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[Illustration: For all girls who love to make pretty things.
Jane Eayre Fryer]
THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK
or
Adventures Among the Thimble People
by
JANE EAYRE FRYER
Illustrated by Jane Allen Boyer
The John C. Winston Co.
Philadelphia
CAUTION
The entire contents of this book are protected by the stringent new
copyright law, and all persons are warned not to attempt to reproduce
the text, in whole or in part, or any of the illustrations.
Copyright, 1913, by
Jane Eayre Fryer
* * * * * *
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
THE MARY FRANCES COOK BOOK
――OR――
ADVENTURES AMONG THE KITCHEN PEOPLE
The Mary Frances Cook Book is the exceptionally clever and
fascinating story of a little girl who wanted to learn to
help her mother. Only it is much more than a story. It
tells in story form how Mary Frances learned to cook. She
wants to know what all the kitchen pots and pans are for,
so she asks them. And they tell her―the pots and pans talk.
The book gives recipes in the simplest, plainest words. It
describes every operation clearly―just what Mary Frances did,
and how she learned to avoid mistakes. The book stimulates
the imagination and creates a desire to follow Mary
Frances’ example. 8vo. Cloth, 170 pages. Over 200 colored
illustrations by Margaret G. Hays and Jane Allen Boyer.
PRICE $1.20 NET
* * * * * *
[Illustration: PREFACE]
DEAR GIRLS:
Many of you already know Mary Frances’ old friends, the Kitchen
People, and have learned to love them. I hope all of you will do so
in time.
This book tells the story of Mary Frances’ new friends, the Thimble
People, who helped her spend a delightful summer vacation at her
Grandmother’s. It tells how she met Sewing Bird, who was a real Fairy
Lady, and the other Thimble People; and how they taught her a lot
of fascinating secrets, and finally took her on a long journey to
Thimble Land, and brought her back safely, after the most marvelous
adventures. Because they proved so helpful and friendly, she wants
you to know them, too.
The Thimble People, like the Kitchen People, are peculiar in that
they can be of little help to those who dislike them; so that, unless
you are prepared to be fond of them, it is best not to seek their
acquaintance.
[Illustration]
Toward those who show indifference or dislike, they
behave in a most contrary manner. For example, Tommy Pin Cushion is a
regular porcupine, and bristles right up instinctively at the least
inkling of dislike. But if he knows you like him, he will roll over
himself to help.
Another thing (and Mary Frances says to be very particular on this
point)―if any little girl, who really wishes to learn to sew, will
follow the lessons exactly as given by the Thimble People, she can
hardly fail to win the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try for her very own.
In the hope that all will achieve this much-to-be-desired end, this
record of Mary Frances’ new adventures is sent out to the girls of
America with the best wishes of
THE AUTHOR.
MERCHANTVILLE, N. J.
[Illustration: CONTENTS]
CHAPTER PAGE
I. SEWING BIRD 17
II. SEWING BIRD BEGINS TO TEACH 26
III. THE LONG AND SHORT OF BASTING 32
IV. SEWING BIRD’S SECRET 40
V. SEWING BIRD TEASES DICK CANARY 45
