Why is apple sauce eaten with pork and goose?
Because it is slightly laxative, and therefore tends to counteract the effects of rich and stimulating meats. The acid of the apples also neutralizes the oily nature of the fat, and prevents biliousness.
1792. Domestic Hints (Thunderstorms Souring Milk)
Why does milk turn sour during thunderstorms?
Because, in an electric condition of the atmosphere, ozone is generated. Ozone is oxygen in a state of great intensity; and oxygen is a general acidifier of many organic substances. Milk may be prevented from becoming sour by boiling it, or bringing it nearly to boiling point, for, as the old proverb says, "Milk boiled is milk spoiled." Heating the milk expels the oxygen.
1793. Domestic Hints (Butter from Churning)
Why does the churning of cream or milk produce butter?
Because the action of stirring, together with a moderate degree of warmth, causes the cells in which the butter is confined to burst; the disengaged fat collects in flakes, and ultimately coheres in large masses.
1794. Domestic Hints (Blue Mould on Cheese)
What is the blue mould which appears sometimes upon cheese?
It is a species of fungus, or minute vegetable, which may be distinctly seen when examined by a magnifying glass.
1795. Domestic Hints (Tenderness in Birds)
Why are some of the limbs of birds more tender than others?
The tenderness or toughness of flesh is determined by the amount of exercise the muscles have undergone. Hence the wing of a bird that chiefly walks, and the leg of a bird that chiefly flies, are the most tender.
1796. Domestic Hints (Tea Curing Headache)
Why does tea frequently cure headache?
Because, by its stimulant action on the general circulation, in which the brain participates, the nervous congestions are overcome.
1797. Domestic Hints (Clothes for Hot Weather)
Why are clothes of smooth and shining surfaces best adapted for hot weather?
Because they reflect or turn back the rays of the sun, which are thus prevented from penetrating them.
1798. Domestic Hints (Loose Clothing Warmer)
Why is loose clothing warmer than tight articles of dress?
Because the loose dress encloses a stratum of warm air which the tight dress shuts out; for the same reason, woollen articles, though not warmer in themselves, appear so, by keeping warm air near to the body.
1799. Domestic Hints (Tea Made Best with Boiling Water)
Why should the water poured upon tea be at the boiling point?
Because it requires the temperature of boiling water to extract the peculiar oil of tea.
1800. Domestic Hints (First Infusion Best)
Why does the first infusion of tea possess more aroma than the second?
Because the first infusion, if the water used is at the boiling temperature, takes up the essential oil of the tea, while the second water receives only the bitter extract supplied by the tannic acid of tea.
1801. Domestic Hints (Sky-Blue for Fair People)
Why does a head-dress of sky-blue become a fair person?
Because light blue is the complementary colour of pale orange, which is the foundation of the blonde complexion and hair.
1802. Domestic Hints (Brighter Colours for Dark People)
Why are yellow, orange, or red colours suitable to a person of dark hair and complexion?
Because those colours, by contrast with the dark skin and hair, show to the greater advantage themselves, while they enrich the hue of black
1803. Domestic Hints (Light Green for Fair Complexions)
Why is a delicate green favourable to pale blonde complexions?
Because it imparts a rosiness to such complexions—red, its complementary colour, being reflected upon green.
1804. Domestic Hints (Light Green Unfavourable for Ruddy Complexions)
Why is light green unfavourable to ruddy complexions?
Because it increases the redness, and has the effect of producing an overheated appearance.
1805. Domestic Hints (Violet Unfavourable for All)
Why are violet draperies unfavourable to every kind of complexion?
Because, reflecting yellow, they augment that tint when it is present in the skin or hair, change blue into green, and give to an olive complexion a jaundiced look.
1806. Domestic Hints (Blue Unsuitable for Brunettes)
Why is blue unsuitable to brunettes?
Because it reflects orange, and adds to the darkness of the complexion.
1807. Domestic Hints (Blue Veils for Complexion)
Why do blue veils preserve the complexion?
Because they diminish the effect of the scorching rays of light, just as the blue glass over photographic studios diminishes the effect of certain rays that would injure the delicate processes of photography
1
.
Footnote 1:
"Housewife's Reason Why," containing upwards of 1,500 Reasons upon every kind of Domestic Subject. London: Houlston and Sons. 2s. 6d.
return to footnote mark
1808. Fancy Needlework
Although there is a continual change in designs and materials for fancy needlework of every description, the fundamental principles on which this kind of work in all its various branches is executed remain the same. These are carefully, though briefly set forth in the following series of instructions on this subject.
