Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-04-19
Pressing Garments.

Pressing Garments.
Home dressmaking has Its attractive
side, when one knows how to do It; but
when one does not, even "the grasshop-
per is burden"
It Is easy enough to mako muslins and
cottons, and "just little dimity gown"
but quite another story when outside
garments OF wool and heavy cloth have
to be considered, and at this point one
meets ones Waterloo, unless pressing In
all its phases Ia known art.
Take children's coats alone. II they
are we'll cut and badly pressed they are
unsatisfying to all concerned. They can
always be we'll cut In these days Of good
patterns, and If we'll pressed into the
bargain are really Q factor In domestic
economy; for q child cares for these
things. especially a girl child.
There are only q few tools needed Tor
pressing, but to insure satisfactory re.
suits they should be OF the best. Good
irons, extra heavy, and In two sizes-ior
q small narrow iron Is necessity for
short seams, between buttons, and like
places, In the final pressing-a board
about three feet long, heavily padded; a
sleeve board, also we'll padded; both
boards on stands that clamp on the
table, leaving the garment free and max
ing 1t necessary to hoist IL as the ordi-
nary board must be when the garment
has to be pulled over it. A small cloth
to dampen seams, heavy unbleached
cotton a yard long, wax, hot hre, COM
mon sense, cool head-these also are
needed.
When the seams are sewed and before
the shoulder seams are closed, open
them as fiat as possible, dampen with
the small cloth, and press with an iron
hot enough to draw steam, but not hot
enough to scorch the wiping-cloth. II
the cloth has been sponged before max
ing, this will leave no mark; If not, 1t ia
we'll to dampen the big cloth and lay 1t
over tho entire surface, on the wrong
side, and press with a moderate iron.
This does away with not only any mark
at the seams, but also prevents the
crinkled look that unsponged cloth has
| if pressed with too hot an iron and al
the seams only. II the seams are to be
double-stitched, a second pressing with
DAMP cloth over the seams Is necessary
The sleeves should be sewed, pressed
and double-stitched and pressed again or
the outside seam first. Then close the
sleeve, pressing the inside seam on the
small board and with the small iron, and
as it does not have to be stitched agair
the hard part is over. The collar must
first be pressed fat, through wet cloth
over the wrong side, then folded ir
shape and with the damp cloth still OF
the wrong side, pressed hard and with
very steady hand until the steam stops
rising. If the lining is OF silk do mo-
dampen the seams; open them with YOU
finger and press with moderate iron.
In making a pleated skirt, after th'
pleats are all in position and basted light
liz, lay 1t on q well-covered table-not
boards fiat as possible, have q DAMP
cloth over the wrong side and presl
hard, ironing from the hem up: Use q
heavy an iron as you can, and q fairl!
hot one; but try It carefully on thu
wiping- cloth beforehand. It Is goot
plan to pin the pleats to the table, tol
and bottom, or, better still, to have SOM
one to help you by holding them In plac'
at the top while you work upward from
the hem.
In pressing heavily embroidered o
braided cloth, care should be taken t
have the right side down on very vel
padded surface, wet cloth, we'll squeez
ed, and a hot iron, pressing lightly a
first.
In pressing pleats in the back OF
skirt, they should first be lightly baste'
and then wet cloth put over them, tn
full length If possible. and pressed witt
q very hot iron on the wrong side. Al
openings In ski is and waists should b
we'll pressed before any buttons, o
hooks and eyes are put on.
The real success Of home pressing lies
however, in the simplicity of the gal
ment. A much-trimmed gown mean
not only the trouble Of putting the trim
ming on, but often that of taking it oil
For the difference in material, weave
color, etc., may result, under the iron
in shrinkage in one place and expansion
in another, and 1t is therefore safer t
copfiue ones love of adornment to tn
materials that do not require the heav
iron and the steady hand.