The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-27
THE SMALL BOYS CLOTHES.
How to Make Them from Fathef's
Castaway Garments.


is worthy of consideration. There doubt
less are many mothers who can hardly
AFFORD to buy even the moderate-priced
suits and coats Of which the rapidly
growing small boys are continually in
need, and whether the demands on their
time are few or many, they feel the
necessity Of making everything they pos
sibly can.
In planning to make clothes for the
small boy. 1t will be an economy to pro-
vide oneself with reliable patterns and
then. instead of planning to buy new
materials, look over the wardrobes of
the grown members of the family and
see if there are not garments which have
been or are about to be laid aside for
one reason or another.
A mans overcoat or suit of clothes
which begins to show wear can be cut
down for small boy. and a woman's
linen, duck, pique, or crash suit or skirt
will cut into small boys suit. Often
times these heavy wash materials have
become little too tight or short, or
both. from frequent laundering, but are
not worn out and if this is the case
they will be just the thing for the smaller
clothes.
sometimes. too, a mans plated or plain
shirt will show places just below the
neckband which look like cuts. which
makes it useless for the man. If the
cloth is not too tender otherwise, it will
pay to make d shirt for the boy old
enough to wear one
II an old suit or overcoat is made of
unusually heavy material it will not be
to Mt
be too hard work to do anything with it,
but rip the lining away and see what the
weight actually is before giving it I'D.
Boys first SUITS are extremely Simple in
construction and most attractive looking.
and they should not present any difficult
ties to one accustomed to sewing. 1t is
becoming the fashion, more and more, to
dress both boys and girls in wash suits
all the year around. Houses are, as a
rule. so we'll heated that the heavier ma
terialS are not so comfortable. Then. too.
wearing clothes which can be laundered
commends itself to every mother. A lit
tie heavier weight underwear is some
times thought necessary, or the differ
ence can be entirely provided for in
the coat, leggings. and other outdoor
trappings.
But il one has a serge. covert cloth.
velveteen. corduroy. or other suit ma
ter1al to cut down, use il by all means
Rip the garment entirely apart, and II 1t
is one Of the first mentioned cloths it
will be perfectly safe to attempt the
cleaning at home-washing 1t in soap tree
bark being the easiest and best way of
cleaning it If it is one Of the last named
and of sufficiently good quail
ty. it should pay to send to a good
cleaner OF course. it should first be
ripped apart and all the threads picked
out.
There are several pretty designs for
these first suits, one showing little knee
trousers and Russian blouse buttoned
down the right side. Lay the material
'ut on table, having all the pieces
spread out if possible. Lay the pieces
or the blouse on first. using the best
PARTS OF the cloth. In length it reaches
ust above the knees. The back is cut in
me piece and must be on the straight
II the goods down the middle OF the
Jack. The right front comes just to
he middle, while the left front laps by
Utmost to the end Of the opposite
shoulder
To cut this left front out lay the middle
ront of the pattern on the straight OF
he goods, and fold back the cloth on this
middle line so that it escapes the shoulder
,dge by one inch. Cut this front out
With the piece folded back, then unpin
he pattern and you will have the double
breasted front From the shoulder point
his left front is perfectly straight down
o the bottom of the blouse.
The sleeves can be cut from any one
piece pattern and they can be set into
! narrow. straight cuff. or. if there is
enough length of material they can be
cut like Peter Thompson sleeve. the
bottom edge being laid in side or box
olaifS the cuff ho
;uff itself. II it is necessary the sleeve |
an be pieced on the under side. but |
,ne point must be remembered. always |
% do the pIecing on the straight" and |
o lay pattern for each part of what |
,ver is being made on exactly the right |
,rain.
Lay the pieces Of the pattern on for the |
title trousers or knickerbockers, and il |
Necessary they can be pieced in the seat !
Without showing. Where there is doubt |
bout there being plenty Of cloth. always |
ay every piece of the pattern on before \
loing any cutting.
Do not line the suit, but stitch, bind |
eparately, and press the seams open.
The little standing neck band and the
apped over side of the blouse will be
retty finished with a narrow fiat braid.
here should be a narrow belt kept |
n place by being slipped through straps
which are attached to the under arms.
| small patch pocket on the left side
sill delight the child.
dear little suit can be made from
listers crash or linen suit. Cut the
louise part the same length as the
Their one. but after cutting of the
engths for the bask and fronts lay
lait three-quarters of an inch wide the
ull length of the blouse on each shoulder
dye. on both backs and fronts Layl
he pattern down on the CLOTH so as to
ct the right points for the plaits. On
ne front these plaits can be stitched
heir full length, and on the back stitch
hem to the low belt line. Lay the plate
they turn toward the sleeves.
This little blouse is single-breasted and
Ittons the entire front length The
eek is finished with a narrow. straight
Ind. and there should be a narrow belt
HIGH is finished in a point at each end
Id is long enough to lap by about one
nd one-half inches. The sleeves are
ade with cuffs, made Of the stitched
ats II possible The knickerbockers are .
ut into bands at the knees and made
ng enough to hand over to hide the
Ind. |,
Still another design shows the same
tie knickerbockers with the blouse box I
aited and finished at the neck with a
lilor collar. There are two broad box 1
ats. on both front and back. in each +,
stance starting from the middle Of the I
oulder and being stitched down to the {
1t line. This blouse is single-breasted /,
I'd buttons up the front. The sailor ,
liar rounds across the front and a de-
enable shield is worn. I
sometimes can be covered by
INNING bands. and IL this happens to
me where trimming will look well do I