The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-19

~ FTEN the summer vacation IS the only \ time of the year that some women ! have to do much sewing. This is usual ly the case with the business woman
 whose daytime hours are fully occu- pied and who counts herself lucky to keep up with her mendng.
 Unless for the teacher who has vacation of several months dsapprove of spending any of the holiday hours with needle. You may argue l" It is a change, therefore, a rec reaton." It is not the kind of recreation the business woman should have. She should loaf. relax, live in the open air With the best intentions one gets strenuous over needlework and puts too much of ones self in 1t For the woman of longer vacation, however a moderate amount of sewing is an advantage, provided it does not make her nervous as it does some people.
 If you will sew in your vacation make it count. First, be systematic. Set aside a certain portion of the day and however much you wish to extend the time refrain or you will return to the city tired. Then, as far as possible. sew in the open air. By the way, in this outdoor sewing watch carefully the d- rection of the light; never sew with the sun in your face or even partly on your work. Let it come over the left shoulder. and do not be tempted to sew in the long hours of dusk.
 
 Be equipped for your summer sewing. If you are in your own country home doubt less there will be sewing machine; but even SO do as little as possible on it-it keeps you too much indoors. It is not hard to plan your work so the machine sewing can be done at one time In making garments. cut ting, basting. all the handwork and finishing. everything but fitting and the machine work can be done outdoors. One woman know even has her sewing machine brought for the summer into sheltered corner of her back porch, has light cutting table--which she also utilzes for al fresco meals-and a well equipped work box besides. She makes all her children's underwear, increases her stock of household linen. and makes much of her own underwear in the summer months. but does it under such health bringing conditions t is a pleasure, not a nerve strain.
 If you are to be in . summer hotel or camp, machine sewing is out of the question. In this case have a well stocked work bag or box in just as compact form as will give the needed utensils.
 For easy packing nothing is better than the round bottom work bag with silk or cre- tonne top, supplied with plenty of pockets In this should go one of the small folding sewing cases used by motorists. where neeo1es. thread scissors. thmble, bodkin. tape measure and the like are ready for in- stant use. If you do not wish to go to the expense of such case make yourself a small silk or leather bag to slip in the larger one and in addition get a case of good scis- sors in three sizes or four. including button- hole ones.
 Sew the pockets to the inside of the bag and provide each one with loop and button fastener or clamp fasteners at the top, to keep the contents from slipping out This IS better than the elastic top usually supplied. In these pockets keep buttons, alarming im- pements. tapes. ribbons for lingerie cards of hooks and eyes. patent fasteners. boning for girdles and collar frills. patches of all the dresses you have away with you. yard of Aa:rssck for mending, torn underwear, and extra spools of cotton and sewing silk that 1he small case will not hold.
 It may be we'll to mark the pockets on the outside with outlining or written linen tape sewed on with briar stitches. This leaves the body of the bag free for the work you may be doing at tho moment Such a bag is easily hung on the arm of a chair under the tree and will save unnecessary trips to the house
 Another useful sewing case for outdoors . the folding frame of wood that closes like small camp chair and has handles on tor for easy carrying around. \ deep bag ii sowed to this frame by tapes and casines.