VI. THE STITCH GRANDMA LEARNED 50
VII. BLANKET STITCH, AND ITS SISTER 54
VIII. SEWING BIRD FAIRY LADY 58
IX. MAGIC AND MYSTERY 66
X. A DOLL’S LAUNDRY BAG 75
XI. MR. SILVER THIMBLE AND MR. EMERY BAG 82
XII. MARY FRANCES’ TREASURE BOX 89
XIII. MAKING A DOLL’S APRON 93
XIV. A LOAN FROM THE THIMBLE KING 98
XV. THREE LITTLE KITTENS 103
XVI. A SURPRISE FROM MOTHER 107
XVII. MARY MARIE’S HANDKERCHIEF 115
[Illustration]
CHAPTER PAGE
XVIII. A NIGHTIE FOR HER LITTLE NAP 125
XIX. HER BATH-ROBE 135
XX. MA CHINE 145
XXI. AUNT MARIA MAKES A VISIT 159
XXII. A RUINED DRESS 175
XXIII. THE FLANNEL PET 182
XXIV. THE WHITE PET 191
XXV. CAN THE DOLLY TALK 201
XXVI. A FUR-LINED CAPE 212
XXVII. A “DRESS-UP” DRESS 217
XXVIII. A PARTY DRESS 224
XXIX. MARY MARIE GOES AUTOMOBILING 234
XXX. MARY MARIE GOES IN BATHING 243
XXXI. MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS 248
XXXII. WHO STOLE MARY MARIE’S CLOTHES 254
XXXIII. MARY FRANCES VISITS THIMBLE LAND 258
XXXIV. WHAT WAS IN THE FAIRY BAG 269
XXXV. MARY FRANCES AT HOME 278
[Illustration: LIST OF PATTERNS]
PAGE
1. DOLL’S LAUNDRY BAG 67
2. DOLL’S APRON 93
3. DOLL’S HANDKERCHIEF 119
4. DOLL’S NIGHTGOWN 127
5. DOLL’S BATH-ROBE 136
6. DOLL’S KIMONO 154
7. DOLL’S DRESSING SACK 156
8. DOLL’S PINAFORE 171
9. DOLL’S MORNING DRESS 177
10. DOLL’S FLANNEL PETTICOAT 186
11. DOLL’S UNDERWAIST 188
12. DOLL’S LAWN PETTICOAT 195
13. DOLL’S DRAWERS 198
14. DOLL’S ROMPERS 208
15. DOLL’S BLOOMERS 210
16. DOLL’S LEGGINGS 211
17. DOLL’S FUR-LINED CAPE 215
18. DOLL’S AFTERNOON DRESS 219
[Illustration]
PAGE
19. DOLL’S GUIMPE 228
20. DOLL’S PARTY DRESS 229
21. DOLL’S AUTOMOBILE COAT 238
22. DOLL’S AUTOMOBILE BONNET 240
23. DOLL’S BATHING SUIT 244
24. DOLL’S FUR MUFF AND TIPPET 249
25. DOLL’S SUN BONNET 250
26. DOLL’S WORK BAG 251
27. DOLL’S RAIN COAT 269
28. DOLL’S POLO CAP 270
29. DOLL’S WEDDING DRESS 271
30. LADY’S WORK BAG 273
31. LADY’S BELT 274
32. BABY’S BIB 274
33. GIRL’S COLLAR 275
[Illustration: INSTRUCTIONS ]
PAGE
1. TO OUTFIT A WORK BASKET 27
2. MAKING A KNOT 29
3. EVEN BASTING 36
4. UNEVEN BASTING 38
5. RUNNING STITCH 40
6. STITCHING 41
7. HALF BACK-STITCHING 47
8. CATCH STITCHING 48
9. OVERHANDING 52
10. OVERCASTING 52
11. HEMMING STITCH 53
12. BLANKET STITCH 54
13. BUTTON-HOLE STITCH 55
14. CANVAS SAMPLER 56
15. CROSS STITCHING 57
16. GRAND SAMPLER ON CANVAS 59
17. HEMMING ON MUSLIN 73
18. NEEDLES AND THREADS 76
[Illustration]
PAGE
19. ABOUT CLOTH―WEAVING AND SPINNING 92
20. GATHERING 94
21. STROKING OF GATHERS 95
22. SETTING GATHERS 96
23. KENSINGTON OUTLINE STITCH 104
24. HEM-STITCHING 119
25. SEWING ON LACE EDGING 120
26. MAKING A FELL 122
27. FRENCH SEAM 130
28. TO SEW ON HOOKS AND EYES 139
29. TO MAKE EYELET LOOPS 140
30. TO SEW ON LOOPS OF TAPE 142
31. FEATHER STITCHING 157
32. SEWING ON BUTTONS 160
33. BUTTON-HOLES 167
34. MAKING A PLACKET 179
35. FELLING ON FLANNEL 187
36. MAKING TUCKS 196
37. WHIPPED RUFFLE 199
38. FRENCH KNOTS 231
39. EYELETS 245
40. SLIP STITCH 250
[Illustration]
PAGE
41. FRENCH HEMMING ON DAMASK 275
42. DARNING STOCKINGS 275
43. DARNING WOOLEN GOODS 276
44. PATCHING ON GINGHAM 276
45. PATCHING ON FLANNEL 277
46. SPIDER’S WEB 277
[Illustration:
Little Marie has lost her clothes
And can’t tell where to find them;
Let them alone,―and they’ll come home
With all their buttons behind them.]
