Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-25
SPRING WORK.
Cleaning Sowing Machine, Shrinking
Dress Goods and Setting CoIors.

with the first warm weather, the first
flowers and the migrating song birds.
1t is now time for the housewife to
plan her spring sewing; she must look
her garments over and make notes of
fresh braid, lining, ruchingS, trim
mngS, etc, needed. She can now de-
eide on all of her new garments, the
| lingerie and anything else that may be
| thought of to be purchased. A list of
these things should be made out, and
| then general estimate of the cost
placed alongside them When the to-
| tai of the proposed cost amounts too
| high she may leave out certain things
| by a process of elimination.
! Many women are not careful enough
of their sewing machines. They are of
a delicate nature and must be treated
accordingly. The sewing machine re-
| spends. like everything else. to the
proper treatment. Where it is run
quite constantly it should be oiled
every night, but where il is used only
| "A little each day once each week is
often enough to oil it. When tn" oil
| ing is done the machine should also be
thoroughly cleansed Before the
spring sewing is taken up go over
your sewing machine thoroughly.
overhauling and cleaning the various
parts. Every particle of dust and
grit should be removed.
A steel stiletto with a soft cloth
, wound around the point will aid sur
prisingly in the cleaning. while a small
| camers hair brush can be used for the
minute crevices. Clean the wheel and
| all the lower parts. Always have two
| oil cans, one filled with a good equal
| ity of kerosene and the other with n
standard machine oil. Always use the
best of machine oil, as il is not econ
omY to use q cheap grade.
| In the cleaning of the machine kcro-
scne can be put anywhere that oil is
usually used. Then fasten the plate,
put the strap in place and run the ma
chine vigorously for few minutes.
| Allow it to stand over night and in
the morning every particle of dust can
be- wiped off. Then oil thoroughly. a
couple of drops of oil should be used
at each place and make sure that none
are forgotten. 1t is a common fault
to use oil too generously, with the re-
suit that it keeps coming out of the
machine and soiling the materials be-
| ing worked upon.
| When preparing to sew on a dress
of a delicate piece of fabric ii is wise
| to run a sample of the material
| through the machine to see whether
| it is working properly. If there seems
| to be difficulty in regulating the ten
sion, person skilled in mechanics
should be summoned Always keep a
little piece of cloth conveniently near
when working at the machine, so if
| there should be a little oil visible it
can be wiped away at once.
| Usually at this time of year many
pretty wash materials can be pur-
chased at reasonable price. These
materials often come in colors as we'll
as in white goods. and they all give
much better satisfaction if they are
shrunk and the colors set before they
are made up. Cotton voiles and mer
| ceriZed poplins are not in need of this
treatment, but percales, ginghams and
other cotton materials need it. one
way to accomplish this thorough
shrinking it to lay the material in a
| tub. unfolding it So the water can get
all through it, and pouring plenty of
| boiling water over it. Allow the ma
terial to soak in the water until it is
| NOci tii'uSi " ing oul, db'ul wv
| hours. When hanging up straighten
! as much as possible to avoid wrinkles.
Iron while the material is still damp
enough to make it perfectly smooth.
| Probably the best thing to set col
| ors is oxgall-one tablespoonful to
| about II quarts of boiling water. Ok
gall should never be used unless the
housewife is sure it is fresh. Salt
dissolved in boiling water will also
| set colOrs, and sugar of lead--one
ounce to l. quarts of water-Will set
all colors except blue. Saltpeter-one
| ounce to II qquarts of water-will set
| pinks and blues. When using any of
the above solutions. dissolve the pow
der thoroughly in a small quantity of
( warm water, adding the required
number of quarts. Put the material
in at once and allow it to remain until
cool or cold. Hang it up to dry and
iron while damp.
| The most particular needlewomen
are the ones who are willing to take
| the greatest pains in their work. One
| of their rules it to never work with
materials, wash or otherwise. if they
are the least crumpled. 1t is almost
an impossibility to work with matcri
ais that are Wrinkled.
Many women have found it difficult
to keep bouquet of flowers from
soiling the evening gown. A clever
girl has solved the problem. She cuts
a piece of chamois-gray glove cha
mois is best-into cornucopia shape,
stitching it together on the machine.
on the back she sews a small safety
pin. This she fastens to her coat or
bodice and slips the stems into it.
Those who sometimes wear long
stemmed roses at evening functions
should make two caseS-one for these,
and one short for such flowers as
violets. The case is inconspicuous and
very effective.
The economy of brushes is quite
worth studying to the housewife. The
scrubbing brush that is left in
bucket of suds rots. Sweeping brooms
should never touch the floor, except
when they are in actual use; they
should at once be stood on the point
of the handle, head upward against
the wall. busting brushes should
have a string on the handle and be
h., OTTO oh oil