[Illustration: Transfer pattern for scallops]
“Now try it on the bands of the dressing sack.”
“Good!” as Mary Frances held up the samplers. “Here is a puzzle, riddle, or conundrum:
“Mary Marie is feather-stitched― Yet not a feather is on her.”
Mary Frances laughed. “I wonder how she’d look in feathers,” she said―
“She’d make a fine bird, Upon my word, She’d sing a sweet song, And the only thing wrong― Her feathers and song Would be tightly glued on!”
“Oh, Sewing Bird!” laughed Mary Frances, shaking her finger, “how did you know the voice of a ‘talking doll’ was ‘glued on’?”
[Illustration: How did you know the voice of a ‘talking doll’ was ‘glued on’?]
“NOW, one thing more,― A pinafore, We’ll make for a doll We almost adore.”
“A pinafore!―Sewing Bird Lady,” exclaimed Mary Frances. “An apron for Mary Marie?”
“Yes,” smiled Fairy Lady, “a big apron which she can use as a dress until you make her some dresses―then she can use it as a ‘cover-me-up’ apron.”
“Oh, good!” said Mary Frances, “and, dear Fairy Lady, I want to tell you―I’ve a lovely surprise! My Aunt Maria is coming to see us.”
“Indeed she does! She made a bed quilt when she was―let me see,―maybe―I think―it was when she was two years old.”
“Oh, I beg your pardon,” he said, pretending he had stepped on Scissors Shears’ toes.
“A-chooo!” said Needle Book, pretending to sneeze.
“She must have been a wonderful child,” said Fairy Lady.
“She was,” said Mary Frances, “and the loveliest cook ever! She told me all about it! She almost knew the Kitchen People.”
“Well, I’m glad such a delightful person is coming, I’m sure,” said Fairy Lady, “but let us have as much done as possible before she gets here. To do to-day’s lesson, we have to learn the best way for
1. Make a pinhole where the button is to be sewed. Thread a No. 7 needle with No. 36 cotton―the cotton double,―and make a knot.
2. From the right side put needle down through the cloth in the pinhole mark, bringing the knot on the right side. The knot is then hidden under the button.
3. Bring the needle partly through near the knot on the right side.
4. Put the button on needle. Draw needle through.
5. Take a stitch down through the opposite hole, and put a pin through this stitch.
6. Sew through the holes, making a cross over the button and pin.