[Illustration: Now, turn the hem on each end as I have already shown you.”]
“NOW, try it on the laundry bag itself,” smiled Fairy Lady, who was waiting for Mary Frances next Wednesday.
[Illustration: “Now, try it on the laundry bag”]
“That’s hard to crease!” exclaimed the little girl, laying the calico down on the table and pressing the fold with her thumb nail.
“Yes,” said Fairy Lady. “It is a good idea to pinch it together between the thumb and forefinger, to make the crease.”
“Oh, that is much better,” said Mary Frances, and she soon had the little bag folded ready for sewing.
“I begin to hem,” said Mary Frances, flourishing her threaded needle.
“What number cotton are you using?” asked Fairy Lady.
[Illustration: Pinch it together between thumb and forefinger]
“A little too coarse,” said Fairy Lady. “I must tell you something about needles and threads:
Ground-downs―medium long. These do not break or bend easily.
There are the long-eyed needles―worsted and darning needles.
Bodkins―long thick needles, for carrying tapes and cords.
Open a package of needles No. 5’s to 10’s. In the middle, you will find needles
No. 5―for coarse work or sewing on buttons.
For Tucking, Hemming, Running. No. 9 No. 60, 70 or 80 For Stitching, Overhanding, Overcasting. . . . . . . . . No. 8 No. 50 or 60 Button-holes . . . . . . . . . No. 7 or 8 No. 36, 40 or 50 Gathering and Basting. . . . . No. 7 or 8 No. 36 or 40
“Oh,” murmured Mary Frances, “I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t, dear little Seamstress,” smiled Fairy Lady. “That’s why I’m here!”
“Thank you, Fairy Lady,” said Mary Frances.
“Now, you may begin work on the laundry bag.”
Mary Frances smilingly basted the hems near the edges with even basting stitches, and then began to do the hemming.
Fairy Lady watched her intently all the while.
“There!” Mary Frances suddenly exclaimed. “I’ve broken my thread. How do I join it?”
“I will show you this once,” said Fairy Lady. “You do it in very much the same way as in starting the work,” and she taught Mary Frances how to tuck both ends of thread under the hem.
“When you finish, just fasten the thread by taking two or three stitches in the fold. That’s a pretty good looking hem for the first real hem on muslin,” said Fairy Lady.