Covered button
When this one was on Margaret brought her coat and a pretty cloth covered button, all smooth on top and metal underneath, with a funny little round place of cloth to sew through.
“You must not show on the wrong side where the button is sewed on a coat. If you want to make it very strong you may sew through a tiny little pearl button, the same color as your coat, on the wrong side. But this one we shall fasten on the right side blindly but quite strong.” The thick Stitcher was harnessed with heavy dark thread doubled and waxed and knotted.
“Catch your thread on the coat, first on the spot where the button is to go and then, second, sir, as you know, step through the sewing-place underneath the button. Third, through the coat again and so on. But whatever you do, don’t step through to the wrong side so it will show!” said Sir Bodkin. Then the button was sewed securely and the thread fastened and snipped. Stitcher rested in the pincushion.
“You haven’t sung to-day!” Margaret said to the One-Eyed Fairies.
“To be sure we haven’t, My Lady!” their King said.
Then one of the little Stitchers came out of the pincushion and began to sing:
“Sewing on buttons
And mending your clothes
Are very good habits,