[Illustration: Fig.102 - Cut the Pistil out of the flowers.]
The hats these little ladies wear to the party are of the same silky material as their skirts and are usually of the same color, though sometimes a lady in white will appear in a pink or yellow hat, or a pink lady can be seen wearing a white hat, and the lady in rose knows how well she looks in a hat that is almost black. When there are two or more gowns of the same color the hollyhock ladies prefer to have different colored hats so that they will not all look alike.
Fig. 101 shows how Miss Hollyhock and her friends are made from the flowers of that name. When you have gathered the flowers you must cut off the stem of each close to the green calyx which is Miss Hollyhock's waist, and then cut out the pistil which grows inside the blossom. This pistil is shaped something like a little club, and is covered with the yellow grains of pollen (ask some one what pollen is). It looks like Fig. 102. The pollen will make the flower wilt quickly. That is why it is best to take the pistil out.
[Illustration: Fig.103 - This is the way to make Miss Hollyhock.]
Now select a nice, round, hard, green bud for a head and leave its stem on for the neck. Turn the sharp point of your scissors around in the top of the hollyhock calyx to make a little round hole, then push the stem of the bud into the hole, screwing it round and round until the bud almost, but not quite, touches the calyx. If you push it all the way down your lady will have no neck; her head will grow directly out of her shoulders.
[Illustration: Fig.104 - Miss Hollyhock's Tea Table.]
[Illustration: Fig.105 - Teapot and cups for the Hollyhock tea table.]
Wooden toothpicks are used for legs, arms, and support, but strong broom-straws will answer as well, or straight, slender twigs. Push three toothpicks, twigs, or broom-straws up into the centre of the flower, two in front and one at the back as you see them in Fig. 103. The dotted lines show where they go inside the blossom. Be sure to have all three the same length so that the little lady will stand firmly. The arrows on Fig. 103 show where to insert the arms. Cut sharp points on the broom-straws to make them slide in easily. Blunt ends will tear the flower.