DRESSMAKING HINTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2450, 15 March 1909, Page 5

DRESSMAKING HINTS.

in her recently, published book, ‘•'Simple Lessons in Dressmaking/’ Mine. Lofvalt, a teacher of dressmaking in English schools, tells “how to cut, fit, and finish a dressl All the mysteries of making Skirts hang properly, getting sleeves in right, of pressing clothes, of making all kinds of effective trimmings,, are elucidated in plain, straightforward language. One of the points, says the writer, on which most amateur dressmakers fall down is the lining at the bottom of the skirt. Here is the right way to put it in: “Oil no account put pleats in the lining at tile bottom edge of a skirt. The best plan is to cut the lining to fit the edge when you are cutting out the skirt itself; then you will be able to cut it the exact shape. This being dene, stitch and press upon each seam, and turn one-half an inch down at the top edge of the lining with a neat tacking one inch in length, and press it on the wrong side. Then place the right side of the skirt against the right side of the lining to go a little beyond the edge of the skirt, and with the skirt uppermost sew the lining and material together about liaJf-an-incli from the edge either by hand or sewing machine. When you have done this turn the lining over on to the inside of the skirt and tack it neatly round the edge to keep it in place. This is the simplest way to line up the edge of a dress skirt.” Here is some good advice for stout women, and for those below the medium height: “For stout figures arrange the trimming on the gown from shoulder to waist, aucl trim the sleeves- up from the wrist, or from the top of the sleeve down, according to fashion. Or thoy can be worn without trimming ; in this case the sleeve must be a very good shape and perfect fit. Short women should never wear deep flounces, or too many small ones. All their dress trimmings, to look well, must be put on the gown lengthways, and the bodice trimmed to correspond with the skirt. Mediumsized women, if not too stout or too slender, can wear almost any dress. At the same time they must be careful to avoid any fashion that will cause them to appear either too stout or too short; and it as well to understand that quite light and dark shades of material without a set pattern, when made up into dresses for short people, appear to add to the length of tlio person, while any gay light colors make the figure look just the reverse; indeed, they too, often make a woman look both short and stout, and this also applies to dress trimmings.”