I. ROLLED HEM; HEM STITCHING. Make a doll's apron of fine muslin, attach top to band with rolled, whipped gathers. Make two clusters of tucks of three each at the bottom and hem stitch the bottom hem.
II. SLEEVE PLACKET. Make a taped sleeve placket as shown in the illustration.
III. MAKE A SLOT SEAM, using dress goods and finish with an arrow head. (b) Make a large cloak buttonhole.
IV. MITRE EMBROIDERY and finish as shown in the illustration. (b) Match and join the same.
V. EMBROIDERY: Make something small and useful--a doily, stock, collar--illustrating some style of embroidery, or make a model of the first series which will afford you the most new experience.
[Illustration: MAKING MEXICAN DRAWN-WORK]
The greatest obstacle to home sewing of any kind is the failure to provide suitable materials with which to do the work. To do good work--to make attractive gowns--the simple tools which the work requires must be provided. First, there should be needles and pins of the best quality and make. They should be fine and well pointed. The needle should be suitable to the material to be sewn and sufficiently large to carry the thread easily. A blunt or bent needle should never be used. Long or milliner's needles are preferred by many for basting.
A good supply of thread should be kept on hand--not too great a quantity, but the stock should be added to as it is used. There should be both silk and colored cotton, also twist for button holes, loops and arrow heads and knitting silk to sew on and finish feather bone.
Two pairs of scissors are required--one with long, sharp blades, and a pair of medium sizes for snipping machine stitches.
Among the other necessary articles are a tape measure, cake of wax, pencils or tailor's chalk, tracing wheel, emery, lap board.
Canvas, scrim, or any like material should be kept in the sewing room, as these are invaluable for facings, linings of collars, cuffs, etc. Hooks, eyes, buttons, tape, linings, featherbone and shields are requisites not to be forgotten.
Tape is constantly needed. Linen tape is thinner and makes a neater finish for some purposes than cotton tape. The bias tape or binding now kept by the larger stores is very useful for binding curved edges and for other purposes.