START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK*** E-text prepared by Emmy, Brian Wilsden, MWS, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 58937-h.htm or 58937-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/58937/58937-h/58937-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/58937/58937-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/maryfrancessewin00frye Transcriberâs note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). [Illustration: For all girls who love to make pretty things. Jane Eayre Fryer] THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK or Adventures Among the Thimble People by JANE EAYRE FRYER Illustrated by Jane Allen Boyer The John C. Winston Co. Philadelphia CAUTION The entire contents of this book are protected by the stringent new copyright law, and all persons are warned not to attempt to reproduce the text, in whole or in part, or any of the illustrations. Copyright, 1913, by Jane Eayre Fryer * * * * * * BY THE SAME AUTHOR THE MARY FRANCES COOK BOOK ââORââ ADVENTURES AMONG THE KITCHEN PEOPLE The Mary Frances Cook Book is the exceptionally clever and fascinating story of a little girl who wanted to learn to help her mother. Only it is much more than a story. It tells in story form how Mary Frances learned to cook. She wants to know what all the kitchen pots and pans are for, so she asks them. And they tell herâthe pots and pans talk. The book gives recipes in the simplest, plainest words. It describes every operation clearlyâjust what Mary Frances did, and how she learned to avoid mistakes. The book stimulates the imagination and creates a desire to follow Mary Francesâ example. 8vo. Cloth, 170 pages. Over 200 colored illustrations by Margaret G. Hays and Jane Allen Boyer. PRICE $1.20 NET * * * * * * [Illustration: PREFACE] DEAR GIRLS: Many of you already know Mary Francesâ old friends, the Kitchen People, and have learned to love them. I hope all of you will do so in time. This book tells the story of Mary Francesâ new friends, the Thimble People, who helped her spend a delightful summer vacation at her Grandmotherâs. It tells how she met Sewing Bird, who was a real Fairy Lady, and the other Thimble People; and how they taught her a lot of fascinating secrets, and finally took her on a long journey to Thimble Land, and brought her back safely, after the most marvelous adventures. Because they proved so helpful and friendly, she wants you to know them, too. The Thimble People, like the Kitchen People, are peculiar in that they can be of little help to those who dislike them; so that, unless you are prepared to be fond of them, it is best not to seek their acquaintance. [Illustration] Toward those who show indifference or dislike, they behave in a most contrary manner. For example, Tommy Pin Cushion is a regular porcupine, and bristles right up instinctively at the least inkling of dislike. But if he knows you like him, he will roll over himself to help. Another thing (and Mary Frances says to be very particular on this point)âif any little girl, who really wishes to learn to sew, will follow the lessons exactly as given by the Thimble People, she can hardly fail to win the Needle-of-Donât-Have-to-Try for her very own. In the hope that all will achieve this much-to-be-desired end, this record of Mary Francesâ new adventures is sent out to the girls of America with the best wishes of THE AUTHOR. MERCHANTVILLE, N. J. [Illustration: CONTENTS] CHAPTER PAGE I. SEWING BIRD 17 II. SEWING BIRD BEGINS TO TEACH 26 III. THE LONG AND SHORT OF BASTING 32 IV. SEWING BIRDâS SECRET 40 V. SEWING BIRD TEASES DICK CANARY 45 VI. THE STITCH GRANDMA LEARNED 50 VII. BLANKET STITCH, AND ITS SISTER 54 VIII. SEWING BIRD FAIRY LADY 58 IX. MAGIC AND MYSTERY 66 X. A DOLLâS LAUNDRY BAG 75 XI. MR. SILVER THIMBLE AND MR. EMERY BAG 82 XII. MARY FRANCESâ TREASURE BOX 89 XIII. MAKING A DOLLâS APRON 93 XIV. A LOAN FROM THE THIMBLE KING 98 XV. THREE LITTLE KITTENS 103 XVI. A SURPRISE FROM MOTHER 107 XVII. MARY MARIEâS HANDKERCHIEF 115 [Illustration] CHAPTER PAGE XVIII. A NIGHTIE FOR HER LITTLE NAP 125 XIX. HER BATH-ROBE 135 XX. MA CHINE 145 XXI. AUNT MARIA MAKES A VISIT 159 XXII. A RUINED DRESS 175 XXIII. THE FLANNEL PET 182 XXIV. THE WHITE PET 191 XXV. CAN THE DOLLY TALK 201 XXVI. A FUR-LINED CAPE 212 XXVII. A âDRESS-UPâ DRESS 217 XXVIII. A PARTY DRESS 224 XXIX. MARY MARIE GOES AUTOMOBILING 234 XXX. MARY MARIE GOES IN BATHING 243 XXXI. MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS 248 XXXII. WHO STOLE MARY MARIEâS CLOTHES 254 XXXIII. MARY FRANCES VISITS THIMBLE LAND 258 XXXIV. WHAT WAS IN THE FAIRY BAG 269 XXXV. MARY FRANCES AT HOME 278 [Illustration: LIST OF PATTERNS] PAGE 1. DOLLâS LAUNDRY BAG 67 2. DOLLâS APRON 93 3. DOLLâS HANDKERCHIEF 119 4. DOLLâS NIGHTGOWN 127 5. DOLLâS BATH-ROBE 136 6. DOLLâS KIMONO 154 7. DOLLâS DRESSING SACK 156 8. DOLLâS PINAFORE 171 9. DOLLâS MORNING DRESS 177 10. DOLLâS FLANNEL PETTICOAT 186 11. DOLLâS UNDERWAIST 188 12. DOLLâS LAWN PETTICOAT 195 13. DOLLâS DRAWERS 198 14. DOLLâS ROMPERS 208 15. DOLLâS BLOOMERS 210 16. DOLLâS LEGGINGS 211 17. DOLLâS FUR-LINED CAPE 215 18. DOLLâS AFTERNOON DRESS 219 [Illustration] PAGE 19. DOLLâS GUIMPE 228 20. DOLLâS PARTY DRESS 229 21. DOLLâS AUTOMOBILE COAT 238 22. DOLLâS AUTOMOBILE BONNET 240 23. DOLLâS BATHING SUIT 244 24. DOLLâS FUR MUFF AND TIPPET 249 25. DOLLâS SUN BONNET 250 26. DOLLâS WORK BAG 251 27. DOLLâS RAIN COAT 269 28. DOLLâS POLO CAP 270 29. DOLLâS WEDDING DRESS 271 30. LADYâS WORK BAG 273 31. LADYâS BELT 274 32. BABYâS BIB 274 33. GIRLâS COLLAR 275 [Illustration: INSTRUCTIONS ] PAGE 1. TO OUTFIT A WORK BASKET 27 2. MAKING A KNOT 29 3. EVEN BASTING 36 4. UNEVEN BASTING 38 5. RUNNING STITCH 40 6. STITCHING 41 7. HALF BACK-STITCHING 47 8. CATCH STITCHING 48 9. OVERHANDING 52 10. OVERCASTING 52 11. HEMMING STITCH 53 12. BLANKET STITCH 54 13. BUTTON-HOLE STITCH 55 14. CANVAS SAMPLER 56 15. CROSS STITCHING 