“Now, one-quarter of an inch above the hems, put in a row of running stitches,―with once in a while a back-stitch to strengthen it. This is called combination stitch.”
[Illustration: This is called combination stitch]
When Mary Frances had done this, she held up the bag, and asked, “What shall I do next?”
“I’ll tell you more, I’ll tell you more, If you can tell What that is for!”
[Illustration: “Hush!” said Silver Thimble]
“I know,” guessed Mary Frances. “It’s for a casing to hold the drawing strings.”
“Oh, to my heart That music rings, For you to guess It’s ‘drawing strings,’”
“How could her heart draw strings,” asked Scissors Shears of Thimble, in a whisper.
“Hush!” said Silver Thimble, raising his sword-needle.
“Snip!” snapped Scissors Shears. But Fairy Lady, not noticing, continued the lesson.
[Illustration: “Let me touch the other side” And behold, the other side was overhanded]
“Do you remember the overhanding stitch on canvas? Yes? Now, those little ends of the bag above the running stitches, are to be overhanded together. You put the needle in straighter, and more toward you―like this,” as she placed the needle in position.
“Now fold the two hemmed ends together, the right sides facing each other.
“Baste along the longer edges with even basting. Overhand these edges together.
“You would not always overhand the sides of a bag together,―you could run it, or back-stitch, or combination stitch it; but we want this unusually strong because your dolly will have so many clothes to be stuffed into it. I should say handkerchiefs, because this bag is really a handkerchief bag, or a _little_ laundry bag.”
“My, how well you have done this side. Let me touch the other side with my bodkin wand―there!” And behold, the other side was overhanded.
“That’s lovely, thank you, dear Fairy Lady!” exclaimed Mary Frances, examining the perfectly beautiful stitches. “How did―?”
“Oh, that was done In Thimble Land― Done by the Fairy Needle Band.”
laughed the little lady, well pleased at Mary Frances’ delight.
[Illustration: “Thread this tape into a bodkin”]
“Now, thread this narrow tape into a bodkin, and run it into the casing, all the way round; then tie the ends together. Now, another piece (they are twelve inches long) in the other end, and tie.”