Drape No. 2 is one of the most effective, and consists of two pieces of cheesecloth, silkaline or light silk. Two contrasting but harmonizing colors are very desirable. It is the plain festoon and rosette drape projected from the wall by heavy knitting needles. These you drive in first and start with pinning up your cloth at one end (right end first) and continue with it until the left end is reached. When commencing with the second bolt of cloth do not unroll any more of it at the time than necessary to push the bolt alternately through the loops of the first piece. After you have thus covered your background, proceed to form the rosettes; pull, push and pat the folds of the drape into proper shape and you have produced a pretty and artistic effect.
Drape No. 3 can only be constructed with heavy plush-velour or rich drapery silk or any goods with two right sides—as both sides are shown—unless you cut the goods. It consists, like No. 2, of two pieces, and an endless variety of different designs may be formed with this style of drapery. The sections No. 1a and No. 1b are very appropriate with this drape, and separate rosettes, heavy silk cords, tassels and fringes will greatly enrich it. To put up this drape requires more skill and taste than the former two, as, unless it is executed to perfection it is unattractive. Throw your goods over a curtain pole projected from the background and let the first end drop down to the floor. Then fold the goods carefully into about 4 to 7 folds and form the loops as shown in illustration without ever letting the folds become uneven or irregular, something which is more difficult to avoid than the sketch exposes.
All in all, draping is easily learned, and no ambitious amateur will rest until he has acquired full ability to put up an artistic drape.
HOW TO PUFF.
It will take about four times the length and width of cloth to puff any given space. If your background is 12 feet long and 3 feet wide it will require four strips each a yard wide and 48 feet long. Very coarse puffing may be made by using as little as three times the amount of cloth that will cover the space, but for puffing such as is shown in our illustration four times the amount is required.
There are two ways to puff. For large spaces it is quicker and cheaper to cover the backing with bookbinder’s paste, and puff upon that. Always begin at the left-hand upper corner. Turn the edge of your cloth, to start with for, raw edges always look badly. Support the cloth with your right hand, and with the left spread out your thumb and fingers and claw the cloth together into an irregular puffed effect. Do not be too particular about each handful—the total effect will be all right. Work quickly and your puffing will be more uniform than when done cautiously and slowly.
If you are not covering a very large space it is best to pin your puffing. Start the same as directed for pasted puffing. Fasten a small pincushion, well covered with pins, to your vest, and use a small upholsterer’s hammer to tack with. Keep the hammer in your right hand. Push up the cloth and pin it, driving the pin in lightly with your hammer. Be sure to puff close enough to hide the pins.