Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-04-25

< a dry room. Dampness works
havoc with the mechanism.
Keep the machine covered
when not in use and the parts we'll
oiled with good machine oil. See that
the parts under the needle plate are
kept free from dirt and fluff. I'm
screw the plate, brush Well and oil
occasionally.
Have 4 definite place for the sewing
10 be done. If possible, reserve a
room for the purpose, or at least a
corner of a room. Cover the floor
with mating, and when a great deal
Of sewing is being done place a
square piece of cloth or an old sheet
under the sewing machine to catch
threads and scraps of goods. Also
nave a waste basket close by. In
rider 10 do good and quick work the
ewing room furniture should COM
Prise, in addition to a sewing ma
chine, q low rocker without arms. a
liable with a deep drawer, preferab bly,
with partitions to hold all sewing
materials, II chest of drawers. a lap
board and Il full-length mirror.
First Aids in Sewing Room.
A small hammer is an important
tooi IN the sewing room. 4 few taps
on a thick seam will tiatten it and
iause II to pass easil! under the
preSSer-foot of the machine. a hem
may be turned, hammerng lightly,
and sewed without baSting.
IL you have trouble with needles
setting rusty do not keep them in a
flannel case, as the sulphur in flannel
-'ustS steel. Instead, make Il needle
mr. ri eli nd
ne needles Will remain bright.
hen making white garments on
ne sewing machine. keep a piece of
chalk at hand, aud if a drop of oil
cts upon the fabric, rub it at once
NTH the chalk. Leave it on for a few
minutes and then brush it out and
mere viii be no spot left.
10 not cut your sewing machine
belt when it gets too loose. but in
stead put few drops of pure castor
IL on the band, run the machine a
wv minutes, and the belt will be
tightened.
Patterns should be kept in a sepa-
ate drawer. and each one properly
marked. When purchasing a pattern,
:.IWayS get the very best and follow
ne printed directions strictly. Learn
I" basic and learn to press, and al
ways place the pattern on the ma
itrIal, moving one piece from place TO
place in order to get the most from
made If marking is not properly done,
10 not use chalk or black lead, as
hey soon wear off Colorcd crayonS
hat children use in school are good
or marking purposes, as they do not
rub Oft. Red or yellow is good to use
~ dark materials. while blue is best
70 use on white. as that will come
ont in the washing. The colored
ines are sufficient to haste with a
running thread without first outlining
tucks and plaits.
Quick Methods With Sewing.
Firm materials which are to be
tucked by hand are much more easily
and neatly done if the tucks are first
folded by the machine. To do this,
adjust the tucker to the right size,
hen adjust the stitch and remove the
thread from the needle, tucking just
as If the thread were there. In the
hand sewing, follow the line of the
needle prickS. Table linen can be
marked in the same way for hemming
by hand. To tuck chiffon and other
sheer materials, first haste every
tuck. Place the chiffon on the lap
hoard. hold il to the board with dress
makers pins, which are finer and
sharper than ordinary pins; lay the
tuck with measure, and then pm
and haste 1t in place Press and Stltch.
To rutTie material neatly simply
lenEthen tn. stitch on the machine
and sew two rows OF stitching one
ruurth inch anart wherever the goods
is TO be ruffied. then pull on the two
parallel threads. regulating the
gathers with the other hand. Ruffling
done in this way will allow the
gathers 10 be regulated as desired,
which cannot be done with a machine
attachment.
The quickest and most effective
stitch for applying lace to the cut
edges of babies garments, fine lin
geries ana summer dresses is the
French overland stitch. 1t produces
IN effect that is very much like that
~ the rolled and whipped edge. but
he work is much more easily done.
Use a very fine needle and thread.
Hold the cut edge of the material,
light side up, along the fOrefinger of
h. left hand held horizontally in
'front.' Of YOU. Place the lace edging,
rErong side up, parallel with the cut
edge Of the material, but one-SlX-
zenith of an inch in from the edge.
Work from right to left Bring needle
md thread up through the material
ind the lace, pointing the needle
ldlagonally over the left shoulder and
between stitches throwing the thread
veil to the right. AS you draw the
neeble through and point it over your
shoulder the thread will roll the cut
"dges of the material compactly
backward, and so give a pleasing,
strong finish. The knack of it comes
n cry quickly, and once you have mas
erred the stitch YOU can do the work
rapidly with little thought or effort.