HOME ECONOMICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22389, 8 April 1936, Page 4

HOME ECONOMICS

THE AMATEUR DRESSMAKER The monthy demonstration talk by the Auckland Home Economics Association was held in the Technics College last night. The president, Miss B. Carnachan, presided and introduce the speakers. The meeting took the form of & group evening enabling the members to gain personal instruction in the particular section which interested them most. The fact that women to-day are as keen as ever to learn the art of fine needlework was shown by the large attendance and the keen interest taken in each section demonstrated. The making of a dress form or model was the subject chosen by Mrs. Hynes. As pointed out by Mis. Hynes, the greatest difficulty that beset the woman who made her own clothes was that of fitting the garments, and the possession of a dress form was invaluable. The advantages of the home-made article were, said the speaker, its cheapness and its exact resemblance to the figure of the dressmaker. The materials needed in making the form were enumerated by Mrs. Hvnes, who then proceeded, with the help of a living model and four assistants, to make it. These materials included brown gummed paper, a cheap cotton singlet, scissors, safety pins, small pieces of cloth, etc. After taking the necessary measurements Mrs. Hynes began to work upon her model until she had her sheathed to below the hips in the strips of gummed paper, which moulded her figure like The form was then slit up both in the centre front and centre back, so that it came away from the model in two shells. These were measured and checked against the original measurements, and then joined together again and left to dry ifor further covering. For draping, the speaker said, the form was invaluable.

A demonstration of smocking given by Miss E. Gray, who, with the use of large-sized samples, skilful'? explained the different smocking stitches The simplest form of ouilting was. the subject chosen by Miss W. Sutherlan , who showed some charming designs ' rose patterns suitable for cushions sachets. . • rn Some useful dressmaking hints w given bv Miss V. MacCormacfe, ' eluding faggoting stitches and r ari tvnes of binding and cording. . At the conclusion of the taee supper was served.