The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.
Ideas for Housewives Who Must Do
Their own Mending.

Ihe1r OWn Menu1nEs
To the busy housewife who must do
her own sewing or any considerable por-
ton of it much advantage may be
gained by planning it rightly. When
she is to have long afternoon TO her
self. the children occupied with new
games, or away for visit or perhaps.
the rain precluding any Interruptions
from callers. she should not work on
that garment of which the most difficult
part has already been accomplished.
and only buttonholes and the general
finishing off, remain; but take this
time TO cut and plan and do the most
trying portions Of some new garment.
The other garment can be easily fin
ished sometime when she is likely to
have Interruptions or must have other
cares on her mind.
To avoid the confusion of having
many kinds of work around at once,
have several work-baskets. and keep
each kind of work by itself. instead Of
having all together in one large basket.
These need not be large or expensive;
peach and grape baskets may be made
into quite pretty and serviceable work
baskets with little paint and SILICA
for lining. A neat little darning basket
is nothing but a long grape basket,
painted blue with gold trimmings and
lined with gOld-colored silesia with
pockets for balls. pads for needles and
a cushion for pins.
When the mending is brought in. lay
aside those things which may be most
easily repaired i'm the evening, especially
~ everything in white or light colored
goods and which does not require close
work. Hunt up the pieces. buttons. etc,
that are required, put all in a basket
together and have ready TO do in the
evening while the husband reads bits
from the newspaper, or talks over the
days joys and trials. You will not be
obliged TO constantly interrupt the read
ing or conversation to find the things
needed. and one Will accomplish twice
as much as though she did not take this
forethought.
Do mending and sewing on dark ma
terial, and all fine darning in good day
light 1t is the worst possible economy
TO strain the eys on such work by lamp
light.
Always have in a convenient place
some light. easy piece of work with
needles, thimble and ali things necessary
at hand. ready to take up and work
at on a moments notice. The number
of times it can be picked up and a lit
tie accomplished, when otherwise moth
ing would be done. will surprise one who
has never tried the experiment You
have a long call from an intimate friend
and can take a few stitches while chat
ting. if there is some work handy. with
out committing any breach of etiquette
Perhaps a neighbor drops in TO spend a
few hours and brings her work along,
when. if all the work YOU have ready
chances to be cutting and fitting or
scanning on the machine, you will ac-
complish next to nothing. IT is often an
advantage, when tired and nervous over
some pieces of sewing, to change work
Have a pleasant, easy piece of fancy
work near by to take up and rest your
self.
If possible keep the sewing ahead of
you. 1t saves a vast amount of wear
and tear upon the nervous system If one
can avoid the worry and hurry OF need
ing garments before they are finished
Although ''wOman's work is never done"
a little planning and forethought will
render it much easier and make it pos
sible ito drive your work instead Of let
ting your work drive you"
Begin early to teach the little girls
to do their own mending. and to help
with the easiest parts of their sewing
Even as young as seven and eight years
of age, they may be taught to do some
parts Of sewing very nicely and If the
work of teaching is judiciously done it
will be a pleasure to them to thus help
mamma, and not a distasteful drudgery.
1t may take a little more time at first
to guide the awkward little fingers than.
to do the work. but il viii very soon.
be found that the little hands . are a
help instead of hindFance. and ii is
vastly better for the little daughters
TO learn habits Of thrift and industry
than to have unlimited playtime
The oft-repeated advice against I'M
necessary trimmings is very applicable
TO the woman who does her. own sewing
with a multitude of other cares Tucks
and ruffies are not worth the muslin
and nerve and brain worn out in their
manufacture.
Above all, remember that actual pleas
ure and culture may be found in the
little humdrum duties of everyday life,
If they are done In the right spirit and
with the determination TO do everything
in the best possible time and way
Good Housekeeping.
Valuable ReefDea.