HINTS FOR DRESSMAKING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 4

HINTS FOR DRESSMAKING.

1. AYlieu sewing a seam _ in thick material, f.lways rub a hit of dry &oap j along tlio line which you want the needle to follow. This will make a | needle—either in the hard or in the machine—slip easily through the stuff, and save trouble. 2. When .solving very thin material by machine—soft silk or chiffon or anything of that kind —tack a hit of tissue paper under the nenm. mid sew ife in with tho stuif. It is easy to tear it uway afterwards, and it will just keep thin maiorial from dragging or wrinkling into a lump. _ , 3. When making a child's one-piece frock—-the kimono kind with underarm seams made in material that is cut on the cross—do not turn up the hem at Mice. Finish all the neck of the dress, and then hang up the frock for a couple of days with a weight pinned to each seam. As the stuif is on the cross, it io sure to drop a good cler.l. Then cut off what has dropped, and turn up the hem nice and even. If not, tho hom will drop and leave a point at each side of the dross. 4. Cut a buttonhole so small that tho button will only just go through it. It's sure to stretch, later on, and if large to start wyth, it will be simply enormous in a week or two. 5. "When making a tucked thine;, it is i'ar easier to make the tucks first in the plain stuff and then cut the pattern, than to cut the a tuff out first and then tuck it afterwards. 6. If making a washing garment, do not put into it linings or bands of a different class of stuff which is likely to . wash in a different way. 7. If a piece of stuff seems likely to shrink very much in tho wash, it is better to launder and dry it before the garment is cut out- at all. 8. Always tack a seam before machining it. 1). Remember that sleeves—especially tight-fitting ones—always wear up a little, so make them amply long enough in the first place. 10. When sewing delicate stuff, such as silk or lace, wear a white apron and a pair of white sleeves over a dark gown. At night, wrap the half-finished tilings in an old sheet before putting them away.