How I Learned.. At Home to Make My Own Dresses

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16320, 8 January 1921, Page 6

How I Learned.. At Home to Make My Own Dresses

By

ELLEN PURDIE CLARKE

A. Ora-sidi Offer!

Yesterday, after lunch, I liad just slipped into my new blue one-piece dress and was getting ready to go down town, when the door-bell rang, and who should it be but Janet Whitelaw, whom 1 hadn’t seen for nearly six months. The first thing Janet exclaimed as she stood in the door was: “ Oh, Ellen, tell we where in the world did you get that lovely dress?” “ I made it all myself.” “ But, Ellen!” she fairly gasped; “ made it yourself ! How, when, where did you ever, learn? You never used to sew a stitch !” ”1 know I didn’t; but I made this dress just th,e same, and, not only Ibis, but so many other things that I have more clothes than I ever had before.” “ "•Veil, tell me this minute how you did it.” So I went to the wardrobe, and came back with an armful of things that made Janet stare in astonishment. “To begin with,” I said, “ this dress I have on is a reproduction of an exclusive model J saw in a shop window, marked £9. -f t' cost me exactly 64s for the materials, and I think they are really .of better .quality. And here’s an evening dress that Jack says is the prettiest thing I ever wore. I" copied it from-a fashion magazine, and the materials cost exactly 355. Then I have made' two hoii.se dresses, four aprons, a taffeta petticoat and underclothing, that I have saved more than £2 on.” “ Biit you haven't told me' yet,” insisted Janet. “ where you learned.” “'-Well, then, listen and you shall hear. About lour months ago I read abmft a school of dressmaking that bad developed a, wonderful new plan through which one- could learn Dressmaking or Atillinery at home in spare time. I began to think how much it would mean if I could make my own clothes ; so I wrote to them. They explained everything free, and told just exactly how you could learn every step, even though you had no experience whatever. Why, think, Janet, more than 12,000 women and girls have already learned to make their own clothes and hats by this new plan. You see, it doesn’t make the slightest difference where you live—in city, small towns, or in the country—all are learning with the same success as if they were together in a classroom. Isn’t it wonderful ?

“ Well. T took it np. and T soon realised how easy it is to learn without leaving home. Every step is explained so clearly, and there are hundreds of illustrations to show just exactly what to do.” But" Janet broke in right here:

“Ellen, this is wonderful! Tell me how I can learn all about it myself.” So I told her that if she would send to the Associated School of Dressmaking, Sydney, and would tell them that she was most interested in learning Dressmaking or Aliliineity at Homo, they would send her by return post, absolutely without charge, all particulars of the marvellous Associated System. And if you, ray dear reader, would like to know more about how • you can have more and l>rettier clothes or hats and save money, as I am doing, I suggest that you, too, write promptly, being sure to mention the “ Lyttelton Times,” and state whether you are Airs or Aliss. SEND NO MONEY; simply state whether you are interested in Dressmaking or Alillinery and send vour name and address NOAV, to the ASSOCIATED SCHOOL OF DR ESS AIA KING. 12, Canberra House, 295-7, Elizabeth Street, SYDNEY.