AUNT MARIA MAKES A VISIT
“NOW, one thing more,―
A pinafore,
We’ll make for a doll
We almost adore.”
[Illustration: “A pinafore”]
“A pinafore!―Sewing Bird Lady,” exclaimed Mary Frances. “An apron
for Mary Marie?”
“Yes,” smiled Fairy Lady, “a big apron which she can use as a
dress until you make her some dresses―then she can use it as a
‘cover-me-up’ apron.”
“Oh, good!” said Mary Frances, “and, dear Fairy Lady, I want to tell
you―I’ve a lovely surprise! My Aunt Maria is coming to see us.”
“Aunt Maria―oh, does she love sewing?”
“Indeed she does! She made a bed quilt when she was―let me
see,―maybe―I think―it was when she was two years old.”
“Tee-hee!” giggled Tommy Pin Cushion.
[Illustration: “Tee-hee!”]
“Oh, I beg your pardon,” he said, pretending he had stepped on
Scissors Shears’ toes.
“A-chooo!” said Needle Book, pretending to sneeze.
[Illustration: “A-chooo!”]
“She must have been a wonderful child,” said Fairy Lady.
“She was,” said Mary Frances, “and the loveliest cook ever! She told
me all about it! She almost knew the Kitchen People.”
“Well, I’m glad such a delightful person is coming, I’m sure,” said
Fairy Lady, “but let us have as much done as possible before she gets
here. To do to-day’s lesson, we have to learn the best way for
32.―SEWING ON BUTTONS
1. Make a pinhole where the button is to be sewed. Thread a No. 7
needle with No. 36 cotton―the cotton double,―and make a knot.
2. From the right side put needle down through the cloth in the
pinhole mark, bringing the knot on the right side. The knot is
then hidden under the button.
3. Bring the needle partly through near the knot on the right
side.
4. Put the button on needle. Draw needle through.
5. Take a stitch down through the opposite hole, and put a pin
through this stitch.
[Illustration: Sewing on buttons]
6. Sew through the holes, making a cross over the button and pin.
7. Take out the pin. This will loosen the stitches.
8. Bring out the needle from under side of cloth, between the
button and cloth.
9. Wind the thread around the stitches under the button three or
four times. This allows for the thickness of the button hole.
[Illustration: “A lady to see you Miss”]
10. Fasten on the wrong side.
In sewing a button with a shank or loop, take several over and
over stitches with double thread.
If putting on a number of buttons, the button-holes should be
made first, and the place for buttons be marked through them.
“When does Aunt Maria arrive?” asked Fairy Lady.
“I don’t exactly know,” said Mary Frances.
“Oh, I hope―” began Scissors Shears;―then the bell rang.
“A lady to see you, Miss,” said Katie, coming up-stairs.
“It’s Aunt Maria! It’s Aunt Maria!” exclaimed Mary Frances, jumping
down the stairs, two steps at a time.
[Illustration: Wind thread around stitches]
“Oh, dear Aunt Maria, how perfectly grand!” kissing the old lady
again and again. “Have you had lunch? Grandma always takes an outing
on Wednesday afternoons, and she’ll be so sorry not to be home to
welcome you!”
“But I feel very welcome,” laughed Aunt Maria, “and I have had lunch,
thank you, my dear.”
“Then you can come right up-stairs,” said Mary Frances, leading the
way to the guest-room.
[Illustration: “Come right up-stairs”]
After taking off her hat and smoothing her hair, Aunt Maria began:
“What are you doing, child, all alone this afternoon―are you often
alone? You have no chance to cook here, I imagine.”
“No, Aunt Maria,” said Mary Frances. “I’m very busy, never-the-less.”
“Busy!” exclaimed Aunt Maria; “and what do you do, pray?”
“S’sh! Aunt Maria―it’s another secret!”
“How lovely!” smiled the old lady.
“I’m―” standing on tip-toe to whisper into her aunt’s ear―“I’m
learning to sew.”
“No?” exclaimed Aunt Maria. “Why, my dear child, how―how can you
learn to sew? I know your grandma cannot see to teach you―her eyes
are too weak.”
