Decide the style of garment you wish to fashion of your pieces, get a pattern, and lay it carefully on your goods to see if you have a sufficient quantity, and if not, ascertain how much material of another kind you will require, and how far trimming will go to make up the deficiency in goods. You may find in cutting that a considerable amount of piecing is required. Then cut your garment as completely out of the goods as is pos sible, fit your piecings on to the pat tern, pin them together, and lay them aside. Stitch and press all the piec ings, and proceed as with a new garment. Arrange the trimming as far as possible so that it will cover the necessary piecings and tucks. When the garment is finished it will be easy enough to see just what style of trimming will be necessary to cover deficiencies.
At the beginning of the spring sew ing, the old garments that have accu mulated may be studied with a view to their further usefulness, and so with every other season. You may find numerous old linen garments that may do service in the following ways: Uses of a Blue Linen Dress.—This garment may be stout and good but faded in streaks or out of style. Rip it to pieces, wash it, and bleach it in the sunshine until it is all one shade. Then dye it a pretty light blue. The material may then be used for a shirt waist or a child's dress. Embroidered linen is always in good taste, and thus handsome garments may be made of old dresses.
Uses of a Brown Linen Dress.—An old brown linen dress can also be used to make shirt waists, summer trousers for boys, or blouses for either boys or girls.
Making Over—Useful Hints.—Here are some useful hints in making over that will prove equally valuable for new goods: Morning and Kitchen Dresses.—It is a good idea when buying morning and kitchen dresses to select first an inconspicuous pattern; secondly, to buy enough for two dresses. Thus when they begin to show wear you will have plenty of material worn alike to make one respectable dress, and perhaps two aprons.
Where there is a large family the summer sewing may be greatly ex pedited by making a list of the mem bers of the family to be provided for, and under each name adding two lists: what each one has and what each re quires to complete the summer ward robe. This will often save both time and money.
Old Collars for Canvas.—If one does not happen to have canvas with which to stiffen revers, she will find the old linen collars and cuffs that have been cast off by the men of the family a good substitute for canvas. They
must be first washed, being careful not to remove all the starch, and then ironed. Many who have used this sub stitute do not care to return to the use of canvas.
Some knowledge of fancy work aids a woman very materially from a dec orative as well as an economical stand-. point. The woman who knows how to make and use fancy work may dress well and inexpensively.
Homemade Stamping Patterns. Perforated patterns can be easily made in the following manner: Draw the pattern on butter paper. You can trace on that more easily than on tis sue paper. Then unthread the needle of the sewing machine, stitch all the lines, and you have the pattern as perfect as any of the purchased ones. Many prefer this to the use of carbon paper.
To Transfer Embroidery Designs. —To trace the pattern of some article which has been already embroidered take a piece of cloth you wish to have the design upon, lay it smoothly on a well-padded ironing board, dampen the embroidery design thoroughly, and place it smoothly on linen or cloth right side down. With a thin cloth placed over it all, press firmly until dry. When the piece is removed the impression will be on the cloth in per fection. Trace the outlines with a pencil and you have your design.
To Applique Embroidery. — It is possible to make a garment very hand some if one understands the art of appliqué. The wise woman whose means are limited will save every mite of embroidery she possesses—the em broidered corners of handkerchiefs, embroidered turn-overs, medallions in her fancy waists, and the hundred and one little odds and ends that from time to time find their way into her wardrobe. When the garment is worn, carefully remove the embroidered parts with very sharp scissors. Lay them away in a box for future use. If you desire an embroidered shirt waist or corset cover, turn to this box of odds and ends and there will be found perhaps a rosebud, the ten drils of a vine, a few leaves, or the like. Place them carefully upon a new or else an unworn piece of goods, fashioning out of the many bits a pleasing design. Baste the bits of embroidery upon the goods with ex ceeding care, then with fine thread carefully buttonhole the embroidery down upon the fabric. In many cases the Kensington embroidery stitch may be employed. Where the places are not perfectly joined, a vine of one's own handiwork may be inserted. You will be surprised when the work is finished at the daintiness of the gar ment.