“Thread with the end that leaves the spool last,” the King told her, “then it will not snarl and knot so.”
Margaret held the cut end between her left forefinger and thumb and twisted it into a point with her right forefinger and thumb. Then she took Baster in her right fingers and put the thread through his big eye. Pulling it through about one-third she made a knot in the other end by twisting it around her left thumb and forefinger.
“Now he’s harnessed and ready to begin,” said Sir Bodkin. He told Margaret to put her silver thimble on the middle-finger of her right hand and push Baster, while her thumb and forefinger held him round the waist. Baster then hopped on the seam one-half inch from the edge. He took quick long steps singing:
“Ha, ha, ho, ho, I’m gay and free,
Basting is the sport for me.
With skip and slide I hurry on,
My work is short, just like my song.”
Basting
Both seams of the simple dress were soon basted.