[Illustration: THIMBLE PEOPLE
Sewing Bird.
Mr. Silver Thimble.
Mr. Emery Bag.
Tommy (Tomato) Pin Cushion.
Scissors Shears.
Pen Cil.
Needle Book.
BodKin.
Ma Chine.
Work Basket.
Bees Wax.
Yard Stick.
Common Ordinary Pin.
Button-hole Scissors.
Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try]
[Illustration: CHAPTER I]
CHAPTER I
SEWING BIRD
“CHEER―UP!” sang a sweet little voice.
[Illustration: Dick seldom sang]
Mary Frances looked at the canary; but Dick was very busily preening
his feathers, and Dick seldom sang.
“Cheer up!” gurgled again the sweet bird voice.
Mary Frances was certain this time that it was not Dick.
Maybe it was a bird outside!
She looked out of the sewing-room window. No, not a single feather
was in sight. All the birds were doubtless in their little nests, or
hiding close in the barn to keep themselves warm in such a rain.
“Dick!” said Mary Frances, “Dick, did you speak?”
Dick only ducked his head again for a seed, and snapped off the shell
with his strong little bill.
“Peep! Peep! Peep!” sang a bird’s voice, as though inviting Mary
Frances to a game.
“I’ll play ‘Hide and Seek,’” thought the little girl.
[Illustration: “Dick, did you speak?”]
“Where are you, Birdie?” she asked aloud; and, throwing Angie on the
rocking chair, began to search.
Another soft little “Peep!” drew her near her grandmother’s
work-basket.
“Why!” she cried, “I could easily believe the voice comes from
Grandma’s basket!”
“Peep! Peep! Peep! Peep!” the bird voice answered excitedly, as Mary
Frances leaned over.
“Why! Why! Why!” she exclaimed. “If it isn’t―if it isn’t Grandma’s
Sewing Bird! You dear little thing! Can you talk, too?” lifting her
out. “I never thought of you!”
[Illustration: Peep! Peep! Peep!]
“Set me up
Upon the table,
Then I’ll sing
As I am able,
Chir! Chir!
Chirp! Chirp!”
answered Sewing Bird.
Mary Frances carried her over to the sewing table and fastened her
carefully to the edge, just as she had seen her grandmother do.
[Illustration: Throwing Angie in the rocking chair.]
The other Thimble People kept perfectly still, wondering what would
happen next.
“Do you know―you remind me of the Kitchen Folks, Birdie,” said the
little girl.
[Illustration: “The Thimble People!”]
“The Kitchen Folks! The Kitchen Folks!
Of all the joyous, joyous jokes!
The Thimble People’s nearest kin―
Best friends we are―have always been,”
sang the little bird.
“The Thimble People!” exclaimed Mary Frances; “why, who are they? Are
there many Thimble People? And what relation are they to the Kitchen
People? Will you tell me all about them? And will they be my little
friends?”
“Tut! Tut!
So many questions, little maid,
I cannot answer, I’m afraid―
But I can say, without a joke,
Your friends will be the Thimble Folk.”
[Illustration: Sang the little bird]
“Oh, I’m so glad! My, I wouldn’t have missed knowing them for
anything. Why, I feel as though I’ve known you for―for―ages!”
[Illustration: ‘Except maybe a mouse’]
“I was so afraid
You wouldn’t find me!
And then, of course,
You couldn’t mind me,
Chirp!”
“Oh,” said Mary Frances, “wouldn’t that have been dreadful! I was so
lonely and dreary that I almost wanted to go home instead of staying
here at Grandma’s.”
“Are you alone
In the house,
Except maybe a mouse?
Cheerp!”
asked Sewing Bird.
“No,” said Mary Frances, “Katie’s in the kitchen,―but she’s very
busy, and won’t bother with me, and my Grandma is out this afternoon,
calling on some old ladies.”
[Illustration: “Katie’s in the kitchen”]
“Oh, you poor
Little lonely girl!