1809. Instructions in Crochet
1810. Popularity of Crochet
Perhaps no kind of work has ever attained such popularity as
Crochet
. Whether as a simple trimming, as an elaborate quilt, or as a fabric, almost rivalling Point Lace, it is popular with every woman who has any time at all for fancy work, since it is only needful to understand the stitches, and the terms and contractions used in writing the descriptions of the different designs, to be enabled to work with ease the most beautiful pattern that ever appeared in crochet.
1811. Stitches used in Crochet
These, with their abbreviations, are:
1812. Chain Stitch, ch.
Hook the cotton into a loop, and keep on looping the cotton through a previous stitch till a succession of chains are made to form a foundation.
1813. Single Crochet, s.
This occurs only in working designs; the hook is inserted in a stitch, and the cotton is pulled through that and the cotton which is on the hook at the same time; it thus makes a close tie.
1814. Double Crochet, or dc.
With cotton on the hook insert the latter into a stitch, draw the cotton through; there are now two loops on the hook, take up the cotton on the hook, and with cotton again upon the hook draw it through the two loops.
1815. Long Stitch, or l.
With the loop of last stitch on the hook, twist the cotton over the hook, place the latter through a stitch, draw the cotton through, then put the cotton over the hook, draw the cotton through two loops, and again through two loops.
1816. Double and Treble Long
With the hook in a loop, twist the cotton twice or three times over the hook, and draw the hook successively through either two or three loops.
1817. Square Crochet
Square crochet is also sometimes used. The squares are either open or close. An open square consists of one L, two Ch, missing two on the line beneath, before making the next stitch. A close square has three successive L's. Thus, any given number of close squares, followed by an open, will have so many times three L's; consequently any foundation for square crochet must have a number that can be divided by three.
1818. To Contract an Edge
This may be done in Dc, or long stitch. Twist the thread round the hook as often as required, insert it in the work, and half do a stitch. Instead of finishing it, twist the thread round again, until the same number of loops are on, and work a stitch entirely; so that, for two stitches, there is only one head.
1819. To Join on a Thread
Joins should be avoided as much as possible in open work. In joining, finish the stitch by drawing the new thread through, leaving two inches for both ends, which must be held in.
1820. To Use Several Colours
This is done in single crochet. Hold the threads not in use on the edge of the work, and work them in. Change the colour by beginning the stitch in the old colour, and finishing it with the new, continuing the work with the latter holding in the old. If only one stitch is wanted in the new colour, finish one stitch, and begin the next with it; then change.
1821. To Join Leaves, &c.
When one part of a leaf or flower is required to be joined to another, drop the loop from the hook, which insert in the place to be joined; draw the loop through and continue.
1822. To Work over Cord
Hold the cord in the left hand with the work, and work round it, as you would over an end of thread, working closely. When beads are used they must be first threaded on silk or thread, and then dropped, according to the pattern, on the
wrong
side of the work. This side looks more even than the other: therefore, when bead purses are worked from an engraving, they are worked the reverse of the usual way, viz., from right to left.
1823. Oriental Crochet erroneously termed Tricotee
This is worked by just making a chain the length required. Then put the hook through a loop of the chain, pull the wool through without twisting it, and so continue to the end, keeping all the stitches on the hook.
In returning
, twist the wool over the hook, pull it through the first loop, twist the wool again over the hook, pull it through the next, and so continue to the end. There will now be a row of flat loops, but not on the edge. Work exactly as at the first row which was worked with the chain row, but in this there is no chain row.
1824. Instructions in Netting
1825. Regularity in Netting
The beauty of netting consists in its firmness and regularity. All joins in the thread must be made in a very strong knot; and, if possible, at an edge, so that it may not be perceived.
1826. Implements used in Netting
These are a netting needle and mesh. In filling a netting needle with the material, be careful not to make it so full that there will be a difficulty in passing it through the stitches. The size of the needle must depend on the material to be employed, and the fineness of the work. Steel needles are employed for every kind of netting except the very coarsest. They are marked from 12 to 24, the latter being extremely fine. The fine meshes are usually also of steel; but, as this material is heavy, it is better to employ bone or wooden meshes when large ones are required. Many meshes are flat; and in using them the
width
is given.
1827. Diamond Netting
The first stitch in this work is termed
diamond
netting, the holes being in the form of diamonds. To do the first row, a stout thread, knotted to form a round, is fastened to the knee with a pin, or passed over the foot, or on the hook sometimes attached to a work cushion for the purpose. The end of the thread on the needle is knotted to this, the mesh being held in the left hand on a line with it. Take the needle in the right hand; let the thread come over the mesh and the third finger, bring it back under the mesh, and hold it between the thumb and first finger. Slip the needle through the loop over the third finger, under the mesh and the foundation thread. In doing this a loop will be formed, which must be passed over the fourth finger. Withdraw the third finger from the loop, and draw up the loop over the fourth, gradually, until it is quite tight on the mesh. The thumb should be kept firmly over the mesh while the stitch is being completed. When the necessary number of stitches is made on this foundation, the future rows are to be worked backwards and forwards. To form a
round
, the first stitch is to be worked into immediately after the last, which closes the netting into a circle.
