A good method of hanging a skirt. Have customer stand on top of the stairs, the fitter sitting on the second step. This is an easy way to see that skirts hang evenly all around, marking the proper length without rising, or getting on the knees or sitting on the floor.
Ironing over buttons made easy and safe. Place four ply wadding on press-jack, buttons facing wadding. Iron from the wrong side until dry. This is equally good in ironing embroidery waists. (When ironing embroidery white wadding should be used.)
LESSON V.
PRESSING.
How to sponge and shrink all kinds of woolen goods for dressmakers and tailors, before making into garments, also for one's own use at home. How to use the iron and sponge cloths. How to press hard finished worsteds. How to press single and double breasted sack coats, overcoats, rain coats, Tuxedos, motormen and conductors, also fatigue coats, cutaways, morning, dress coats, Prince Alberts, military, clerical, uniforms, footman's liveries, Newmarket, Paddock and Palitot. All kind of jackets, coats and skirts for ladies. How to press single and double breasted vests with or without collars, also clerical and fancy vests. How to press trousers.
How to sponge and shrink all kinds of woolen goods for dressmakers and tailors, before making into garments, also for one's use at home.
To prepare a sponge cloth for that purpose, use unbleached cotton four yards long, (or as long as the cloth to be shrunk requires), boil in soap and water for one hour, rinse in clean water to remove any lint, then it is ready for use.
Place woolen goods to be sponged on a table or clean floor, then wet the sponge cloth by dipping it into a pail or basin of warm water so that it will get thoroughly wet, wring out almost dry (but not so dry as when pressing) and place over the goods smoothly, see that the cloth is free from wrinkles. Make a flat roll six inches wide, or as wide as a wrapping board would be (do not roll on a board as it will leave a mark difficult to remove). Roll evenly until cloth to be shrunk is thoroughly covered, sides and ends with sponge cloth.
Time required for goods to remain in sponge. Close woven material, such as hard finished worsteds, broad cloth, kerseys, meltons and beavers, require to be left in sponge three hours while open wove goods, such as homespuns, unfinished worsteds, soft overcoatings, and ladies' cloth requires but two hours. When goods is ready to be taken out of sponge, unroll and place over a round pole, (sufficient height to allow cloth to clear the floor), or lay smoothly on a table or floor.