Mrs. Bobbsey then took up a pair of the sashes and turned in the edges. Immediately the girls followed her instructions, and very soon all of the strings were ready for the machine.
Nan handed them to her mother, and then Aunt Sarah gave out the work.
"Now these are the sleeves," said Aunt Sarah, "and they must each have little gathers brought in at the elbow here between these notches. Next you place the sleeve together notch to notch, and they can be stitched without basting."
"Isn't it lively to work this way?" said Mildred. "It isn't a bit of trouble, and see how quickly we get done."
"Many hands make light work," replied Mrs. Bobbsey. "I guess we will get all the aprons finished this afternoon."
Piece by piece the various parts of the garments were given out, until there remained nothing more to do than to put on buttons and work buttonholes, and overhand the arm holes.
"I'll cut the buttonholes," said Mrs. Bobbsey, "then Nan and Mildred may work the buttonholes by sticking a pin through each hole. The other girls may then sew the buttons on."
It was wonderful how quickly those little pearl buttons went down the backs of the aprons.
"I believe I could make an apron all alone now," said Nan, "if it was cut out."
"So could I," declared Mildred. "It isn't hard at all."