel; when a towel is likely to be used only a few times it is very convenient, because it is easily laundered.

The guest towel should be made of the same kind of material as other fine towels, woven in a narrower width; huckaback or damask linen are the materials generally used. The ends are usually finished with double hemstitching, embroidered scallops, crochet or some other kind of handwork; the body of the towel is also frequently embroidered or decorated in some way.

The guest towel shown in the lesson is finished with double hemstitched hems and marked with an embroidered initial. Cross-stitch work is used very effectively in embroidering this kind of towel.

References:

Home Problems from a New Standpoint, C. L. Hunt. Arrangement of Home Furnishings, Cornell Bulletin, Ithaca, N. Y.

Suggestions For Optional Modification

Suggestions For Optional Modification 103

The Stork Guest Towel

No. 1. The ends of this towel are finished with embroidered scallops. The stork design is worked (on one end only) with French knots in different colors.

Fancy Guest Towel

No. 2. This towel is finished with double hemstitched hems at the ends. The lower edge of one end is finished with a narrow crocheted edging; the lower edge of the other hem is finished with the same kind of edging combined with a square of filet lace in each corner.

Fancy Guest Towel

No. 3. The ends of this towel are finished with hemstitched hems on the edges of which narrow crocheted lace is sewed as shown in the illustration.

Fancy Guest Towel

No. 4. A band of tatting worked in a delicate color is placed above one hem of this towel. The other hem is finished with hemstitching. The embroidered initial corresponds with the color of the tatting.

Working Directions For Guest Towel

Preparing Material

As you are using regular toweling which has selvage edges you will not need to give them any further attention. Straighten one end of the towel (Chap. II, Par. 102) from this end measure down on the selvage the length desired for the towel (3/4 yard is used in this lesson). The length of the towel may be varied but it should always be kept in proportion to its width.

Preparing Hems

The ends of this towel are to be finished with double hemstitched hems 1" wide. Measure up from one end 2 1/4" (double the Width of the hem, plus the first turning). Draw a thread. To prepare for the hemstitching draw three or four more threads toward the center of the towel. Fold, pin and baste the hem in place with even basting. Double hemstitch the hem (Chap. II, Par. 116). Finish the other end of the towel in the same manner.

NOTE: A very attractive towel may be made by substituting a hem of colored linen for the hem of white linen. This may be set on with so-called machine hemstitching. Some machines are provided with an attachment for hemstitching, which may be used for this purpose. The following method may be used satisfactorily on any machine: Lay about two thicknesses of blotting paper on the end of the towel, even with the edge. Lay a strip of colored linen (twice the width desired plus 1/2" for underturnings) over this with its straightened edge even with the end of the towel.

Baste, and using a loose top tension on the sewing machine, stitch the two edges together (stitching through the material and the blotters) with a 1/4" seam (Chap. II, Par. 164), remove bastings, trim the blotter very close to the seam, or bend it and tear it away along the line of stitching. Pull the other edge of the blotting paper away; this will leave the two materials sewed together with very loose stitches.

Turn the raw edges back from the stitching onto the material, pulling the loose stitches between the two pieces of material straight. Finish the raw edge turned back on the towel by turning it under and sewing it down with hemming stitches (Chap. II, Par. 114). Turn in the outside raw edge of the colored piece and fold it over to the hemstitched edge. Baste it in place and hem down or stitch on the edge with the sewing machine.

The Initial

An Old English letter was used for the initial on the towel shown in this lesson. For your own towel you may select any style initial you desire (the initial should not be more than 1 1/2" long). It should be placed above the hem about 1" in the center of the towel. If you have designed your own initial, transfer it with carbon paper. To do this, cut a piece of carbon paper a trifle larger than the initial, place it carbon side down on the towel, pin the pattern for the initial over this and draw around it with a lead pencil. Remove the carbon paper and pattern and work the initial.

If a commercial pattern is used transfer it to the towel by laying it rough side down in the position desired on the towel and pressing it with a hot iron.

Pad this initial, before working it, rounding it a little in the center. Work it with the satin stitch (Chap. II, Par. 131).

The Initial 104