It sets my head
In quite a whirl;
Let me sit here
On this table,
And comfort you
As I am able.”
[Illustration: “Billy is a first-class scout”]
“Well, you see, Sewing Bird,” began Mary Frances gratefully, “Mother
is never very strong, and Father had to go to California on business;
and he thought wouldn’t it be nice to take Mother with him. So I’m
here at my dear Grandma’s for the long summer vacation; and brother
Billy is camping with the Boy Scouts; Billy is a first-class scout,
you know.”
“Yes,” said Sewing Bird, pretending to look wise, “they have them in
Thimble Land.”
“Have what?” asked Mary Frances.
“Why, Boy Scouts, of course―in Thimble Land!”
“Thimble Land!” said Mary Frances; “my, that must be where the
Thimble People come from! Where is it?”
[Illustration: Pretending to look wise]
“A long way there―
Perhaps you’ll go
Some day, if you will
Learn to know
That what we teach
Is sew! sew! sew!”
[Illustration: “Sew! Sew! Sew!”]
“So! So! _So!?_” asked Mary Frances, looking puzzled, “What’s so?”
“Sew! Sew! Sew!” sang Sewing Bird, looking sharply at her with bright
little eyes.
“Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew!”
“Sew!”
“Sew! Sew!” she fairly shrieked.
“Yes,” said Mary Frances wondering at her excitement, “of course it’s
so.”
“I mean sew
With a thimble;
I mean sew
And be nimble,”
sang Sewing Bird.
[Illustration: Mary Frances, looking puzzled]
“Oh, ho,” laughed Mary Frances. “You mean _sew_! How lovely! If I
only knew how to really, truly sew! I do, just a little.”
“If you’d like to learn to sew;
To baste and bind; tie a bow;
Dress a dolly, head to toe,
We can teach you how―”
[Illustration: “Dress a dolly, head to toe.”]
“Can you, really? Really and truly?” cried Mary Frances. “How
perfectly dear! Oh, please do, please begin! Angie, poor child, needs
so many clothes. When she went to the Tea Party, she spilled cocoa
all over herself, and it spoiled all her lovely, lovely dress. It
has always grieved me since. She’s so tattered and forlorn. Will you
teach me how to sew?”
“I will most gladly; and quite true,
I’ll tell you what you’d better do―
Get your Grandma every day
To let you have this room for play.”
[Illustration: “I will most gladly”]
“Oh, yes, we’ll have the sewing-room for a play-room, Sewing Bird;
and you give me lessons! Must they be secret―like the Kitchen
People’s lessons? And can you teach me? Oh, how happy I am! I wonder
if I can surprise my dear mother. Can I learn to sew for my dolly
this vacation?”
[Illustration: “A pinafore”]
“Why, certainly, dear little Miss,
You can learn to make all this:
A pin-a-fore, some under-clothes,
A little ’kerchief for her nose;
Kimono, bloomers, little cap,
A nightie for her little nap;
A dress for morn, for afternoon,
A dress for parties, not too soon;
A little cape, a little bonnet―
Perhaps with roses fastened on it;―
A nice warm coat to keep from chill,
A dainty sack, in case she’s ill:
All this and more we’ll gladly teach,
If you will do and follow each―
will you?”
“I will,” laughed Mary Frances, “but each what?”
[Illustration: “Some underclothes”]
“Each little lesson, one by one,
Then, after each hard stitch is done,
Remember―‘patience brings reward!’”
“What’s ‘patience’?” asked the little girl.
“Why, ‘patience’? Patience is Mary Frances’ middle name―Mary P.
Frances,―see?”
“My, isn’t that a nice name! Mary Patience Frances. And what’s
‘reward’?” laughed the little girl.
“‘Reward’? Reward,” said Sewing Bird, “is Angie all dressed up in the
things we’ll make.”
“Oh, I’d love to begin at once―can’t we?”
Sewing Bird gaily nodded her bright, shiny little head.
“Goody! Goody! Won’t Mother be surprised?” said Mary Frances. “I’ll
run and get my little work-basket that Grandma gave me.”
[Illustration: ‘Reward’ is Angie all dressed up in the things we’ll
make]
[Illustration: CHAPTER II]