1828. Round Netting
Round Netting is very nearly the same stitch. The difference is merely in the way of putting the needle through the loop and foundation, or other stitch. After passing the needle through the loop, it must be brought out, and put
downwards
through the stitch. This stitch is particularly suitable for purses.
1829. Square Netting
Square Netting is exactly the same stitch as diamond netting, only it is begun at a corner, on one stitch, and increased (by doing two in one) in the last stitch of every row, until the greatest width required is attained. Then, by netting two stitches together at the end of every row, the piece is decreased to a point again. When stretched out, all the holes in this netting are squares.
One Kind Word may Turn Aside a Torrent of Anger.
1830. Darning on Netting
Square and diamond netting are the most frequently used, and are ornamented with patterns darned on them, in simple darning or in various point stitches. In the latter case it forms a variety of the sort of work termed
guipure d'Art
.
1831. Grecian Netting
1832. Counting Stitches
Stitches in Netting are always counted by knots.
1833. Instructions in Tatting, or Frivolité
1834. Implements for Tatting
The only necessary implements for tatting are a thin shuttle or short netting-needle, and a gilt pin and ring, united by a chain. The cotton used should be strong and soft. There are three available sizes, Nos. 1, 2, and 3. Attention should be paid to the manner of holding the hands, as on this depends the grace or awkwardness of the movement. Fill the shuttle with the cotton (or silk) required, in the same manner as a netting needle. Hold the shuttle between the thumb and first and second fingers of the right hand, leaving about half a yard of cotton unwound. Take up the cotton, about three inches from the end, between the thumb and first finger of the left hand, and let the end fall in the palm of the hand; pass the cotton round the other fingers of the left hand (keeping them parted a little), and bring it again between the thumb and forefinger, thus making a circle round the extended fingers. There are only two stitches in tatting, and they are usually done alternately; this is therefore termed a
double stitch
.
1835. English Stitch
The first stitch is called the
English stitch
, and made thus:—Let the thread between the right and left hands fall towards you; slip the shuttle under the thread between the first and second fingers; draw it out rather quickly, keeping it in a horizontal line with the left hand. You will find a slipping loop is formed on this cotton with that which went round the fingers. Hold the shuttle steadily, with the cotton stretched tightly out, and with the second finger of the left hand slip the loop thus made under the thumb.
1836. French Stitch
The other stitch is termed
French stitch
; the only difference being, that instead of allowing the cotton to fall
towards
you, and passing the shuttle
downwards
, the cotton is thrown in a loop over the left hand, and the shuttle passed under the thread between the first and second fingers
upwards
. The knot must be invariably formed by the thread which passes round the fingers of the
left
hand. If the operation is reversed, and the knot formed by the cotton connected with the shuttle, the loop will not draw up. This is occasioned by letting the cotton from the shuttle hang loosely instead of drawing it out and holding it tightly stretched. When any given number of these double stitches are done, and drawn closely together, the stitches are held between the first finger and thumb, and the other fingers are withdrawn from the circle of cotton, which is gradually diminished by drawing out the shuttle until the loop of tatting is nearly or entirely closed. The tatted loops should be quite close to each other, unless directions to the contrary are given.
1837. Ornamental Edging
The pin is used in making an ornamental edge, something like purl edging, thus:—Slip the ring on the left-hand thumb, that the pin attached may be ready for use. After making the required number of double stitches, twist the pin in the circle of cotton, and hold it between the forefinger and thumb, whilst making more double stitches; repeat. The little loops thus formed are termed
picots
.
1838. Trefoil Tatting
This is done by drawing three loops up tightly, made close together, and then leaving a short space before making more. The trefoil is sewed into shape afterwards with a needle.
1839. To Join Loops
When two loops are to be connected, a
picot
is made in the
first
, wherever the join is required. When you come to the corresponding part of the
second
loop, draw the thread which goes round the fingers of the left hand through the
picot
with a needle, pulling through a loop large enough to admit the shuttle. Slip this through, then draw the thread tight again over the fingers, and continue the work. In many patterns a needle is used to work over, in buttonhole stitch, the thread which passes from one loop to another. A long needleful of the same cotton or silk used for the tatting is left at the beginning of the work, and a common needle used to buttonhole over bars wherever they occur.