57 16. GRAND SAMPLER ON CANVAS 59 17. HEMMING ON MUSLIN 73 18. NEEDLES AND THREADS 76 [Illustration] PAGE 19. ABOUT CLOTHâWEAVING AND SPINNING 92 20. GATHERING 94 21. STROKING OF GATHERS 95 22. SETTING GATHERS 96 23. KENSINGTON OUTLINE STITCH 104 24. HEM-STITCHING 119 25. SEWING ON LACE EDGING 120 26. MAKING A FELL 122 27. FRENCH SEAM 130 28. TO SEW ON HOOKS AND EYES 139 29. TO MAKE EYELET LOOPS 140 30. TO SEW ON LOOPS OF TAPE 142 31. FEATHER STITCHING 157 32. SEWING ON BUTTONS 160 33. BUTTON-HOLES 167 34. MAKING A PLACKET 179 35. FELLING ON FLANNEL 187 36. MAKING TUCKS 196 37. WHIPPED RUFFLE 199 38. FRENCH KNOTS 231 39. EYELETS 245 40. SLIP STITCH 250 [Illustration] PAGE 41. FRENCH HEMMING ON DAMASK 275 42. DARNING STOCKINGS 275 43. DARNING WOOLEN GOODS 276 44. PATCHING ON GINGHAM 276 45. PATCHING ON FLANNEL 277 46. SPIDERâS WEB 277 [Illustration: Little Marie has lost her clothes And canât tell where to find them; Let them alone,âand theyâll come home With all their buttons behind them.] [Illustration: THIMBLE PEOPLE Sewing Bird. Mr. Silver Thimble. Mr. Emery Bag. Tommy (Tomato) Pin Cushion. Scissors Shears. Pen Cil. Needle Book. BodKin. Ma Chine. Work Basket. Bees Wax. Yard Stick. Common Ordinary Pin. Button-hole Scissors. Needle-of-Donât-Have-to-Try] [Illustration: CHAPTER I] CHAPTER I SEWING BIRD âCHEERâUP!â sang a sweet little voice. [Illustration: Dick seldom sang] Mary Frances looked at the canary; but Dick was very busily preening his feathers, and Dick seldom sang. âCheer up!â gurgled again the sweet bird voice. Mary Frances was certain this time that it was not Dick. Maybe it was a bird outside! She looked out of the sewing-room window. No, not a single feather was in sight. All the birds were doubtless in their little nests, or hiding close in the barn to keep themselves warm in such a rain. âDick!â said Mary Frances, âDick, did you speak?â Dick only ducked his head again for a seed, and snapped off the shell with his strong little bill. âPeep! Peep! Peep!â sang a birdâs voice, as though inviting Mary Frances to a game. âIâll play âHide and Seek,ââ thought the little girl. [Illustration: âDick, did you speak?â] âWhere are you, Birdie?â she asked aloud; and, throwing Angie on the rocking chair, began to search. Another soft little âPeep!â drew her near her grandmotherâs work-basket. âWhy!â she cried, âI could easily believe the voice comes from Grandmaâs basket!â âPeep! Peep! Peep! Peep!â the bird voice answered excitedly, as Mary Frances leaned over. âWhy! Why! Why!â she exclaimed. âIf it isnâtâif it isnât Grandmaâs Sewing Bird! You dear little thing! Can you talk, too?â lifting her out. âI never thought of you!â [Illustration: Peep! Peep! Peep!] âSet me up Upon the table, Then Iâll sing As I am able, Chir! Chir! Chirp! Chirp!â answered Sewing Bird. Mary Frances carried her over to the sewing table and fastened her carefully to the edge, just as she had seen her grandmother do. [Illustration: Throwing Angie in the rocking chair.] The other Thimble People kept perfectly still, wondering what would happen next. âDo you knowâyou remind me of the Kitchen Folks, Birdie,â said the little girl. [Illustration: âThe Thimble People!â] âThe Kitchen Folks! The Kitchen Folks! Of all the joyous, joyous jokes! The Thimble Peopleâs nearest kinâ Best friends we areâhave always been,â sang the little bird. âThe Thimble People!â exclaimed Mary Frances; âwhy, who are they? Are there many Thimble People? And what relation are they to the Kitchen People? Will you tell me all about them? And will they be my little friends?â âTut! Tut! So many questions, little maid, I cannot answer, Iâm afraidâ But I can say, without a joke, Your friends will be the Thimble Folk.â [Illustration: Sang the little bird] âOh, Iâm so glad! My, I wouldnât have missed knowing them for anything. Why, I feel as though Iâve known you forâforâages!â [Illustration: âExcept maybe a mouseâ] âI was so afraid You wouldnât find me! And then, of course, You couldnât mind me, Chirp!â âOh,â said Mary Frances, âwouldnât that have been dreadful! I was so lonely and dreary that I almost wanted to go home instead of staying here at Grandmaâs.â âAre you alone In the house, Except maybe a mouse? Cheerp!â asked Sewing Bird. âNo,â said Mary Frances, âKatieâs in the kitchen,âbut sheâs very busy, and wonât bother with me, and my Grandma is out this afternoon, calling on some old ladies.â [Illustration: âKatieâs in the kitchenâ] âOh, you poor Little lonely girl! It sets my head In quite a whirl; Let me sit here On this table, And comfort you As I am able.â [Illustration: âBilly is a first-class scoutâ] âWell, you see, Sewing Bird,â began Mary Frances gratefully, âMother is never very strong, and Father had to go to California on business; and he thought wouldnât it be nice to take Mother with him. So Iâm here at my dear Grandmaâs for the long summer vacation; and brother Billy is camping with the Boy Scouts; Billy is a first-class scout, you know.â âYes,â said Sewing Bird, pretending to look wise, âthey have them in Thimble Land.â âHave what?â asked Mary Frances. âWhy, Boy Scouts, of courseâin Thimble Land!â âThimble Land!â said Mary Frances; âmy, that must be where the Thimble People come from! Where is it?â [Illustration: Pretending to look wise] âA long way thereâ Perhaps youâll go Some day, if you will Learn to know That what we teach Is sew! sew! sew!â [Illustration: âSew! Sew! Sew!â] âSo! So! _So!?_â asked Mary Frances, looking puzzled, âWhatâs so?â âSew! Sew! Sew!â sang Sewing Bird, looking sharply at her with bright little eyes. âSew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew! Sew!â âSew!â âSew! Sew!â she fairly shrieked. âYes,â said Mary Frances wondering at her excitement, âof course itâs so.â âI mean sew With a thimble; I mean sew And be nimble,â sang Sewing Bird. [Illustration: Mary Frances, looking puzzled] âOh, ho,â laughed Mary Frances. âYou mean _sew_! How lovely! If I only knew how to really, truly sew! I do, just a little.