Handicraft for Girls Part 10

EXERCISE NO. 44--A STUDY OF HOME FURNIs.h.i.+NG, DECORATION AND CARE.[35]

The success of this exercise will depend entirely upon the interest and ingenuity of the teacher.

See "Home Furnis.h.i.+ng, Decoration and Care," page 112.

EXERCISE NO. 45--TWIST b.u.t.tONHOLES.

_Materials:_ French flannel 3-1/2" warp by 6-1/2" woof; twist; sewing silk; needle No. 7 and No. 8.

See description of the b.u.t.tonhole, page 63.

Pupils will furnish their own twist and flannel for the practice work.

It is not necessary that these should match in color. Double the flannel through the center the long way, baste along the folded edge and around the piece. Overcast the raw edges. Begin one-half inch from the top and make the b.u.t.tonholes three-fourths of an inch long and three-fourths of an inch apart. Strand, overcast and finish with the bar.

EXERCISE NO. 46--A PAIR OF DRAWERS.

_Materials:_ Pupils may furnish their own materials for a full-sized garment. This may be made in any style. Patterns can be secured from the mothers or exchanged among the members of the cla.s.s, or a pattern may be drafted from the diagram. Secure the pattern first and have the girls measure it to determine the amount of material needed. If there is any difficulty in securing supplies from the home, a pair of child's drawers on a smaller scale may be subst.i.tuted. The directions for making the small drawers will a.s.sist in making the full-sized garment.

THE SMALL DRAWERS.

_Materials:_ Bleached muslin 36" woof, 11" warp; ruffling, India linen 36" woof, 1-1/2" warp; white thread No. 70; needle No. 8.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DRAFT FOR A PATTERN OF A PAIR OF DRAWERS.

_This draft can be used for a pattern of any size. Determine the length at the side of the garment required, and divide this by 2-1/2 and multiply all dimensions by this figure. As a small fraction complicates the process and will make very little difference in this garment, use the whole number which is nearest the quotient obtained. Fold a large piece of paper, the fold of which will represent the fold at the side of the drawers. Draw the diagram enlarged upon one side of this. The lines for both the front and back are the same, except the two inside lines at the top, which will cut the front a little smaller than the back. It is for this reason that it is drawn on the double paper._]

Patterns: See the draft for the drawers pattern, page 57. Multiply the dimensions by four. Each girl can draft a pattern from the teacher's dictation, or one pattern can be drafted and cut before cla.s.s time, and the members of the cla.s.s cut their patterns from this one.

A strip of muslin thirty-six inches by eleven inches will cut the drawers by careful management. The lesson in economy and the experience of cutting from a close pattern is a valuable one for the girls, as it is a problem which will confront them many times in life. Fold the cloth the short way through the center, and pin the selvedge edges together.

Allow three and one-half inches from the fold for the placket facings and bands, thus keeping the extra cloth in one large piece. Pin the pattern in position, and cut the two lengths, at the same time taking care that the lengthwise fold of the pattern is straight with the warp threads. If the pattern does not allow for hem and tucks, provide the extra length when cutting. The right sides are now together; mark them before separating, and avoid the chance of making both pieces for the same leg, a mistake easily made by more experienced needlewomen.

Finish the bottom of the drawer legs with one-eighth inch tucks, one-half inch hem-tuck and the ruffle as in Exercise No. 41. One-half inch in front of the side fold cut an opening, with the warp, four inches in length. This may be made in both legs or in the right one only, and may be finished with the gusset, placket A or placket B, keeping in mind that the back b.u.t.tons over the front. Finish all seams with the French seam except where the ends of the ruffle are joined with the hemmed seam. Gather the fullness at the top on both sides of the front and the back seams, and draw up to the desired length of band. If two openings have been cut at the sides make the back band one inch longer than the front. Place b.u.t.tons and make b.u.t.tonholes where desired.

EXERCISE NO. 47--CLOTH DARNING.

_Materials:_ Albatros 4" 5"; sewing silk; needle No. 8; beeswax.

See description of Cloth Darning, page 68.

Four holes, cut as follows, are to be darned on this piece of cloth:

No. 1. In the lower left hand corner one inch from the bottom and the side, cut one inch straight with the warp. Darn with split sewing silk on the wrong side.

No. 2. In the upper left hand corner, one inch from the top and side, cut one inch with the warp and one inch with the woof. This will serve for a three-cornered tear. Darn on the right side with ravelings. Spread the st.i.tches at the corner like the sticks of a fan.

No. 3. In the lower right-hand corner, one inch from the bottom and the side cut one inch on the bias. Darn with split sewing silk on the wrong side.

No. 4. In the upper right-hand corner, one inch from the top and the side cut one inch across the warp. This will serve for a worn place in the cloth. Place the patch under it and baste around the edge. Darn with ravelings on the right side. Trim the edges of the patch smooth and herringbone st.i.tch with ravelings around it.

Finish the edge of the piece with the blanket st.i.tch.

Follow this exercise with the repairing of some article brought from home that will give a practical experience in cloth darning. Should there be any difficulty in securing these articles there are plenty of homes that will supply enough for the entire cla.s.s. _This must be done under the teacher's supervision._

EXERCISE NO. 48--TEXTILE FIBERS AND FABRICS--WOOL.

Under the heading "Textile Fibers and Fabrics," page 95, will be found subject matter which can be used in correlation with the geography, language and history work. The seventh grade subject is Wool.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A SET OF UNDERWEAR.

EXERCISES 39, 42, 46, AND AN ELECTIVE.]

ELECTIVES.

[34] An exercise in paper and cardboard construction, adapted to the skill of the cla.s.s, may be subst.i.tuted for the Christmas Exercise. See chapter on "Paper and Cardboard Construction," page 101.

[35] In connection with the study of home furnis.h.i.+ng and decoration an exercise in pa.s.separtout or the making of lamp shades would be excellent.

CHAPTER VII.

DESCRIPTION OF St.i.tCHES.

St.i.tCHES USED IN PLAIN SEWING.

1. Basting.

2. Blind St.i.tch.

3. b.u.t.tonholes.

4. Combination St.i.tch.

5. Darning.

6. Gathering.

7. Half-back St.i.tch.

8. Hemming.

9. Overcasting.

10. Overhanding.

11. Running.

12. Slip St.i.tch.

13. St.i.tching.

ORNAMENTAL St.i.tCHES.