The Washington herald., 1914-09-28
ONE CLEVER WOMAN
!, MADE LAYETTES

A woman whose husband earned q small
salary devised the following plan to add
to their dollars:
She made It a point to secure from her
acquaintances,. friends, and in any other
way feasible. the names Of women who
were anticipating visit from old DR..
Stork. Often her family physician aided
her by telling her-of his patients or
she learned Of others through trained
nurses, hospitals, and various other ways.
To these prospective mothers she wrote
letters asking IL they would commits
sion her to select and make the layettes
for the little ones expected. OF course
mothers knew that there are many shops
which cater to the same kind OF trade
and also that most Of these are expen-
sive to patroniZe II the garments are at
tractive: that also there are ready-to-
wear departments in the various depart
ment stores, where machine-made gar
ments are to be had at popular prices.
But our clever friend worked out .
different plan by which she learned the
circumstances Of her clients and Sc
cured from each an estimate OF the
amount OF money they desired TO invest
Then she bought q few yards Of the
materials ordinarilZ used for babies gar
ments-nainsook, long cloth. batiste, etc
from q medium grade 10 q hne quality,
to suit the taste or means of the aver
age expectant mother and the one who
could AFFORD to be more extravagant-
Using Q pattern OF the simplest design
such as those for slips and petticoats
that are put on over the head instead
| OF having buttons and buttonholes to fas-
ten and annoy the little bodies, she made
two outfits, to represent . moderate and
| q luxurious layette.
There was in each set one Of each
kind OF garment necessary for the COM
| fort OF q newborn child: in one they
| were machine-made. but very neat. Of
practical material that would wear we'll
and launder well. while in the other the
fabrics were as dainty and fine as the
most doting mother withFa nice income
| might desire, and the work all done BY
hand. with embroidered designs. hem
stitching and other fancy stitches foF
| adornment
| difference Of some dollars IN the cost Of
the two layettes yet owing to the fact
that the maker had no shop rent or
other such expenses she could afford
| to sell her wares much cheaper than
those In the shops. To clients In the
city she often exhibited garments when
they could not make It convenient to
see at her home BY appointment: thus
Il she secured many orders Whenever
she found that q customer was unable
to pay for the full outfit but was willing
to buy part she accommodated her. Or
ders were given for duplicates and she
was allowed q reasonable time to make
the Iayette, 50 that she found the work
not too confning, and when tired or in
need Of diversion, she was at liberty to
rest After the first season. the orders
came IN so regularly that she employed
an assistant; II they increase in num-
Der as they did last season, she Is con-
templating having still more help. Even
now much OF the embroidery and fancy
stitching IS done by women OF her ac-
quaintance who are anxious TO earn q lit
tie money at home Materials are now
purchased at wholesale prices and the
profits OF the business are well worth
! working for.