HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18069, 19 March 1923, Page 6

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR DRESSMAKER. • t When a dress stand is not available, “trying-on ” is bather tiresome —unless the' services of a patient friend can be | enlisted. ‘ A stand .or “dummy” is a I useful possession for the girl who makes most of her own clothes, but if housespaco is limited, it becomes an encumbrance. .Folding stands made of wire which can bo neatly packed away in a drawer are obtainable. TO TURN UP A SKIRT. Without a. “dummy” it is generally necessary to get someone to help to turn up the hem of a dress or long coat. Having decided upon the length of the 1 skirt, pin up a portion of the hem and ask a. friend to measure the distance between the hemlineand the floor. A piece of still' card to this measurement should then ho cut, and ifcyill then j lie easy for the friend to pin up the I hem nil round ’ey resting one end on 1 the floor and using it as a. guide. If the hem is quite satisfactory when the garment is tried on after tacking the material in place, it -will bo a. great help to iron the hem before sewing it in position. It often saves disappointment to fib on a bodice and “try on” the sleeves before sewing them in place, as it is not always v ise to trust entirely to the guiding notches made on patterns. By fitting cn the sleeves and noting its effect when the arm is stretched out fully and then when tho arm is bent, with the hand held over the chest and the elbow raised, it sould n6t be difficult to secure a perfect line. Slip the lingers round the bottom of thei armlvqle to ascertain whether it is “easy.” Any cutting away which may bo necessary must bo done very care-fully—-a few short notches will probably make sufficient enlargement. Should the armhole .be then slightly larger than tlie sleeve, The seam of tire sleeve can be let out a little, or. better still, the bodice can bo lifted oh the shoulders. ‘‘IRONING OUT’ ’. DARTS. .Often when “trying on” the amateur is dismayed by the sight of the'fullness at the end of the darts made, for instance, in a prominent position such as the middlo of coat fronts. This fullness can be disposed of by carefully ironing over a damp cloth,, taking care not to pull tho material out of shape. A brocaded satin train could be .’converted into a beautiful jumper for evening wear, and there should be plenty of it without having to add any extra material. - But should • there not bo quite sufficient to go round, it would be feasible to add a piece of plain satin to finish off the wide, dropped belt, 1 "which is the latest orazo. A gold or tissue inundation would also make up into a delightful little evening blouse, cut Russian style, with, hardly any sleeves’, and with a side opening.