“Now, let us see what the nightgown looks like?” Mary Frances held it up.
“Good!” said the Fairy Lady. “Next you’ll learn
1. Fold the two long halves together, and pin the notches against each other.
2. Baste carefully along this edge, and try on dolly. Alter, if necessary.
3. With running stitch, sew near the basting.
4. Turn to other side and baste seam carefully to enclose the first seam―a French Seam.
5. Sew with half-backstitching. Turn to right side.
[Illustration: “I’m the gratefulest child”]
“You may use the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try for this lesson,” said Fairy Lady, “because you’ve already learned these stitches. Doesn’t it pay to work patiently at first?”
“Oh, I’m the gratefulest child,” said Mary Frances, taking from Needle Book the shining needle, which seemed almost too precious to use, and beginning to sew.
In a twinkle the French seams were neatly made.
“Now,” said Fairy Lady, “fold a three-quarter of an inch hem at the bottom, and baste. Then hem it.”
The hemming the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try quickly did.
Clip a half dozen little slashes in the edge of the neck, and turn back to the right side of the goods one-quarter of an inch. Baste.
Turn back one-quarter of an inch the end of the lace beading for ribbon, and baste it over the turned back goods, beginning in the center of the back.
Cut off the lace beading one-quarter of an inch beyond the place it meets the beginning, and finish by turning it in one-quarter of an inch. Hem beading down on lower edge.
in the same way, but it is not necessary to slash them. Then sew by overhanding stitch, some Valenciennes lace in neck and sleeves. Join ends of the lace by a fell.
[Illustration: Thread Bod Kin with ribbon]
“Is that right?” asked Mary Frances at length.
“Good,” smiled Fairy Lady. “Now thread Bod Kin with the pretty baby ribbon, and run it in and out of the lace beading.”
“Not your fairy wand!” exclaimed Mary Frances, hesitating to take hold of the bodkin wand Fairy Lady was holding out to her.
“For those who try,” smiled Fairy Lady, “no gift of the fairies is too good. Be sure to commence to run the ribbon in at the center of the front,” she added, as Mary Frances took up Bod Kin. “And leave ends long enough to tie pretty big bows.”