Chapter XIX: Her Bath Robe

“IF only in her nightie clad,
She took a cold, ’twould be too bad―
And so the dear child may not freeze,
And so the dear child may not sneeze,
A nice warm bath robe next will be
Our lesson finished―”

Sewing Bird stopped singing.

“Brought to she,” interrupted the tinkling voice of Silver Thimble.

“Silv Thimble!” exclaimed Sewing Bird, “when I need help, I’ll call upon you―”

“Magic and Mystery!” laughed Mary Frances.

“Oh, dear Fairy Lady,” said she. “Is it true―is it true―a bath robe for Mary Marie?”

“Yes,” smiled Fairy Lady. “Here is

PATTERN 5.―DOLL’S BATH ROBE

See Insert I

To cut out―

1. Cut in the same way as nightgown, using the pattern marked
BATH ROBE.

2. Remove pattern from material.

3. On the pattern, find the pinholes pricked along the neck line.

Cut down _one_ row of these pinholes.

Fold the paper back along the other row of pinholes.

4. Spread open the bath robe.

Pin pattern in place on _one thickness_ of material.

Cut along the V-shaped neck line.

Remove pattern.

5. Continue to cut the V-shaped neck to the bottom of the robe.

This makes the front opening.

“Pin it to the goods. Cut it out most carefully.”

“But what goods shall I use, dear teacher?” asked Mary Frances, searching in Mary Marie’s trunk.

“Oh, look, here is some lovely light blue eider-down flannel.”

“Just the thing!” exclaimed Fairy Lady.

“Is there any ribbon to match?” peering over the table edge to look into the trunk.

“Too narrow,” as Mary Frances held some up.

“There!” pointing down into the tray of the trunk, “that Dresden figured, pink and blue, inch wide ribbon is beautiful, and there must be about a yard and three-quarters of it.”

“Lovely!” exclaimed Mary Frances, putting it with the flannel on the table. “Now, I’ll cut out the bath robe.”

“Very important! Very important!” whispered Tommy Pin Cushion as Scissors Shears came dancing, first on one leg and then on the other, to the edge of the table.

“I can’t bother with you,” whispered Scissors Shears, looking cross-eyed at Tommy Pin Cushion, “I’ve too much to go through,” glancing up to see if Mary Frances noticed; but the little girl was smoothing out and pinning the pattern in place, and did not seem to hear.

“Oumph!” groaned Scissors Shears, as Mary Frances cut into the thick fabric.

“Bite into it hard, Scissors!” laughed Tommy Pin Cushion, but Fairy Lady silenced him with a wave of her wand.

“All cut out, and so well!” she said.

Scissors Shears looked pleased, as Mary Frances laid him down on the table.

Then Fairy Lady told how

TO MAKE DOLL’S BATH ROBE.―(PATTERN 5.)

1. Pin seams together, being certain to match notches.

2. Baste. Try on doll. Alter, if necessary.

3. Stitch, or use combination stitch (two running stitches and a
back-stitch).

4. Overcast, or blanket-stitch the raw edges of the seams.

5. Fold inch wide ribbon, and slip it over the raw edges of the
bath robe―that is, the fronts and neck, and the sleeves.

6. To fit ribbon around curves, gather it a short distance on the
fuller edge.

When ready to cut ribbon, allow one-half inch for folding under
when finishing.

Hem ends down carefully.

7. With sewing silk to match the ribbon, sew it to the robe, with
small “in and out” stitches, slanting the needle slightly each
time. Pull needle through to wrong side, then through to right
side with each stitch―just as you did first stitches in canvas
work.

8. Turn bottom of robe up one inch. Baste.

Catch-stitch with close stitches.

Mary Frances worked quietly for some time. “But how will my child fasten her bath robe?” she asked at length.

“Oh,” said Fairy Lady. “That’s a good question! Now learn,

28.―TO SEW ON HOOKS AND EYES

No. 36 cotton, No. 7 needle. Two pieces muslin three inches by
three inches. Fold in half. Baste edges.

_The Eye_

1. Place the eye a little beyond the double edge of the muslin.
Hold firmly.

2. Overhand around the circles of the eye, beginning at the
further side. Try not to let stitches come out on other side of
the cloth.