â âIf youâd like to learn to sew; To baste and bind; tie a bow; Dress a dolly, head to toe, We can teach you howââ [Illustration: âDress a dolly, head to toe.â] âCan you, really? Really and truly?â cried Mary Frances. âHow perfectly dear! Oh, please do, please begin! Angie, poor child, needs so many clothes. When she went to the Tea Party, she spilled cocoa all over herself, and it spoiled all her lovely, lovely dress. It has always grieved me since. Sheâs so tattered and forlorn. Will you teach me how to sew?â âI will most gladly; and quite true, Iâll tell you what youâd better doâ Get your Grandma every day To let you have this room for play.â [Illustration: âI will most gladlyâ] âOh, yes, weâll have the sewing-room for a play-room, Sewing Bird; and you give me lessons! Must they be secretâlike the Kitchen Peopleâs lessons? And can you teach me? Oh, how happy I am! I wonder if I can surprise my dear mother. Can I learn to sew for my dolly this vacation?â [Illustration: âA pinaforeâ] âWhy, certainly, dear little Miss, You can learn to make all this: A pin-a-fore, some under-clothes, A little âkerchief for her nose; Kimono, bloomers, little cap, A nightie for her little nap; A dress for morn, for afternoon, A dress for parties, not too soon; A little cape, a little bonnetâ Perhaps with roses fastened on it;â A nice warm coat to keep from chill, A dainty sack, in case sheâs ill: All this and more weâll gladly teach, If you will do and follow eachâ will you?â âI will,â laughed Mary Frances, âbut each what?â [Illustration: âSome underclothesâ] âEach little lesson, one by one, Then, after each hard stitch is done, Rememberââpatience brings reward!ââ âWhatâs âpatienceâ?â asked the little girl. âWhy, âpatienceâ? Patience is Mary Francesâ middle nameâMary P. Frances,âsee?â âMy, isnât that a nice name! Mary Patience Frances. And whatâs ârewardâ?â laughed the little girl. ââRewardâ? Reward,â said Sewing Bird, âis Angie all dressed up in the things weâll make.â âOh, Iâd love to begin at onceâcanât we?â Sewing Bird gaily nodded her bright, shiny little head. âGoody! Goody! Wonât Mother be surprised?â said Mary Frances. âIâll run and get my little work-basket that Grandma gave me.â [Illustration: âRewardâ is Angie all dressed up in the things weâll make] [Illustration: CHAPTER II] CHAPTER II SEWING BIRD BEGINS TO TEACH THEN Sewing Bird began: âLittle fingers, thin and nimble, Fit to one, a little thimble; Right handâfinger, number twoâ Put the hat on,âthat will do.â [Illustration: âPut the hat onâ] Mary Frances put her thimble on the second finger of her right hand. âI knew that much, Sewing Bird,â she laughed. âWhat else do you know, If that much is so? Chur! Chur! Chur!â sang Sewing Bird, hopping up and down on one leg. âWhy, I know how to thread my needle,â said Mary Frances, to whom the talking of Sewing Bird seemed just as natural as the talking of Tea Kettle and the other Kitchen People. [Illustration: Sang Sewing Bird, hopping up and down.] [Illustration: To thread a needle] âI know, too, that you should put the end of the thread broken off next the spool through the eye of the needle, so that it will not kink.â âVery good, And very true;â What in your basket, Pray, have you?â asked Sewing Bird. Then Mary Frances answered, âThese are the articles needed, my Grandma said, 1.âTO OUTFIT A WORK BASKET 1. Spools of cotton, white, Nos. 36, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80; also one of red, No. 50. One spool of basting cotton. 2. One little strawberry emery bag to brighten and sharpen needles. 3. Pins. 4. A piece of beeswax. 5. A tape measure. 6. A pair of scissors. 7. A paper of ground-down needles, Nos. 5âsâ10âs. 8. Some unbleached muslin. 9. Thimble. [Illustration: To Outfit a Work Basket] and, oh, look! here is a large piece of Java canvas, and a package of blunt tapestry or zephyr needles, No. 19, and some red D. M. C. working cotton, No. 8, that Grandma put in here yesterday.â [Illustration: Zephyr needles and working cotton.] âGood,â sang Sewing Bird, âOh, that is fine! Is fine, indeed! The zephyr needle Is what weâll need.â âOh,â laughed Mary Frances, âI can thread thatâyou turn the thread over the needle, double, because a fuzzy end would not go through even this long eye. Then hold it tight between the thumb and finger, and push the needle over the double threadâthis way. Mother taught me that.â âNeedles and pins! Needles and pins! This is where your lesson begins! Now, thread your needle, And knot your thread; If you know howâ Please do as Iâve said.â [Illustration: To thread a zephyr needle] âYes,â laughed Mary Frances. âI know how to knot my thread; Iâll show you, after I get this needle threadedânow!â 2.âMAKING A KNOT 1. I wind the thread around the tip of the first finger of my left hand. 2. I press it with my thumb and roll the thread downward to the tip end of my fingerâso! 3. Then I bring the second finger over the thread on the thumb. 4. Then draw the thread tight with the right hand as I hold it.â [Illustration: To make a knot] âGood! Youâll easily Learn to sew! How many stitches Do you know?â âLet me see,â pondered Mary Frances; âthere are basting, and running, and hemming!â âGood!â exclaimed Sewing Bird, in a very nearly human voice, but much more musical and softer. âGood! Now Iâll name over all the principal stitches: [Illustration: âGood!â exclaimed Sewing Bird] Even and uneven basting Running Back-stitching Half back-stitching Overcasting Overhanding Catch-stitching Button-hole stitch Darning Blanket stitch [Illustration: âAre you home already?â] âMy,â said Mary Frances. âI had no idea there were that many! I wonderâwill I ever learn them all?â âOh, yes!â Sewing Bird assured her, âif you come for a lesson whenever you can.â âIndeed I will!â said Mary Frances, âand how Iâll thank you, dear little birdie.