Cross-Stitchers Break Ground

To avoid fraying and to achieve stiffness, cross-stitchers turned to plastic, or at least plastic-reinforced, fabric. Now, there’s an alternative.

The new Zweigart Aida Plus cloth is rigid enough that cross-stitchers don’t need a hoop, it won’t fray and it can be cut and trimmed. But a needle still passes through the fabric easily.

Aida Plus is sold for $4.95 in packages of 9-inch by 12-inch sheets and is available in 10 colors. It’s available in leading fabric and home crafts stores.

On the move, again: A few weeks ago we noted a free booklet available from U-Haul for those who are contemplating a move. There’s also a free 25-page moving guide available from Ryder. Just call (800) GORYDER and ask for the “Mover’s Advantage” booklet.

Back to school: A class in crocheting rag rugs is being offered by the Corbin Art Center downtown for those workers who need to use their lunch hours to be creative.

You’ll make a rug in three weeks; classes start Oct. 16 and run noon to 1 p.m. at City Hall. Call Corbin Art Center, 625-6200, to register, the fee is $14.

The choice is green apples: The whole purpose of potpourri is to make our homes smell better. Now a study has been done about smells which make rooms seem bigger and those which seem to make rooms shrink.

To make your home seem larger, use the odor of green apples, says Alan R. Hirsch, neurologic director of the Chicago-based Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. His study (albeit of only eight volunteer subjects) showed the smell of barbecue smoke stimulated feelings of enclosed spaces and claustrophobia, hence the perception of being in a smaller room. Odors tested also included evergreen, vanilla, buttered popcorn, seashore, charcoal-roasting meat and coconut - none of which had any effect on how the participants perceived the room size.

, DataTimes