Handicraft for Girls Part 7

The decoration of the bag should be done before sewing up the ends. Very artistic effects can be obtained in the applique. See directions for the design of the book cover, page 37.

Cut a three-inch strip from the length of the piece for the end pieces.

Divide this into two pieces seven and one-half by three inches. Find the middle of one end of both end pieces and notch them. Fold the large piece with the warp through the center and notch at both ends of the fold. Turn in a quarter of an inch around the large piece and baste.

Turn in a quarter of an inch across the notched end and sides of the end pieces. Place the notch at the end of one side piece to one in the large piece, right sides together, and pin in place. Overhand on the wrong side the two together across the end and up both sides. Put in the other end piece in the same way. Trim the end pieces even with the top of the case. Turn a three-quarter inch hem at the top. Before hemming make the straps for the handles by turning in and overhanding the edges. Insert both ends of one strap under the hem of the right side of the bag, two inches from the middle or four inches apart and the other strap on the left side. Hem, and fasten the handles to the edge of the hem by backst.i.tching.

[24] A cover for a pin cus.h.i.+on affords a good application for the mitered corner. This can be made any size, square or oblong. Ornament with fine feather st.i.tching and the star st.i.tch.

CHAPTER V.

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

FOURTH YEAR--SIXTH GRADE.

EQUIPMENT.

Sewing box.

Pin cus.h.i.+on--30 pins.

Thimble.

Needles.

Scissors.

Thread cards.

Practice Piece--unbleached muslin 9" 12".

ORDER OF EXERCISES.

Prepare Thread Cards--Cardboard 4" 4"--designed and cut for four kinds of thread.

Exercise No. 31--Stocking Darning.

Exercise No. 32--Placket Sampler--A Placket.

Exercise No. 33--An Ap.r.o.n--Christmas Piece.[25]

Exercise No. 34--Placket Sampler--The Gusset.[26]

Exercise No. 35--b.u.t.tonholes.

Exercise No. 36--Placket Sampler--The Nightgown Opening.

Exercise No. 37--Hemst.i.tched Collar or Handkerchief.[27]

Exercise No. 38--Placket Sampler--Bands.

Exercise No. 39--An Underskirt.

Exercise No. 40--Textile Fibers and Fabrics--Flax.

FOOTNOTES:

[25] See Electives, page 48.

[26] See Electives, page 48.

[27] See Electives, page 48.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXERCISES.

Teach the yard measure and its divisions.

See note under Exercise No. 35--b.u.t.tonholes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: STOCKINET DARNING.]

EXERCISE NO. 31--STOCKING DARNING.

_Materials:_ Stockinet 4" 4"; cardboard 3" 3"; darning cotton; darning needle; a pair of worn stockings.

See description of Stocking Darning, page 67.

Pupils will furnish their own cardboard and have it cut and ready for the lesson, also a pair of worn stockings.

The cardboard is a subst.i.tute for the darning ball. Do not stretch the cloth too tightly over the card, nor put in a needless number of st.i.tches at the back to hold it on, five or six being sufficient to hold it temporarily in place. The darning cotton winds from the spool in several strands loosely twisted together. Separate and use two, three or more strands, depending upon the texture of the cloth to be darned. Take care not to split the threads when weaving across them, and also avoid putting the threads so far apart that holes are left between them. In fact, try to have pupils understand that they are supplying a piece of cloth that has been worn away, and that when finished should match as nearly as possible in color and texture the cloth that is being repaired. Stockinet, like stockings, is a knitted, not a woven fabric, and as every st.i.tch is drawn through the one below it, it is very necessary that the loops be caught before they ravel back. Prepare the hole for darning by whipping the edge with fine thread, catching up all the severed loops. Either a round or an oblong hole may be cut in the stockinet, the round hole being three-fourths of an inch across, and the oblong three-fourths of an inch by one inch.

Follow the exercise in stockinet darning, in which the principles of darning have been taught, with the darning of a pair of worn stockings that the pupils have brought from home. Every child in the cla.s.s must be given this practical and useful experience. If there is difficulty in securing these stockings, members of the cla.s.s or the teacher can readily supply the deficiency.

EXERCISE NO. 32--PLACKET SAMPLER--A PLACKET.

_Materials:_ Calico 12" woof, 14" warp; facings and bands 58" 2"; white thread No. 60; needle No. 8.

See description of Plackets, page 81.

Upon this sampler is taught the placket, the gusset, the nightgown opening and two different methods of putting on bands, and in addition a review of the French seam and the French fell. It is made in sections which are combined later. These lessons are interspersed with other exercises that the pupils may not become tired of this piece. Teach the placket and the nightgown opening first on paper. It will save time and trouble in the end. Fold the large piece of calico across the warp through the center and cut on the fold. Fold one of these pieces with the warp, through the center and cut. The first exercise of the "Placket Sampler" is done on one of these quarters. As these sections are to be sewed together later each girl must have her own pieces. To avoid the possibility of their being lost or soiled, those not in use should be wrapped in paper, labeled and collected by the teacher and kept until ready for Exercise No. 34.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLACKET SAMPLER (FRONT VIEW).]

First section of the Placket Sampler: Fold the piece of calico with the warp, through the center and cut an opening on this fold five inches in length. Then follow the directions for making Placket B. Facing eleven inches by two inches.

EXERCISE NO. 33--AN Ap.r.o.n--THE CHRISTMAS PIECE.[28][31]

_Materials:_ Pupils will select and furnish their own materials for an ap.r.o.n. This may be of any style or kind, and will afford an excellent opportunity for carrying out their individual tastes. This may necessitate the teaching of the principles of bands which can be done with the practice piece. See description of Bands, page 79.