â Just then the door opened. âMy dear little girl,â said Grandma, âhow are you? What a dull day!â âAre you home already, Grandma?â asked Mary Frances. âI had no idea it was time for you to come.â âAh, my dear, youâve not been lonely,â said Grandmaâthen discovering Sewing Bird on the table, âYouâve been playing with my old-fashioned sewing bird, I see. Many a year this pretty little beak has held Grandmaâs long seams and hems while she sewed them.â [Illustration: âMy dear little girl,â said Grandma.] âI think sheâs lovely!â exclaimed Mary Frances. âI love her, too, dear,â said Grandma, a far-away look coming in her eyes. âThe first time she ever helped me,â she added softly, âwas with my wedding dress. Yes, I love her, too, dear.â âPeep!â said a little bird voice. âDick,â said Grandma, shaking her finger, âDick, you surely arenât jealous of the little sewing bird!â [Illustration: The first time she ever helped me was with my wedding dressâ] [Illustration: CHAPTER III] CHAPTER III THE LONG AND SHORT OF BASTING. âGOOD-BYE, dear,â said Grandma, taking leave of Mary Frances a day or two later. âYou may play in the garden while Iâm gone, if you want to.â [Illustration: âGood bye, dear.â] âI think Iâll stay in, Grandma, if you donât mind,â answered Mary Frances, not quite daring to mention her sewing lessons, âI have a sort of an engagement.â âWell! Well!â laughed Grandma, âso grown up already? You have been out every day latelyâI think perhaps youâll like to play in the sewing-room.â âI hope youâll have a lovely time, Nanny,â said Mary Frances as her grandma closed the door. âI wonder if Sewing Bird will be ready for the lesson,â she thought as she skipped up the stairs to the sewing-room. âSewing Bird! Sewing Bird!â she whispered. [Illustration: âI hope youâll have a lovely timeâ] âOh, thatâs the call I love to hear; Iâm always readyâ Never fear!â came the sweet singing voice of Sewing Bird. Mary Frances was delighted. âIâm so glad you remembered, dear little bird,â said she. âWhere are you?â âTaking a rest, In my dear little nest. Chur! Chur!â [Illustration: âTaking a rest in my dear little nestâ] came the answer. âOf course,âthe basketâs your nest,â laughed Mary Frances, carrying Sewing Bird to her place on the table. âI asked Grandma if I could have the sewing-room for my play-room, and she said, âCertainly, my dear, you mayâanything to keep you happy!ââ âTwitter, twitter, twitter, twit,â sang Sewing Birdâand somehow Mary Frances knew she meant, âIâm so happy, too.â [Illustration: âTwitter, twitter, twitter, twitâ] âI love to sit And sing and singâ But lesson time Is on the wing: Miss Never-Try Never can do; Miss Never-Begin Never gets thru.â [Illustration: âI love to sit And sing and singâ] âOh, dear me! Sewing Bird, I want to begin right away,â said Mary Frances. âI hope to get so much done!â âWell,â said Sewing Bird, âwe will begin at once with that pretty canvas and Turkey-red working cotton (D. M. C. No. 8). You may cut some pieces of canvas seven inches long and one and one-half inches wide. Work on the sewing tableâthat will be easier.â âOh, I know,â guessed Mary Frances, âthe Java canvas is to learn the stitches on.â âYes,â said Sewing Bird, âyou use one of these pieces for each new stitch; the regular open spaces in the canvas will help us so much.â [Illustration: âI want to begin right awayâ] âMy needleâs all ready from the last lesson,â said Mary Frances, holding up her threaded needle, âand my thread is knotted.â [Illustration: âMy needleâs all readyâ] âLittle Miss! little Miss! Not so long a thread! Measure it only From your hand to your head.â âOh,â said Mary Frances, breaking off some thread. âThank you, I didnât know that. I suppose it is easier to use only an armâs length of thread.â âYes,â said Sewing Bird. âNow, it would be well to open the skein of cotton.â Mary Frances did so. âNext clip both ends throughâand you will have several threads of the same length.â âThatâs so much easier,â said Mary Frances, âthan cutting it each time.â âNow, for a new kind of puzzle,â said Sewing Bird. âTake one piece of canvas already cut. For convenience we will call the regular open spaces in the canvas, âholes.ââ âYes,â said Mary Frances. âI understand, dear Sewing Bird; but please tell me the puzzle.â [Illustration: âNow, for a new kind of puzzleâ] âA puzzle then it soon shall be, A puzzle which neâer puzzled me, A puzzle which Iâll let you seeâ Its name is 3.âEVEN BASTING (ON CANVAS) [Illustration: âA puzzle which Iâll let you see.â] Cut canvas 7 inches by 1-1/2 inches. 1. Thread needle and knot thread. 2. Count five holes down from upper right hand end of canvas and four holes to the left. 3. Put needle in this hole, pointing downward. 4. Push needle toward the left under two threads, upward through second hole; pull through. 5. Now, again, over two threads under two threads; pull through. 6. Finish the row. Fasten thread by taking two stitches over each other in the same holes at the end. Cut off the thread. âThatâs not much of a puzzle,â thought Mary Frances, sewing carefully. âWhy is it called Even Basting?â asked Sewing Bird. âBecause the stitches are of the same length,â said Mary Frances. [Illustration: Even Basting] âSo wise you areâ Soon you will be Quite a little bit Too wise for me,â sang Sewing Bird. âHo, ho!â laughed Mary Frances. [Illustration: âOh, I know why.â] âYou may wonder why the knot and the finishing threads are on the right side,â continued Sewing Bird. âOh, I know why,â exclaimed Mary Frances. âBecause basting stitches are used only to hold the work in place until it is really sewed, then they are easily pulled out if the knot and end are on the right side.â âBless my feathers, And bless my eye! Soon youâll know As much as I!â This pleased Mary Frances very much; but she said, âI donât knowâfor I have no idea what comes next, my dear little teacher.â [Illustration: âSoon youâll know As much as I!