How to amuse yourself and others

by Lina Beard; Adelia B. Beard

Fig. 297.—Felling.

Button-holes.

Fig. 298 shows how to take the proper stitch. Be careful in cutting button-holes to make the slit even to a thread and cut the outer corner rounded; bar the inner corner by taking two stitches across it, and overcast the button-hole around three or four threads deep from the edge, or if the material is not inclined to ravel run it with thread, either double or single, drawing it a trifle tight; then begin at the left-hand corner to work the button-hole, leaving one thread between each stitch; keep the stitches exactly the same depth and the loop or pearl of the button-hole on the upper edge.

Fig. 298.—Button-hole Stitch.

HERRING-BONE OR CAT’S-TOOTH STITCH

is used to keep the seams in flannel spread open and fastened neatly down. Fig. 299 shows how to take the stitch; make the stitches all even and of the same size.

Fig. 299.—Herring-bone Stitch.

We have now given all the stitches which properly belong to plain sewing, and our next step will be