The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-01

The child who makes things fo1
Christmas is going to have the best
time Of all. II your boy and girl like
to fuss with things, let them begin
now. Here are a few suggestions.
First, the girls.
Get cotton crepe Of several pastel
shades, and say: Betty, am going
to show you how to fringe small
squares for napkins, with q larger
one for q bridge cloth, or else OBJ
longs for mats" Then cut squares
twelve inches each way, and pull out
threads all round to the depth Of
an inch. Finished in no time. Cheap,
too. That's for Aunt Edith's summer
cottage. Bridge cover, q yard square.
For Betty's chum, who has q doll
bed, suggest that she make o small
comfort. Two oblongs Of silkaline,
or lowered lawn, and little cotton
'batting"-flat cotton-laid between,
is all that is needed. how her how
TO turn in edges and haste together.
Thread coarse needle with baby
ribbon. Draw needle through COM
fort so as to leave long stitches, like
big basting-stitches. Cut between
each, and tie in bows. Around the
edge, blanket stitch makes good
finish. Any child can do the whole
thing If she can work with q needle
at all.
Cretonne Makes Up Into Gay Gifts
Then, get cretonne. Nothing lends
itself to gay little gifts like its
splashy color. A whole bunch OF
things can be made from 1t. For
instance, cut two pieces five inches
wide and eleven inches long, and
have Betty sew them together along
the end with overstitch. What have
you? A half-grown sewing case, or
an envelope for hair-nets or bobby
pins. To complete for the latter,
fold one-third of the way, sew edges
together with over and ~0verstitch,
and then bring flap down. Mother,
you can put on loop and button.
For q sewing case, all Betty has to
do, is to run some stitches down to
make three compartments In the
envelope.
For variations, show her how to
take these two same pieces Of ma
terial, cut q trif1e wider for flap
leaving the side open this time, in
stead of the end, SO 1t opens length
wise. Two tapes can be added tc
fasten. Or ribbon. If you can slir
In some rubber cloth, they make fine
additions to the travel set. But chill
dren are made happy by creating
SO the usefulness is less important
than the boon Of production
Boys can work in wood or paint
Too bad, II you haven't saved ur
wooden boxes Of all sizes through tn
year; but get hold of little or big
ones II you can. Then the fun be-
gins. The world has gone box mad
from modernistic book cases (thres
boxes TERED In receding sizes from
the door), to cigaret cases. Quick
drying paint In good shades, giv
grand results.
Stencils Make Decorations Easy
Then get some stencils at a sta
CAOACIy otOIes 4uSy CVot oO Attlt
and the design can either be ap-
piled by wetting the transfers ant
laying on, or the open ones are used,
applying a contrasting color with
the brush. There you are. A flower
basket, silhouette, or scene. Just
like that.
II there is no wood, then hunt up
old but firm hat boxes, and get
pretty wallpaper. One or two for
Mother or Aunt Hattie help to fur
nish room. Paste Is made Of -four
and water, hot water. Get a paper
hanger to tell you what to add, a few
drops Of sizing perhaps, to make 1t
stick well, of course.
The boy with some mechanical
training will, of course, be making
his dad nick-tie holder, or mother
bread board. If either girls or
boys can knit or crochet Eyes, lots
of boys do, and men, too) yarn Is
an answer to practically half the
Christmas problems. Looms for
weaving, also. But get started now.
/ could 60 on for hours with sug-
gestions, but this Is all today.
NEXT: Rules for picking toys.