[Illustration: “I feel very welcome”]
“Aunt Maria,” whispered Mary Frances, “I’ve some little friends who
know all about sewing, who teach me how―but it’s a ‘dead secret,’
and you must never, never, never tell―hope you’ll die if you
do―will you promise―skull and cross-bones?”
[Illustration: “May I see some of your work?”]
“Mercy! Child!” exclaimed the old lady, “what an awful vow! But I’ll
not tell, and if I give my word―”
“Oh, I am sure you won’t, Aunt Maria,―and―some day I’ll be able to
tell you _all_ about it.”
“Is it a book―like the cooking lessons,―that delightful secret? I
won’t tell.”
“My!” thought Mary Frances. “Wouldn’t Sauce Pan laugh!”
“Not exactly like that,” said Mary Frances aloud, “and I know you’ll
never-never tell, Aunt Maria,―but it’s a very-very serious secret,
for nobody knows―not even Mother.”
“May I see some of your work, my dear?”
“I’ll bring some to show you,” she said. “Excuse me, please.”
She stood on the threshold of the sewing room a moment before
entering. All the Thimble People were jumping around in excitement.
[Illustration: “My! wouldn’t Sauce Pan laugh!”]
“I tell you,” tinkled Silver Thimble, “it’s the Aunt!”
“It’s not!” piped the thinnest little voice Mary Frances had ever
heard.
[Illustration: “It’s not!”]
“Hello!” exclaimed Scissors Shears. “That’s little Common Ordinary
Pin! You don’t know! You haven’t much of a head.”
“Maybe not,” answered the thin voice, “but we have some fine points.”
“Ha! ha!” laughed Tommy Pin Cushion.
“And we’re not stuck on ourselves!”
“Ha! ha!” laughed Tommy Pin Cushion again.
“No,” exclaimed Scissors Shears, “you’re stuck on Tommy Pin
Cushion―such taste!”
Mary Frances went into the room.
“Oh,” said Fairy Lady, “I was afraid you might not be alone.”
“Mary Frances!” came Aunt Maria’s voice from nearby.
Every Thimble person fell down where he was, and in a twinkle Fair
Lady became Sewing Bird.
“I thought I wouldn’t trouble you to bring your work to me, so I’ve
followed you to the sewing room,” said the old lady, “I thought I
heard―I’m quite certain I heard some one talking.”
[Illustration: “I was afraid you might not be alone”]
[Illustration:
17. Fur Lined Cape
27. Rain Coat]
[Illustration: INSERT 5
PATTERNS 17·27·
17. FUR LINED CAPE
27. RAIN COAT]
This pattern plate should remain permanently in book so that tracings
on tissue paper can be made from it as required.
[Illustration: “Goodness!”]
“Oh, my!” thought Mary Frances.
“Goodness!” exclaimed Aunt Maria as they went into the room.
“Although I oughtn’t to say it―what an untidy room! My dear child,
my dear child, everything ought to be put in place just as soon as
you’ve used it. It never pays to lay anything down out of place. Here
are needles and pins, scissors and needle-book, emery bag, and what
not―tumbled over the table, and the work basket on its side! You’ll
learn better, though, child.”
There was a strange expression on the little girl’s face.
“It’s rude, Mary Frances, to smile when you’re in fault,” continued
the old lady.
“Excuse me, Aunt Maria,” said Mary Frances. “I couldn’t help it.”
“Well, I expect it’s because you’re so glad to see me,” said Aunt
Maria, leaning back in her chair and rocking.
[Illustration: Work basket on its side]
[Illustration: “Oh Aunt Maria!”]
“Never mind, we’ll look at your work. Very creditable, very
creditable indeed, child! Such excellent stitches,” examining the
little samplers, and finally the bath robe and kimono. “You certainly
do take after me. To think that so spoiled a child should develop
into such an excellent character! ‘Blood will tell!’ I’ve often said
it―‘Blood will tell!’ What pretty material! By the way, child, where
do you get the goods―if this is a secret?”
“Oh, Aunt Maria, Mother sent me this little trunk full of these
pretty things; and this lovely, lovely doll, Mary Marie, to amuse
myself with. She said she was so sorry not to be able to show me how
to sew, and hopes to, when she comes home. Dear Mother! Won’t she be
surprised?”
