The original, from which our pattern is taken, was cut during the late war by a young Union soldier while in Libby prison.

[Illustration:  PATTERN OF PAPER TRANSPARENCY.]

SHAWL-BAGS.

These bags are capital things to save a shawl from the dust of a journey, and, if of good size, can be made to serve a useful purpose by packing into them dressing materials, etc., for which there is not room in your hand-bag.  The best material for them is stout brown Holland.  Cut two round end-pieces eight inches in diameter and a piece half a yard wide by twenty-four inches long.  Stitch these together, leaving the straight seam open nearly all the way across, and bind its edges and the edges of the end-pieces with worsted braid (maroon or dark brown), put on with a machine.  Close the opening with five buttons and button-holes.  Bind with braid a band of the Holland two inches wide, and fasten it over the button-holed side, leaving a large loop in the middle to carry the bag by.

By way of ornament you may embroider three large letters in single-stitch on the side, using worsted of the color of the braid, or may put a pattern down either side of the opening and round the ends in braiding, or a braided medallion with initials in the center.

A JAPANESE BASKET FOR GRANDMOTHER.

You will never guess what the top of this droll little basket is made of, unless we tell you.  It is one of those Japanese cuffs of brown straw which can be bought nowadays for a small price at any of the Japanese shops.  You may embroider a little pattern over it—­diagonally, if you wish to make it look very Japanese-y; line it with silk or satin, and fasten a small bag of the same material to the bottom, drawn up with a ribbon bow or a tassel.  A band of wide ribbon is sewed to the top.  Grandmamma will find this just the thing to hang on her arm for holding her knitting-ball, or the knitting itself if she wishes to lay it aside.  This sort of basket also is useful as a “catch-all” when hung at the side of a dressing-bureau.

[Illustration:  JAPANESE HANGING-BASKET OF STRAW AND SILK]

A CATCH-ALL, MADE FROM A SINGLE SQUARE.

This is very pretty, and very easily made.  Take a piece of silver (or gold) perforated paper, eight inches square, and ornament it with worsted or silk, as in the diagram, all in one direction.  To make the cornucopia, it is only necessary to join any two edges (as A and B) by first binding each with ribbon and then sewing them together.  Line with silk, and put box-plaiting at the top.  A worsted tassel might be put at the top (in front) as well as at the bottom, and a loop at C.

[Illustration:  DIAGRAM OF PATTERN TO BE WORKED ON PERFORATED PAPER FOR A CATCH-ALL.]

If silver paper is used, the trimmings would better be all red.  All blue would look well with gold paper.  But the colors may be varied according to taste.  If your friend is a brunette, you will find that he or she will be most pleased with the red, while a blonde will prefer blue.