The Washington times., 1905-10-20
HELPFUL HINTS as TO HOW
THE SEWING SHOULD BE DONF
Rules for Every Well-Regulated HouSehold-The
- Proper Sewing on of Buttons, Pressing.
Darning, and Scanning

In every we'll regulated household
there is a sewing room. where the
practical needs of children and grown
people are looked after, and where the
proper sewing on of buttons, pressing,
darning, cutting out and scanning to-
gether become affairs OF great moment
and Importance.
1t is necessary for the woman who
takes her seat in the sewing room anu
draws her well filed "mending basket"
forward. 90 remember these rules which
say:
On buttons, sew through and through
the button until the hole Is full OF
thread, then wrap the thread around
the button three times. put the thread
through the wrong side, and fasten well.
On mems garments, use linen thread
when possible.
Ruffies should be cut on the bias OF
the goods. matching the figure or stripe
and pressing the seam on the wrong sIde
In this way 1t does not require as much
material and the ruffies look much neat
er. Facings of all widths should be cut
on the bias.
Do not pucker or gather seam in
sewing II. and take care 10 fasten your
thread before you cut 1t, so that your
altogether the fit or hang OF the gar
ment depends. 1t injuries the enamel OF
your teeth to bite the thread. There
fore you should not do It
Darns and -atches should always be
pressed Bear this in mind. You will
see that oftimes the mending is scarce
ly noticeable Cultivate a pride in doing
the mending. which is really such an
important factor in your wardrobe. II
Is no DISGRACE to patch. Do not despise
the means TO the end 1t does not pay.
The woman who Is a practical worker
In the field OF -ood deeds never throws
anything in the rag bag that can be
imhended or made over. She sees that
they reach needy ones who have moth
ing so good, and she does not send them
70 the poor in rags. either. Every ar
ticie is put in the best condition posi-
Die by care am patience. The record
Of her 'Inasmuch' will be large and
others can and should follow her exam
pie.
In mendir~ with a patch, especially on
boys trousers, the piece should be large
enough 10 cover all the thin part IL
must be put on the wrong side of the
garment. The edge of the patch should
not be turned in. but cross stitched. and
care must be used not TO catch the
stitches through the right side Then
turn on TO the right side and II not
and press on the wrong side. II II should
be worn through badly. cut out all the
thin part. making a square hole. clip the
corners a little. turn the edges In neatly.
and hem all along, taking pains to have
the corners square. The square hole
makes a much neater piece of work than
the round Then press on the wrong
side.
II towels or table linen show wear
darn even tiny holes with cotton moss
or coarse thread. For darning purposes
the cotton floss is preferable 70 linen.
In all cases and at all times darn and
mend. darn and mend. 1t saves making
new. II a stitch in time Is taken il is
surprising how much longer sheets, pill
low slips. towels and all wearing ap-
parel Will last. When darning weave the
thread in and out as far as the thin spot
extends, keeping the stocking or gar
ment smooth over the darning egg
When the sewing machine runs hard
take kerosene and oil II thoroughly; re-
move the needle and run II as for sew
ing. Then with q cloth wipe carefully
removing all the oil and dust Next oil
with the machine oil in the ordinary
way. wiping again every part. Before
sewing your goods sew a few stitches on
. strip of cloth to remove all oil that
may have attached TO the needle bar.
The smallest thin place should be