“Indeed she will,” said the old lady, examining the contents
of the trunk. “But,” she sniffed, “I am compelled to say less
beautiful goods would have answered the purpose. When I was a little
girl―well, never mind! Have you learned to make button-holes?”
“I can make the stitch, I think,” answered Mary Frances, meekly.
[Illustration: “Indeed she will,”]
“Well, I’ll teach you, child,” said Aunt Maria, getting a piece of
muslin ready. “Now, let us begin to learn how to make
33.―BUTTON-HOLES
[Illustration: Use Button-hole Scissors]
All button-holes should be worked in a double fold of cloth. Use
for practice, a piece of muslin six inches long and four inches
wide. Fold through the center. Turn in and baste along edges.
(A) _To Cut_
With button-hole scissors, cut into the goods one quarter of an
inch from folded edge. Cut along a thread of the goods to make it
straight. Make opening a little longer than the button is broad.
For button-hole, use No. 40 cotton, No. 8 needle. Barring and
overcasting are often done with a finer thread than that used for
the button-holing.
(B) _To Bar_
1. Make a small knot in thread.
2. Put the goods over first finger, left hand―folded edge toward
you.
3. At the end of button-hole farthest from folded edge of cloth,
insert needle between the double cloth, bringing it out at A.
(See picture.)
4. Point needle down at B; bring it out at A.
5. Point needle down at C; bring it out at D. Do this twice.
6. Point needle down at B; bring it out at A.
(C) _Overcasting_
Overcast the edge on each side and end of the button-hole,
catching the long “barring” threads.
[Illustration: To Bar Overcasting]
(D) _Button-hole Stitch_
[Illustration: Button-hole stitch]
1. With goods over forefinger of left hand, at end of button-hole
farthest from the folded edge of the cloth, insert needle between
the muslin; pull through, leaving a small end of thread between
muslin.
2. At same corner of button-hole, bring needle half way through.
Taking both threads hanging from eye of needle between thumb and
finger of right hand, pass the thread _under_ the point of the
needle, from right to left. Pull needle through, drawing the
thread firmly near the button-hole. This forms the purl, which is
well adapted to the constant wear upon the button-hole.
3. Repeat until needle is at first stitch taken.
(E) _Finishing_
[Illustration: Finished button-hole]
1. Make barring stitches over the first barring stitches taken.
2. Put needle through these barring stitches, forming the blanket
or loop stitch,―make several loop stitches and bring needle to
wrong side.
3. Fasten thread by several small stitches.
NOTE.―If thread is too short to finish button-holing, fasten it
on wrong side of material. Enter the new thread on wrong side and
bring thread through last button-hole purl, or twisted edge.
Aunt Maria gave Mary Frances these directions very slowly, making the
little girl do each step as she explained.
[Illustration: “My, that’s the hardest thing yet”]
“No, not that way, child,” she would say. “Sit up straight; place
both feet firmly on the floor; hold your sewing high; do not
stoop over. That is the correct position while sewing. Throw the
thread more carefully. No, not so long a thread―it will tangle.
Patience―child!”
“My,” exclaimed Mary Frances, “that’s the hardest thing I’ve done
yet. Am I very trying to teach?”
“Well,” said the old lady, “you might be more so―but that’s a real
respectable button-hole. But really, child, I must again repeat my
lesson to you about neatness. Never leave your sewing room as I found
it to-day.”
“There’s Grandma!” exclaimed Mary Frances, looking out the window.
“Come, Aunt Maria, let’s go down.”
“Is my necktie straight?” asked the old lady of Mary Frances, taking
her hand.
[Illustration: “Is my necktie straight?”]
* * * * *
[Illustration: “She is an old Grunt!”]
“My,” said Mary Frances, returning to the sewing room, “aren’t they
the dear old dears, talking together! A cup of tea and those two
old ladies―there’s nothing under the sun they can’t think of―from
Noah-and-the-ark to Forever-more! I wonder if I can finish Mary
Marie’s pinafore. I’m going to make Angie a lot of clothes like Mary
Marie’s.”
“Will the Old Grunt be back?” Scissors Shears was looking up at Mary
Frances.
