The cutting of the sleeves from one pattern is another bit of “practical politics” which arises when a garment such as this is being made. There is no reason why the pair should not be cut together, so long as the two right, or two wrong sides are placed together. The use of French chalk for marking out the pattern on the cloth was encouraged.
The making up of the frock afforded many opportunities for practice in neat, strong stitching, combined with beauty. Suitable cottons and needles were used, nothing finer than No. 40 cotton will stand the wear and tear of every-day life. Where possible, the sewing machine was used, but the parts sewn with it were first carefully tacked.
The question of decoration aroused no end of discussion and interest the whole time the frocks were being made, and urged many a slow worker on to greater efforts. The yokes, cuffs and collars were stitched with contrasting coloured thread, and the variety of decoration was delightful. Simple hand-worked stitches are generally more effective, as well as more economical, than bought trimmings.
Of course, any difficult stitch or piece of fixing—for example, the placing of the box pleats—was always practised on a piece of “scrap” material or paper, before the frock was tackled; but when the young needlewomen realised they were “trying” a stitch or a piece of fixing, because they needed to use it in the making of the frock, they put a good deal more zest into the work than if it was a mere “needlework exercise.” No new material was ever torn up for these practices—odd bits of any shape or size were used, and a bag of such pieces was always at hand, in sewing lesson, for this purpose.
On the score of both economy and efficiency, one would plead that the tearing up of good flannel and calico for the “sewing lesson” should be rigidly tabooed. Probably no other subject offers such unique opportunities in our schools for inculcating habits of thrift and economy, with increased efficiency in the teaching.
The distress of nations, with its awful promise of misery and poverty in the future, gives this branch of a girl’s education an added importance. Surely we must neglect no opportunity of improving it!
Books of Cheerfulness
By FLORA KLICKMANN
THE FLOWER-PATCH AMONG THE HILLS
AND
BETWEEN THE LARCH WOODS AND THE WEIR