Here the Yarn Baby spoke. All the Crocheting and Knitting People had risen when Fairly Flew arrived. Now, to Mary Frances’ astonishment, the Yarn Baby, who had always been the limpest of dolls, picked up Mary Marie’s little rocking-chair which was on the sewing table and placed it near the fairy.
“Please take a seat,” she said, “for we need help, dear Fairly Flew, in making the doll’s shawl.”
“Oh, is that so?” laughed Fairly Flew. Then she put her hand down into her cobwebby pocket and pulled out a silver crochet hook with a handle only about an inch long.
She handed the crochet hook to Mary Frances.
“Take hold of its head and its heel, and pull,” she said.
Mary Frances was almost afraid to pull, but she was very much pleased to find that when she did, the crochet hook became nearly as long as Crow Shay.
“Finish your work with my needle,” directed Fairly Flew.
Mary Frances was astonished at what happened. No sooner did she start to make a row of stitches than the magic crochet needle darted ahead of her fingers and finished the row in a twinkle of an eye.
In about sixty twinkles the little shawl was finished.
“Oh,” gasped Mary Frances, “Oh, isn’t it wonderful?” and she held it up for all to admire.
“Put it away, my dear,” said Fairly Flew. “I do not have very long to stay. A few hours a day is all the time I have for any mortal. So let us get everything done that we can.”
[Illustration: Her hair began to stand on end.]
“WHAT comes next?” Fairly Flew asked the Yarn Baby.
“Next,” answered the Yarn Baby, “we planned to show the little Miss how to make another scarf for Mary Marie.”
“Mary Marie hasn’t two necks,” whispered Crow Shay.
[Illustration: “Hush!” warned Wooley Ball.]
“Hush!” warned Wooley Ball as she noticed the Yarn Baby’s hair begin to rise. “You will get into trouble if you don’t!”
“There will be caps or hats made to match the little scarfs,” went on the Yarn Baby, turning to Mary Frances. “You will know how to make this scarf as soon as you hear the directions:
(See picture opposite page 104—color plate)
Be sure to make Doll’s Shawl, page 75, before attempting to make this scarf.
Material: Old rose wool floss. Gray floss for trimming.
1. With rose floss make 13 chain stitches.