[Illustration: Continue V shaped opening to bottom]
“Is there any ribbon to match?” peering over the table edge to look into the trunk.
[Illustration: “I can’t bother with you”]
“Too narrow,” as Mary Frances held some up.
“There!” pointing down into the tray of the trunk, “that Dresden figured, pink and blue, inch wide ribbon is beautiful, and there must be about a yard and three-quarters of it.”
“Lovely!” exclaimed Mary Frances, putting it with the flannel on the table. “Now, I’ll cut out the bath robe.”
“Very important! Very important!” whispered Tommy Pin Cushion as Scissors Shears came dancing, first on one leg and then on the other, to the edge of the table.
“I can’t bother with you,” whispered Scissors Shears, looking cross-eyed at Tommy Pin Cushion, “I’ve too much to go through,” glancing up to see if Mary Frances noticed; but the little girl was smoothing out and pinning the pattern in place, and did not seem to hear.
“Oumph!” groaned Scissors Shears, as Mary Frances cut into the thick fabric.
“Bite into it hard, Scissors!” laughed Tommy Pin Cushion, but Fairy Lady silenced him with a wave of her wand.
Scissors Shears looked pleased, as Mary Frances laid him down on the table.
1. Pin seams together, being certain to match notches.
2. Baste. Try on doll. Alter, if necessary.
3. Stitch, or use combination stitch (two running stitches and a back-stitch).
4. Overcast, or blanket-stitch the raw edges of the seams.
5. Fold inch wide ribbon, and slip it over the raw edges of the bath robe―that is, the fronts and neck, and the sleeves.
6. To fit ribbon around curves, gather it a short distance on the fuller edge.
When ready to cut ribbon, allow one-half inch for folding under when finishing.
7. With sewing silk to match the ribbon, sew it to the robe, with small “in and out” stitches, slanting the needle slightly each time. Pull needle through to wrong side, then through to right side with each stitch―just as you did first stitches in canvas work.
8. Turn bottom of robe up one inch. Baste.
[Illustration: Slip ribbon over raw edges]
Mary Frances worked quietly for some time. “But how will my child fasten her bath robe?” she asked at length.
“Oh,” said Fairy Lady. “That’s a good question! Now learn,