â] âOh, dear me! Our time weâre wasting, The next stitch isâ 4.âUNEVEN BASTING (ON CANVAS) [Illustration: âThatâs all for to-dayâ] 1. Commence as in Even Basting. 2. Point needle downward, and bring it up through next hole. 3. Count three holes, put needle in downward and bring up next holeââunder one thread, over threeâ to end of the row. 4. Finish as in Even Basting. âThat wasnât very hard,â said Mary Frances, holding up the canvas for Sewing Bird to see. Then sang Sewing Bird: âThatâs all for to-day,â Put things away; And, now, little lady, Good-day, good-day!â [Illustration: Uneven Basting] As Mary Frances went down the stairs, she caught the sound of her name. Her grandmother was talking. âThatâs a wonderful child,â she was saying. âSheâs no bother at all. She spends hours in the sewing-room, playing with her dolls, just as happy as can be!â âDear Nanny!â thought Mary Frances, âI wish I could explain about everythingâmaybe the Thimble People will let me some day.â [Illustration: Next clip both ends throughâand you will have threads of the same length] [Illustration: CHAPTER IV] CHAPTER IV SEWING BIRDâS SECRET MARY FRANCES held up her canvas at the beginning of the next lesson, saying: âNow, I know which of these stitches is which; and I believe I am ready to learn the next, my little teacher!â âThe next,â said Sewing Bird, âis 5.âRUNNING STITCH ON CANVAS [Illustration: âOuch! That hurts my fingersâ] 1. From under side of canvas, point needle upward, bringing knot on wrong side. 2. Point needle downward through next hole, and upward through next. Pull through. 3. Finish row, by taking several in-and-out stitches on the needle, then pulling through. 4. Turn to wrong side, and fasten by taking three stitches in same holeâthis is the âin-and-out-the-windowsâ stitch.â âOuch!â cried Mary Frances. âThat hurts my fingers.â âOf course, that is why we have thimbles. Be sure to use the knighted soldier finger,âand push the needle with its thimble cap,â said Sewing Bird. [Illustration: Running Stitch] [Illustration: âExactly right, And quite bewitchingâ] âThis way?â asked Mary Frances, holding up her little hand. Then Sewing Bird answered with bright eyes sparkling, âExactly right, And quite bewitching; And needed much In learning 6.âSTITCHING (ON CANVAS) (Also called Back-stitching) 1. Enter needle into canvas as for Running. 2. Take one running stitch, bringing needle out on right side. 3. Point needle downward through the hole to the right of the one where the working cotton came out. 4. Push needle under two threads: pull through. 5. Repeat to end of row. 6. Fasten as in running stitch. âIs that well done?â asked Mary Frances, holding up her first two stitches. [Illustration: Stitching] âOh, my, no!â said Sewing Bird. âYouâve gotten the thread all twisted. Please unthread your needle and take out the work. Then try once more.â [Illustration: âDear me!â sighed Mary Frances] âDear me!â sighed Mary Frances, âone canât be perfect before one learns!â âTry! Try again!â sang Sewing Bird, flapping her wings, âIt is the Thimble Peopleâs pride That they have ever, always, tried: Whenever they fail,âthis is no tale, As you can easily guess,â They twist the failure round about, They twist and turn it inside out; Then drop it down a big, black hole, Discovered in back of the North Pole,â And up it jumpsâSuccess!â âMy, I wish my failures would do that! Maybe they will,â mused Mary Frances, finishing the row of stitching very carefully. âOh, there comes Grandma up the street!â [Illustration: âTry! Try again!â] âOur lesson is Now at an end,â Thatâs all to-day, My little friend,â just then sang Sewing Bird. [Illustration: âOur lesson is Now at an endâ] âI forgot to ask,â said Mary Frances, âMay I show Grandma, or tell her aboutâabout our lessons?â âThat I already Should have shown; I cannot sing Where people grown Can hear: if they hear now Or even ever, I may become A Never-Never!â âOh, ho,â smiled Mary Frances, softly smoothing the little bird. âIâm so glad I havenât told. I am certainly glad, dear little Teacher BirdâI donât want you to be a Never-Never,âwhatever that is.â [Illustration: âOh, ho! Iâm so glad I havenât toldâ] âA secret let Our secret beâ Too much for one, Enough for two, And not enough For three,â sang Sewing Bird wisely. Suddenlyâ âSay no more, Oh, say no more! I hear your Grandma At the door!â fluttered the little bird; and Mary Frances quickly put away her work. Grandma smiled when she saw Sewing Bird on the table. âHow you love my little helpful bird, donât you, dear?â she asked. âI love her with all my heart,â said Mary Frances. [Illustration: How you love my little helpful bird, donât you, dear?â] [Illustration: CHAPTER V] CHAPTER V SEWING BIRD TEASES DICK CANARY MARY FRANCES heard this through the sewing-room door: [Illustration: âPeep! sweet, sw-e-et! Che-e-ep!â] âGreat kind of bird, Upon my word! Who cannot do a thing But sing and eat, And then sing sweet, And then again sing-sing.â âPeep! Sweet, sw-e-et! Che-e-ep!â sang Dick Canary. âOf course, you have a pretty voice; Of course, you love to make a noiseâ If this rhyme sounds a bit contrary, Itâs good enough for a canary; But, Dick, what Iâd really like to know, Is this: why donât you learn to sew?â [Illustration: âGreat kind of a bird, Upon my word!â] Then Mary Frances stepped in. âOh, Sewing Bird,â she said, âI didnât think you could be such a tease.â [Illustration: âAnd hold some sewing for his Missâ] âGood afternoon! âTease,â did you say? I wasnât teasingâ It was only play: I thought perhaps that pretty bird Would listen to a little word, And hold some sewing for his Missâ The way I can; See, Dickâlike this!â holding up a piece of goods in her glistening beak. âOh, no,â laughed Mary Frances. âI fear Dick would never be able to understand such a useful use of his billâheâs no tailor-bird!