3. Take three stitches at each side of the eye near edge of the
cloth to prevent its being lifted when the hook is pulled. Fasten
thread carefully in cloth near the eye.

_The Hook_

1. Put the hook into the eye, facing it upward.

2. Take the other piece of muslin and place double edge just
meeting the double edge of the first piece. Hold the hook down on
this piece of muslin where it should come. Mark the place and now
unfasten the hook from the eye.

3. Hold hook firmly in place with left thumb and fingers, and
overhand the two circles of the hooks.

4. Put needle under the bent part of hook and take four stitches
in the same place, just under the bent part.

5. Fasten the thread by taking three stitches close beside the
hook, then take three stitches on the other side close to hook.
This secure fastening must be made because of the strain which
comes on this part of the hook.

NOTE: If the eye will show on a garment it is better.

29.―TO MAKE EYELET LOOPS

Use a piece of muslin three inches square. Fold in half, and
baste edges. No. 7 needle; No. 36 cotton.

1. Knot the thread.

2. One-half an inch from double edge, take four stitches about
one-quarter of an inch long, over each other; bring needle out at
lower end.

3. Turn the cloth and make blanket stitches over the four
stitches. It is more easily done if the eye, instead of the point
of the needle, is put through the long stitches.

4. When the stitches are filled with the blanket stitch, bring
needle to wrong side of goods near the last blanket stitch taken
and fasten securely.

“As we have so little time at a lesson, your Seamstress-ship,” said Fairy Lady, “you will please practice making the loops and putting on the hooks and eyes during the week.

“A pretty cord for her waist is made by placing two strands of heavy zephyr yarn together, and twisting each end the opposite way. There, I see some charming blue in the trunk! You may cut two pieces, each two yards long, and place them together. I will hold them at one end. You, at the other. Now, ready:

The ends in _your_ hand, _left_ you twist;
To the _right_, I turn _mine_ with the wrist;
By the _center_, _I_ hold the twisted strand:
Let go! A rope for dolly,―grand!
A knot in each end next we tie,
Then fringe each end, both you and I.
A girdle for a queen not neater,
No queen than dolly could be sweeter.”

“Isn’t that a lovely girdle!” exclaimed Mary Frances.

“It is!” agreed Fairy Lady, “and now, with the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try, finish the bath robe, ready for tacking the girdle in place.”

“It’s the loveliest thing I’ve ever made,” cried Mary Frances, holding up the soft woolly robe to view, “and it’s all finished for my darling Mary Marie,―except the hook and eye.”

“Not quite,” said Sewing Bird Fairy Lady; “we like to teach little girls to be neat,―and how can Mary Marie hang up her clothes without

30.―LOOPS OF TAPE

_Flat Loops_

Flat loops are sewed to inside of coat or waist collar, or skirt
bands.

1. Cut narrow tape one-half an inch longer than the right length
for the space in which it is to be used.

2. Turn under the ends one-quarter of an inch, and baste in place.

3. Hem down each end on three sides, the width of the tape.

4. Sew with a double row of stitching across the tape just beyond
the hemming.

_Towel Loops_

Are used on towels and on inside of sleeves.

1. Fold tape to form a point.

2. Overhand the two ends together in center, for a distance of
three-quarters of an inch from the ends.

3. Turn back the two ends one-quarter of an inch, and baste to
the hemmed edge of towel, or muslin, and hem down.

4. Turn to right side. Hem down the cloth to the tape at the
lower edge of the hem. Fasten thread.

“Of course,” exclaimed Mary Frances. “Why, my dear Sewing Bird Lady, I couldn’t be neat myself without ‘hangers.’”

“Neither can Mary Marie,” sang Sewing Bird.

“Could she be sweet,
Could she be neat,
From her dear head
To her cute feet;
Without the stitches
Made with care,
Without a comb
For her fair hair,
Without some mending
Of her clothes,
Without clean hankies
For her nose,

Without a patient
Mother’s sewing?
But hark! Dear friend,
You must be going!
Peep-Peep!”