“Who?” asked Mary Frances.
“The Old Grunt,” said Scissors Shears, “fussin’ and gruntin’ over
everything. We looked all right. She scared us―if we hadn’t dropped
where we were she might have found out about us―and if she’d found
out about us―we’d been Never-Nevers.”
“You must not call names,” said Mary Frances, gravely.
“She is an Old Grunt! So there! It was my work to teach you to make
button-holes, and I so wanted to do it!” burst out Button-hole
Scissors, excitedly.
He spread his funny little legs apart and looked up at Mary Frances
most forlornly.
“Rip-her-up-the-back! Butty,” growled Scissors Shears.
[Illustration: “It was my work to teach you!”]
“Be quiet!” exclaimed Mary Frances, “I’m ashamed of you both! I know
it’s an awful disappointment to you, Button-hole Scissors, but, never
mind, you shall help me sometime.”
“Magic and Mystery, we must―”
“Yes,” said Fairy Lady, smiling, “we must finish the pinafore. Here is
PATTERN 8.―DOLL’S PINAFORE
See Insert II
To cut out―
[Illustration: The pinafore is not joined under arms]
1. Fold goods lengthwise. Place edge of pattern having two rings
(oo) on this fold. Pin in place. Cut out.
2. Indicate place for straps and pocket by pricking with a pin,
through pattern and material. Remove pattern.
Run a red basting thread through the pinholes.
3. Cut four straps, and the pocket.
To make―
NOTE.―The pinafore is not joined under the arms; therefore,
1. Make a narrow hem along the sides of the front and back.
2. Make a three-quarter inch hem along the bottom of pinafore.
3. Make a tiny clip in the corners of the neck opening.
Turn down one-quarter inch along neck on right side.
4. Baste flat against this, one-half inch wide white linen tape.
In turning corners, turn the tape completely over.
5. Ends of sleeves, sides of sleeves, and sides and bottom of
pinafore finished in same way.
[Illustration: Turn tape completely over]
_Pocket_
[Illustration: Pin in place]
1. Make a quarter-inch hem at top of pocket.
2. Turn in edges one-eighth inch. Baste.
3. Pin in place shown on pattern. Hem, or stitch.
_Straps_
1. Turn in edges of straps one-eighth inch all around.
2. Baste two straps together, wrong sides facing each other.
3. Overhand, or stitch together.
4. Pin in place as shown by red basting thread, and sew in place
through a button.
Or, a button may be sewed to the pinafore, and a button-hole
worked in each end of the straps.
(If this is done, hem a small piece of goods on the wrong side of
pinafore under the places for the buttons, so that the pulling of
the button will not tear the goods.)
[Illustration: Sew strap in place through a button]
“And we’ll all help,―if you please.”
“Thank you, dear Thimble People,” said Mary Frances, spreading the
pretty gingham on the sewing table. “Work very quickly―I haven’t
many minutes. I’m so tired, anyhow,” and she leaned back in her
rocking chair.
[Illustration: “I think you may”]
“Mary Frances, Mary Frances, Mary Frances, dear!” called Grandma’s
voice.
“Oh,” thought Mary Frances, “I’ve been asleep. It’s twilight, nearly.”
“Yes, Grandma,” she called. “I’ll come right down.” And she looked on
the table expecting to see the gingham spread out, but it was nowhere
to be seen.
“Look at Mary Marie,” whispered Sewing Bird.
There sat the proud dolly with the gingham pinafore all made and
buttoned in place.
“How,―how?” stammered Mary Frances.
“We took her over
To Thimble Land;
Over to our
Fairyland,”
explained Sewing Bird.
“Can I go there some day?” asked Mary Frances.
“I think you may,
But not to-day;
Perhaps you’ll go
Another day!”
sang Sewing Bird.
[Illustration: There sat the proud dolly]
“Oh, thank you, you dear!” said Mary Frances.
“Come, Mary Frances,” again called Grandma. “Why, dear child,” she
said, kissing the little girl, “it’s nearly six o’clock, and we old
ladies have been so busy living in the past that we almost forgot the
present―that’s you.”
[Illustration: I’m learning to sew,” whispered Mary Frances]