â [Illustration: âOh, no,âheâs no tailor-birdâ] âOf course, it Truly must be soâ He certainly could Not learn to sew; I see that he Is surely meant, Only to be An ornament,â sang Sewing Bird. âBut our next lessonâis your canvas ready, child? Yes? This time Iâm going to count by threads instead of holes, when I give directions for 7.âHALF BACK STITCHING ON CANVAS [Illustration: âCuriosity,â smiled Mary Frances] 1. Commence as in Stitching. 2. One running stitch, under two threads. 3. Point needle downward through hole to the right of hole from which the cotton hangs; under three threads: pull through. 4. Repeat to end of row. Fasten.â âThere!â said Mary Frances, finishing the row. âThat seems like âtwo steps backward and one forward,â or rather, âtwo forward and one backward.ââ âThatâs about the way it is!â said Sewing Bird. âBut half back-stitching and back-stitching are both very strong stitches. Why, when your grandma was little, she stitched all seams by hand. Sewing machines were a great cu-curââ âCuriosity,â smiled Mary Frances. [Illustration: Half back stitching] âPeepâpeep,â giggled Dick Canary. [Illustration: âPeepâ peepâ] âThank you, Miss Mary Frances,â said Sewing Bird, âPerhaps that little yellow bird Thought I didnât know the word; Itâs funny that it seems a joke When anybody stops to chokeâ Ahem! Ahem! Ahem! Ahack! Pat-me-on-the-back! Pat-me-on-the-back! Quick!â âBetter?â asked Mary Frances, smiling to herself, and patting the little birdâs back. After a minute she said, âExcuse me, but isâthe next stitchâis the next stitch a fancy one?â âIt is!â said Sewing Bird, âand is called 8.âCATCH STITCHING ON CANVAS 1. At left hand end of canvas, count four holes down and four to the right. 2. From under side, point needle upward: pull through. 3. Count three holes down and three to the right. Point needle down and under this, one hole to the left: pull through. 4. Count four holes to the right of first stitch. Point needle down through next hole to the left: pull through. [Illustration: Catch Stitching] [Illustration: âOf course, you have a pretty voice.â] âIs that right?â asked Mary Frances. âMy, no,â said Sewing Bird. âThat is all wrong. Hold the work here near my beak. There, let the thread hang this way: âNow, pull it through. In taking the next stitch, let the thread hang this way: âThere, that is better.â âOh, I see, now,â said Mary Frances. âIsnât that a beautiful stitch!â âYes,â said Sewing Bird,âthen, suddenly, âBeware! Beware! Beware! Beware! I hear your Grandma On the stairâ Good-bye!â [Illustration: âOf course, you have a pretty voice.â] [Illustration: CHAPTER VI] CHAPTER VI THE STITCH GRANDMA LEARNED MARY FRANCES stopped on the stairs to listen. âSurely,â she thought, âSewing Bird is talking with some one. I wonder if itâs one of the Thimble People. Oh, I do hope so!â and, as she tripped into the sewing-room, she asked, [Illustration: âWhatâs that I heard?â] âOh, Sewing Bird, whatâs that I heard as I came up the stair? It really doesnât matter muchâfor Grandma wouldnât care.â âI cannot tell you what you heard, My dearest little Miss; But listen to a wisdom-word, For I can tell you this: If many times you make up rhymes, You may become a little bird,â sang Sewing Bird. [Illustration: âI cannot tell you what you heard.â] âOh,â laughed Mary Frances. âCaught myself making a rhyme;âbut I donât want to become a little birdie, even though they are so dear,âbesides, I donât have wings.â âNo,â said Sewing Bird. âI donât suppose you do want to be a birdieâfor many reasons;âbut the most important must be that little birds do not have hands!â [Illustration: âHands are so wonderful!â] âHands are so wonderful!â said Mary Frances, âthey can do so many things. They are pincers, hammers, wedges, and yet they can do the most dainty, delicate work.â âYes,â said Sewing Bird, âthey come in handy!â âOh, ho, hee-hee!â laughed Mary Frances. âChirp, chirp!â twittered Dick Canary. âOh, Dick! oh, Dick! What lots of fun! Do you pretend To see a pun?â asked Sewing Bird. âBut now to learn [Illustration: Hemming Stitch] 9.âOVERHANDING ON CANVAS [Illustration: Overhanding] 1. Count six holes down and four from right hand end. Put needle in from under side: pull through. 2. Count one hole to the left. Find the hole above it. Point needle downward through the upper holeâbring it up to right side through the under hole. 3. Finish row and fasten thread on wrong side, by running thread through the last few stitches. 10.âOVERCASTING ON CANVAS 1. Count one hole from top of canvas and two in from end. 2. Commence as for Overhanding. 3. Bring needle out two holes to the left of first stitch. 4. Fasten as in Overhanding. Overcasting stitch is used to finish raw edges of material to keep from fraying. âThe next stitch is the first stitch your grandmother learned to make,â said Sewing Bird. âHer little fingers got so tired and sore trying to make tiny little bits of stitches on muslin, that you may be glad you are to learn on canvas.â [Illustration: Overcasting] 11.âHEMMING STITCH ON CANVAS 1. Six rows from topâfour over to left. Needle up from wrong side: pull through. 2. On row of holes below, one hole to left, point needle down, bring it up in first row of holes, two holes to the left of first stitch. 3. Hood canvas over the first finger. Finish row. 4. Fasten as in Overcasting. âIs that all there is to hemming?â asked Mary Frances happily. âNo, little Miss, that is just a âfirst beginning,â as my grandmother used to say. Some day I hope you will make hemming stitches so small that they will scarcely showâon a dollyâs apron.â âOh, how perfectly lovely!â cried Mary Frances. âI can scarcely wait! Will it be long?â âThat all depends, my little friendââ âUpon me,â said Mary Frances. âIâll work very in-dus-tri-ous-ly, dear little teacher.â [Illustration: But the most important must be that little birds do not have hands] [Illustration: CHAPTER VII] CHAPTER VII BLANKET STITCH AND ITS SISTER âNOW, Sewing Bird,â began Mary Frances the next lesson afternoon, âletâs not talk any, butââ âLet us get right to our lesson,â said Sewing Bird, âwhich is an edge-finishing stitch, named 12.