SEWING BIRD BEGINS TO TEACH
THEN Sewing Bird began:
“Little fingers, thin and nimble,
Fit to one, a little thimble;
Right hand―finger, number two―
Put the hat on,―that will do.”
[Illustration: “Put the hat on”]
Mary Frances put her thimble on the second finger of her right hand.
“I knew that much, Sewing Bird,” she laughed.
“What else do you know,
If that much is so?
Chur! Chur! Chur!”
sang Sewing Bird, hopping up and down on one leg.
“Why, I know how to thread my needle,” said Mary Frances, to whom the
talking of Sewing Bird seemed just as natural as the talking of Tea
Kettle and the other Kitchen People.
[Illustration: Sang Sewing Bird, hopping up and down.]
[Illustration: To thread a needle]
“I know, too, that you should put the end of the thread broken off
next the spool through the eye of the needle, so that it will not
kink.”
“Very good,
And very true;―
What in your basket,
Pray, have you?”
asked Sewing Bird.
Then Mary Frances answered, “These are the articles needed, my
Grandma said,
1.―TO OUTFIT A WORK BASKET
1. Spools of cotton, white, Nos. 36, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80; also one
of red, No. 50. One spool of basting cotton.
2. One little strawberry emery bag to brighten and sharpen
needles.
3. Pins.
4. A piece of beeswax.
5. A tape measure.
6. A pair of scissors.
7. A paper of ground-down needles, Nos. 5’s―10’s.
8. Some unbleached muslin.
9. Thimble.
[Illustration: To Outfit a Work Basket]
and, oh, look! here is a large piece of Java canvas, and a package
of blunt tapestry or zephyr needles, No. 19, and some red D. M. C.
working cotton, No. 8, that Grandma put in here yesterday.”
[Illustration: Zephyr needles and working cotton.]
“Good,” sang Sewing Bird,
“Oh, that is fine!
Is fine, indeed!
The zephyr needle
Is what we’ll need.”
“Oh,” laughed Mary Frances, “I can thread that―you turn the thread
over the needle, double, because a fuzzy end would not go through
even this long eye. Then hold it tight between the thumb and finger,
and push the needle over the double thread―this way. Mother taught
me that.”
“Needles and pins! Needles and pins!
This is where your lesson begins!
Now, thread your needle,
And knot your thread;
If you know how―
Please do as I’ve said.”
[Illustration: To thread a zephyr needle]
“Yes,” laughed Mary Frances. “I know how to knot my thread; I’ll show
you, after I get this needle threaded―now!”
2.―MAKING A KNOT
1. I wind the thread around the tip of the first finger of my
left hand.
2. I press it with my thumb and roll the thread downward to the
tip end of my finger―so!
3. Then I bring the second finger over the thread on the thumb.
4. Then draw the thread tight with the right hand as I hold it.”
[Illustration: To make a knot]
“Good! You’ll easily
Learn to sew!
How many stitches
Do you know?”
“Let me see,” pondered Mary Frances; “there are basting, and running,
and hemming!”
“Good!” exclaimed Sewing Bird, in a very nearly human voice, but much
more musical and softer.
“Good! Now I’ll name over all the principal stitches:
[Illustration: “Good!” exclaimed Sewing Bird]
Even and uneven basting
Running
Back-stitching
Half back-stitching
Overcasting
Overhanding
Catch-stitching
Button-hole stitch
Darning
Blanket stitch
[Illustration: “Are you home already?”]
“My,” said Mary Frances. “I had no idea there were that many! I
wonder―will I ever learn them all?”
“Oh, yes!” Sewing Bird assured her, “if you come for a lesson
whenever you can.”
“Indeed I will!” said Mary Frances, “and how I’ll thank you, dear
little birdie.”
Just then the door opened.
“My dear little girl,” said Grandma, “how are you? What a dull day!”
“Are you home already, Grandma?” asked Mary Frances. “I had no idea
it was time for you to come.”
“Ah, my dear, you’ve not been lonely,” said Grandma―then discovering
Sewing Bird on the table, “You’ve been playing with my old-fashioned
sewing bird, I see. Many a year this pretty little beak has held
Grandma’s long seams and hems while she sewed them.”
[Illustration: “My dear little girl,” said Grandma.]
“I think she’s lovely!” exclaimed Mary Frances.
“I love her, too, dear,” said Grandma, a far-away look coming in her
eyes.
“The first time she ever helped me,” she added softly, “was with my
wedding dress. Yes, I love her, too, dear.”
“Peep!” said a little bird voice.
“Dick,” said Grandma, shaking her finger, “Dick, you surely aren’t
jealous of the little sewing bird!”
[Illustration: The first time she ever helped me was with my wedding
dress”]
[Illustration: CHAPTER III]