For Keeping out the Wind.
The value of old Kid Gloves.
With furs advanced 80 per cent. in price in some cases, and every sort of leather and skin at a premium, it is evident that many who would like new furs, and a leather waistcoat for motoring, will have to forego these for a while, now that such items have become so expensive.
Those who are studying economy, however, will find an excellent substitute for the leather, and the fur skins, in the old kid gloves that have got beyond even the cleaner’s kindly aid. It is always the fingers and thumb that go; the remainder of the glove will be a serviceable bit of kid. These pieces can be used in a variety of ways, and since they are impervious to wind, they may save you many a chill—or more serious illness,—if you find a new thick winter coat beyond your purse in these hard times.
Cut off the fingers and thumb, remove the fasteners, cut the glove up to the top at the front opening, and spread it out flat—as you see in the small illustration. There will be a little fulness at the thumb-pieces, but this can be doubled over and stitched down flat.
Here is the piece of Glove with the fingers cut off.
This shows some of the gloves stitched on the flannel inter-lining.
Perhaps your thickest coat is not nearly thick enough for the piercing east winds that come to us in the early part of the year, finding out our weak spots.
For an Under-coat or Waistcoat.
If you wish to avoid the cost of a new big coat, why not make a small sleeveless coat, or a waistcoat to wear under your outdoor coat? For this you will need about 1½ yards of silk for the outside, some thin flannel for the interlining, and some more silk, or other suitable material for the lining. I suggest silk, because this slips on so easily, and the outer coat, in turn, slips on easily over the silk waistcoat. It takes so little material that in all probability you can get enough out of the silk lining of some discarded coat or underskirt. Then of course there are the old gloves. Cut out the silk, outer and lining, and the flannel, by the same pattern. Deal with the flannel first. Onto this stitch the pieces of glove—they merely want pinning in place first of all, and then run the machine round each fragment. Put them on as they will best cover the flannel, it doesn’t matter how irregular it all is, so long as the flannel is completely covered. It doesn’t look elegant, as you are doing it; that again, is unimportant, as it is all hidden by the silk. If you have not enough gloves for your needs, a few bits of chamois leather will help you out.
Then make up the little undercoat, with the glove-covered flannel as interlining, the kid against the lining, and you will find you have something that keeps out the wind in a way a woollen hug-me-tight could never do. And the glove-lined garment takes up so little room that it does not add to one’s bulk; in addition, it is very light in weight—a great advantage.
The idea is capable of various developments. A velvet stole edged with a little fur could be interlined in the same way. It would be light and warm, and a real comfort on cold days. It is quite surprising how the kid interlining adds to the warmth of a garment.
A chest protector, like the one we illustrate, is invaluable for the girl who has a weak chest, and is out in all weathers. This again is quite easy to make.
In a garment like this, or any large surface, it is as well to run the machine down the material after the pieces are all joined up; this “quilts” it and holds it together.
The back portion is a little longer than the front.
Showing the front of the Chest Protector.
For Men’s Waistcoats.
Many men complain that they feel cold at their back, even though they are wearing the thickest of vests. This is probably due to the fact that the material used in making the back of the waistcoat is many degrees thinner than that used for the fronts. The defect can be easily remedied, however, if you have three or four old pairs of gloves.
Cut out a piece of stout black lining, the size of the back piece of the waistcoat. Stitch the portions of the gloves to the wrong side of this lining. They will not need to come below the strap at the waist-line. Then turn in the edges, and apply this to the inside of the waistcoat (glove pieces inside of course), and run it neatly all round, taking care that it does not show above the top of the waistcoat at the back. It will keep it better in place if you run a line of stitching down the centre of the back, from top to bottom, after the lining has been run on all round.
You will have a perfectly neat looking garment that simply looks like a waistcoat with black lining at the back.
I advise this lining being put on by hand rather than by machine.