Evening star., 1920-03-05
Hints for the Busy Housewife
Where to Keep Patterns
and How to Use Them-Best
Way to do General Sewing.

A great Improvement on the oio-
fashioned pattern bag Is pattern
cabinet. which may be made by any
handy man. Ii is simply series Oh
pigeon holes. the number depending
on the size of the family and the
number of patterns required. Under
each pigeon hole paint the name OF
member Of the family In olach
paint; then you will be able TO PICK
out the pattern for each at glance.
The second drawer of this caoinet
should be divided off to hold new
material. garments to be made over.
laces, blaci, and white tape, elastic
and all the little odds and ends.
An ordinary kitchen table IS e1-
c-i!ent for cutting. The ideal way
to finish II Is to apply two coats or
white paint and one of enamel. Al
before applying the next: IL Is easy
to keep clean.
A stationary yardstiek Will be
found of great convenience in the
sewing room. Screw an ordinary
yardstick firmly to the wall near the
machine and II will always be at
hand and easy for measuring ma
terial.
After learning to do plain sewing
by hand, which In the early stages
of the work comprises the straish'
seam, backhand stitch. blind stitch'
French folds and button hole stitch.
the next step. and a very important
one, is to learn how to cut from
paper patterns, since correct cutting
and fitting are now regarded as al
art. For this reason strict attention
should be paid to the directions given
on the label Of pattern. On the
labels Of patterns are given tne
that cut to the best advantage WIN"
out waste.
Concerning Patterns.
When the materials and patterns
have been selected the label shouio
he separated from the pattern 80 thae
II can he referred to at any thhs
without Inconvenience. ANY p,ece "
the pattern not needed should ne dis
carJed and others to be used but made
of contrasting materials should be
laid aside. 1t Is a good thing to eros"
out with a colored pencil any or IN"
perforatiens not required In making
style selected. This will prevent CON
fusion later on. All the pattern
pieces should be pressed with S nov
gives more body to tho paper.
Before starting to cut garment II
Is necessary to place all the lmpie.
ments required for tho work within
easy roach Every girl or woman VINO
attempts such important work as
dressmakins should equip herself WIN
all the necessaries in order to insure
success. The following articles should
bc close at hand: First OF all. q me-
dium-sised pair Of shears about nine
or ten inches long. we'll sharpened so
that they will cut a clean. smooth
ed6e; plenty Of pins a tape measure,
colored chalk. a tracing wheel. skirt
sti ick, some basting cotton, needles
and q thimble.
Woolen material should be sponged.
and in any other goods all the heavy
or o. ses and wrinkles caused by fold
ing and packing must be carefully
pressed out before cutting. Examine
the material as to the nap. hgures'
stripes and 20 on. The nap Is always
found on woolen materials. cloth OF
velvet by lightly rubbing with the
hand lengthwiss Of tho material. II
this Is perfectly smooth to the touch
the nap is down: II 1t feels rough the
material has been stroked against the
nap. The smooth stroke should al
ways run toward the lower edge OF
tho garment and parallel with the
perforations. Too much stress can.
not be laid on the necessity OF follow.
ing the cutting lines Of pattern. Ir
prominently striped or figured mate.
Hal Of any width or In single-widtt
material having a nap, stripe or figure