After Baster was shined as bright in the emery as he could be shined, Margaret held the tuck in her left hand and with her right pushed and held Baster as he stepped along.
“Use your tape measure, as you go along, to be sure he keeps his steps in the right track always from the top,” reminded Sir Bodkin.
“That one is basted,” cried Margaret at the end of the first tuck.
“And very nicely done, too,” praised the King.
“How shall I measure the second one?” asked Margaret.
“Measure one inch from the basting for the second crease,” answered Sir Bodkin.
When the second tuck was creased and basted and the third one done the same way, Margaret measured the apron from top to bottom.
“Don’t they take up the goods fast? It’s about twenty-seven inches long now,” she laughed.
“That’s what tucks do. They always take up twice as much goods as they are wide. We use them for dresses to allow for shrinking. And to allow for children growing, too,” he laughed.