Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-02-19
THE HOME sEwING-ROoM.
an Eye to Convenience and
Comfort.

The bulk of the general and individ-
ual sewing of most families is done
at home, but many do not realize that
suitable provision should be made for
this as much as for other departments
of home work. One room in the house
should be setapartas the sewing-room,
the litter and confusion attendant
upon the work confined there, and the
sewing tools kept there as assuredly
as the carpenter keeps his tools in his
shop. Good light and ventilation are
necessary, and a northeast or north
west corner room with plenty of win
dows will furnish excellent light with
out the glare or heat of the sun, says
the Housekeeper. The walls should be
kalsomined in delicate tints, or pa
pered in a soft-toned ingram or a faint
ly figured paper, with harmonious bor-
der or ceiling, that the eyes may be
rested even when unconsciously rest
ing upon them. The floor should be of
hard or painted matchmaking, as
carpets are difficult to keep clean
and there should be one or more has.
socks or footstools, with a small rug
to lie under the feet of the worker
when not at the machine. The win.
dows should open easily, be screened
IN summer, and furnished with opaque
shades that are readily drawn, and
the sheerest of muslin used for the
lower sash if a curtain is needed.
The furniture should consist of a
good sewing machine, well fitted up, a
cutting table with a drawer, two COM
Portable cant sea- chairs, one light,
low, easy rocker, Il little stand on
which cushions, scissors, extra spools
and other notions may be laid for
convenience; waste basket, a bureau
or chest with several roomy drawers,
and a long mirror. If much dressmak-
ing is to be attempted, a wardrobe, a
long dress box, and a waist and dress
form like those used in shops for dis
playing garments will be needed. As
pressing and shaping are as much a
part of dressmaking to-day as sewing,
a gas OF oil stove, with one or two
irons, and a short and a long pressing
board, will be among the necessities.
A sponge, with towels or cloths, and
a bowl for water, should be kept in
the closet convenient for use in press.
ing. Order and systematic arrange.
ment of work are just as essential in
the sewing department of the home
as elsewhere. Exactness and accuracy
are necessary to dispatch.
The sewing machine should be kept
supplied with its own appointments,
the cutting table with long and short
tape measures, a tracing wheel, shears
and scissors, a sharp penknife, a piece
of beeswax, an emery, marking chalk,
and fashion books and charts. The
stand drawer should contain spools of
thread and silk in the staple colors
and numbers. varieties of common but
tons, tape, braid, hooks and eyes,
snaps, pins, needles and cord. The
drawers of the bureau furnish a con-
venient receptacle for materials to be
used in work, cut-out and partly fin
1shed garments, pieces of cloth and
remnants, but each kind should be kept
by itself if one is to work quickly and
without confusion. The top of the
dress-box should be fitted with springs
and an inexpensive cahion so that
the worker, whether thehome or hired
seamstress, may lie down for a few
minutes at the noon hour, relaxing
muscles and closing eyes. A ten or Is
minutes nap now is as useful from q
unitarian, as from a humanitarian
standpoint, for the refreshment gained
causes the worker to accomplish more
in the afternoon and with greater ease