âBLANKET STITCH [Illustration: âLet us get to our lessonâ] 1. At left hand end of canvas four holes down and four to right, from under side bring needle to right side. 2. Hold thread under thumb. One hole to the right, point needle down, bringing it up in hole two threads below: pull through. Finish row. 3. Fasten as in Overcasting. 4. Repeat this on lower edge of canvas. âGood!â she said, as Mary Frances finished following the directions, âNow, for a stitch many grown women do not know how to makeâa beautiful stitch: [Illustration: Blanket Stitch] 13.âBUTTONHOLE STITCH ON CANVAS [Illustration: âOh look! dear Sewing Birdâ] 1. Five holes downâfour from left hand end, from wrong side, bring needle to right side. 2. Through hole below this, point needle down, and up through the one from which the thread hangs. Do not pull through. 3. Take hold of the two threads in the eye of the needle, bring them toward you around under the point of the needle. Let them rest there. 4. Pull needle through. 5. With left thumb on the stitch, pull the thread with the right hand tightly down to the edge of the canvas. 6. Repeat to end of row. âOh, look! dear Sewing Bird,â cried Mary Frances, holding up her work, âI really do believe that is the way Mother makes a button-hole! She said she would show me how to do it very soon. How glad I am I know that stitch!â âYes,â said Sewing Bird. âWonât she be surprised! You know eleven stitches now.â âWhy, so I do!â exclaimed Mary Frances, counting her little samplers of work. [Illustration: Buttonhole Stitch] âNow,â said Sewing Bird, âwill you please cut a piece of canvas eight inches long and four and one-half inches wide, and make a sampler of all the stitches you know. Will you write down the directions?â âYes,â said Mary Frances, getting pencil and paper. Then Sewing Bird began: 14.âCANVAS SAMPLER [Illustration: âYesâ said Mary Frances] 1. Begin six rows down, and five rows from right hand end with a row of Uneven Basting. 2. A row each of even basting; Running Stitch; Stitching; Catch Stitching; Buttonhole Stitching; Hemming,âeach two rows apart. 3. A row of Overhandingâfive rows below that. 4. Blanket Stitch the upper edge. 5. Overcast the two ends. 6. Fold canvas back on row of overhanding at bottom of samples. âWill you bring the pretty sampler, finished, for the next lesson?â asked Sewing Bird. âI willâso gladly!â said Mary Frances. âBut thereâs one stitch more, Thereâs one stitch more! If it hadnât been so cross, Iâd have shown it before,â added Sewing Bird. [Illustration: Cross Stitching] 15.âCROSS STITCHING [Illustration] 1. Cut a canvas piece, five inches long and three inches wide. 2. At the right hand end from under side, two holes from the edge, and eight holes down, point needle upward. Pull through. 3. Point needle downward into hole above the hole to the left of where thread hangs out, and bring it up through the hole directly beneath. 4. Continue across the canvas. 5. Return on same row of stitches in same way, but work from left to right, taking stitches in exactly the same holes as at first. This will form a cross. The stitches must all be taken in the same direction. [Illustration: âWhy, so I do!â exclaimed Mary Frances] [Illustration: CHAPTER VIII] CHAPTER VIII SEWING BIRD FAIRY LADY MARY FRANCES worked very hard whenever she could find a minute; and the next lesson day she proudly showed Sewing Bird a sampler like this picture: [Illustration: âOh, de-de-dum-dee! de-de-dee!â] âOh, de-de-dum-dee! de-de-dee! That sampler certainly pleases me. You did it alone? Well, I declare! What perfect stitches you have there!â sang the little bird, hopping, fluttering, gurgling, and spreading her wings joyously over Mary Francesâ work, very much the way a spring robin careens over an early worm. Mary Frances was very happy. âNow, Sewing Bird, my dear teacher, please tell me what I am to learn next?â asked Mary Frances, finishing the row of cross stitching. [Illustration: A sampler like this picture] âIndeed I will! Indeed I will! Just watch a while my little bill; And I to you will quickly tell, And you will quickly do, and well, This lesson coming next.â [Illustration: âWonât it be beautiful!â] With these words, the little bird leaned over the edge of the table and stuck her bill into the drawer beneath. Then she pulled out a long sheet of paper. âOh,â gasped Mary Frances, âwhat is that, dear teacher?â âThat,â said Sewing Bird, shaking her wings, âis a model for you to follow in making, 16.âGRAND SAMPLER ON CANVAS Cut a piece of canvas twelve inches by nine inches, and follow as exactly as you can the picture on the next page. âWonât it be beautiful!â exclaimed Mary Frances, âIâll do it in all the pretty colorsâI have almost every shade of mercerized working-cotton here.â âYes,â said Sewing Bird, [Illustration: She pulled out a long sheet of paper] [Illustration: Illustration of Sampler] âYour Grandma took a prize At Persimmon County Fair, With a pretty sampler Like the picture lying there; If you work yours aright, âTwill be a prettier thing, That well may win a prize, From our merry Thimble King.â [Illustration: When Mary Frances opened her eyes] âAll right!â laughed Mary Frances. âIâll work from time to time on the Grand Sampler. But, Sewing Bird, will you tell me, pleaseâare youâarenât you, a real fairy? You seem so like a fairy âcome true!ââ âDear little Miss, Iâll give you A secret to keep. Put your hand over your eyes, And donât dare to peep! Now, you may take away your handâ Behold, a Lady from Thimble Land!â [Illustration: The loveliest, sweetest fairy lady] [Illustration: âNow, dear, ready for the lessonâ] When Mary Frances opened her eyes, there sat the loveliest, sweetest little fairy lady on the edge of the table in place of Sewing Bird;âonly Mary Frances noticed her lips looked very much like the bill of a bird. âOh, oh, oh, oh, oh!â gasped Mary Frances in surprise. âOh, really, truly, oh, me! Oh, dear! How perfectly lovely! You lovelyââ âNow, Mary Frances, dear, ready for the lesson,â smiled the little lady, in the same flute-like voice as Sewing Birdâs. âMiss Fairy,â said Mary Frances, trembling with joy, âI will do my very best,âbut, please, what may I call you?â âJust shut your eyes, And not a word; My name you have So often heard; Itâs known to But a very few, But I will show My name to youââ When Mary Frances opened her eyes, there sat her grandmotherâs sewing bird. [Illustration: There sat her Grandmotherâs sewing bird] [Illustration: âPen Cil,â the fairy called] âYou dear little bird,â she exclaimed. âI know now! You are the Fairy!âand I know!âthe Fairyâs name is Sewing Bird!â âJust so! Just so! Just so! Just so!â sang Sewing Bird,â âNow quickly shut your eyesâand then The Fairy Lady will come again!â And again came Fairy Lady. âOh,â laughed Mary Frances, âdear Sewing Bird Fairy Lady, please wait a minute,â and running out of the room, she brought back her dollâs rocking chair and put it on the table. âPlease be more comfortable!â she said. âThank you very much, dear child!â said Fairy Lady. âNow, for work! Cut a piece of unbleached muslin, nine inches long and five and one-half inches wide.â âGood!â she exclaimed, as Mary Frances held up the muslin properly cut. âPen Cil,â the fairy called. [Illustration: âThank you very much, dear childâ] [Illustration: Marked off the muslin like this] With a bound, a yellow lead pencil which lay on the machine, sprang over to the table and made a funny little stiff bow to Sewing Bird Fairy Lady, who picked up a big bodkin and, using it as a sceptre, touched him, sayingâ âMark off the muslin as I told you.â To Mary Francesâ amazement, Pen Cil marked off the muslin like this: âYou may retire,â said Fairy Lady, âThank you,âand Mary Frances, child, you may sew the muslin very much as you did the Canvas Sampler, with that finer red D. M. C. cotton, No. 12.â âAm I to be forgotten?â came a tinkling sound from Mary Francesâ basket, as she started to sew. âWho is that?â asked Mary Frances peeping over the edge. âIâm Thimble!â exclaimed a wee little voice, âand the reason I always wear my helmet, is that I want to wield my sword,â as Mary Frances lifted him out. âI beg your Majestyâs pardon,â said the little fellow turning to Sewing Bird Fairy Ladyââbut perhaps Miss Mary Frances doesnât understand that all needles are my swords!â [Illustration: âAm I to be forgotten?â] âHe thinks himself so brave a soldier,â laughed Sewing Bird Fairy Ladyââwhen all the time he is perfectly useless by himself.â âBut he is a great help,â said Mary Frances. âI donât see how I could sew without him.â âGood!â said Fairy Lady. âBut heâll be prouder than ever! Thatâs all for to-dayânext lesson we will make something for your dolly to use.â âOh, how lovely!â exclaimed Mary Frances, finishing her last stitches. âWhat is it?â âOh, well! oh, well, O! I best not tell, O! But something she can use real well, O! Now for to-day, farewell, Farewell, O!â And as Mary Frances looked up from her work, there was the empty rocking chair and her grandmothersâ sewing bird was sitting on its perch on the table. [Illustration: As Mary Frances looked up from her work, there was the empty chair] [Illustration: CHAPTER IX] CHAPTER IX MAGIC AND MYSTERY [Illustration: âCan I talk?â] âIâM Cross Patch, Cross Patch! Nobody dares to lift the latch! Iâm Cross Patch, Cross Patch! Clickâetyâclatch! Cross Patch!â Mary Frances heard this outside the sewing room door. âMy,â she thought, âthat sounds like the scissorsâI really believe it is!â She peeped in, and this is what she saw: Scissors Shears was strutting on tip-toe up and down the sewing table, closing up each time to take a step. âWhy,â said Mary Frances, slipping in, âcan you talk, too?â [Illustration: âCan you talk?â] [Illustration: âI can even cut myself!â] âCan I talk?â exclaimed Scissors Shears in a growling voice. âCan I talk? Yes, and walk, too! As if I werenât years older than that Sewing Birdâ Rip âer up the back! Rip âer up the back! That conceited thing thinks she knows everything,âwhy I could tell you all about how to cut out anything. Why, I know all about cutting things out! I can even cut myself!â Clickâclick, came his legs together. âWell, well,â laughed Mary Frances. âIf that is so, perhaps Sewing Bird will let you explain some things to me.â âIt cuts me to the quick to be cut like this,â he started again,âthen Sewing Bird began to sing, âIf anything youâd like to do, To prove yourself so very trueâ Immediately to workâdonât brag! Cut out PATTERN 1.âDOLLâS LAUNDRY BAG Cut bag twelve inches long, and five inches wide. âWhat goods, what goods?â asked Scissors Shears, excitedly. âCut it out of that pretty calico on the table,â said Sewing Bird. [Illustration: That pretty calico on the table] âHurrah!â shouted Scissors Shears, and dived into the calico. [Illustration: âWhen you want me otherwiseâ] âThere!â he exclaimed proudly. âIsnât that perfect?â âThatâs very even,â said Mary Frances gravely, trying to act as though she were an excellent judge. âWhat next?â she asked Sewing Bird. âWhen you want me otherwise Than as a little bird, Put your hand over your eyes, And say this secret word: Magic and Mystery, Give my wish to me.â Mary Frances did so; and there was Fairy Lady once again in the dollâs rocking chair, who smiled and said, [Illustration: Dived into the calico] âWhenever you particularly want âthis meâ to come, all you have to do is to put your hands over your eyes, and say to yourself quickly, Magic and Mystery, Give my wish to me, and Iâll come at
{'title': 'The Mary Frances Sewing Book; Or, Adventures Among the Thimble People by Fryer', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}