1955 public domain high school sewing/home economics textbook.
"PREFACE Every girl wants to be attractive. In this book we have capitalized on this motivation to help girls develop skills of lasting value to themselves and to their families. Starting with simple grooming procedures and the art of choosing becoming lines, textures, and colors, we have gone on to show how to choose clothes and accessories that create harmonious costumes. Most families have limited funds for clothing, and girls must be resourceful and intelligent in meeting their clothing needs. It is quite a trick for them to assemble a wardrobe that provides plenty of changes for school wear, for working or lounging at home, for parties, and for other occasions. We have suggested ways to co-ordinate color schemes and choose interchangeable garments that provide variety at reasonable cost. Because no wardrobe can be better than the materials from which it is constructed, whether garments are purchased readymade or made at home, we have included a section on textiles. The advent of numerous man-made fibers and new finishes makes it increasingly important for the consumer to understand the strengths and weaknesses of materials and how to care for them. A certain amount of background knowledge is essential to an understanding of the labels on fabrics and clothing. After textiles, we discuss wise buying practices, such as how to decide what to buy readymade and what to make, where to shop, and what size to buy. Altering ready-to-wear, mending, and caring for clothing are covered. For the career-minded girl, there is a section on professional opportunities in the clothing field. A large part of the book is devoted to actual sewing. While we do not recommend that girls make all their own clothing or that every girl should continue to sew in later life, we do believe that anyone can profit from a chance to make several garments under expert guidance. Even the girl who has never sewed before, or the one who has been unsuccessful in past attempts, is likely to enjoy sewing by the methods outlined here. This book is planned to make sewing as easy as possible. Shortcuts are suggested wherever, in our experience, they have proven satisfactory. The simple jacket or coat for which instructions are given in Construction Three can be made by any high-school girl even without knowledge of the traditional methods of tailoring. However, some fine custom methods are included where only these will give a fine professional appearance. This book represents a new approach to clothing construction. In the main body of the book, step-by-step instructions are given for making four garments, each representative of those worn by high-school girls today. Another one- hundred-and-sixty-page section, devoted to special techniques, discusses the various steps in greater detail, and includes additional processes. This technique section is printed on green paper for convenience, since frequent cross references are made to it. Although the patterns which students select for their four garments will vary from the exact designs described here, the over-all plans are so basic that with slight variations they can be used for any similar pattern. Girls who follow the detailed directions given for making the first simple garments will be ready to launch into styles requiring more complicated processes. The technique section on green paper will provide ample help for these more adventurous stylists. While we have concentrated on girls' own clothing problems, the skills developed will be equally useful in planning and making clothing for other members of the family." Mabel Bowers Marietta Kettunen CONTENTS Introduction v Preface vii PART l-PERSONAL GROOMING Chapter 1. Body Beautiful 2 2. Strictly Personal 13 3. In the Looking Glass 30 4. Head Attraction 39 5. Personality Plus 47 Construction One — Making a Skirt and Blouse 58 PART ll-DESIGN Chapter 6. Art in Dress 90 7. Line and Shape 101 8. Texture 129 9. Qualities of Color 139 10. Color and You 149 Construction Two — Making a Dress 166 PART III-PLANNING AND BUDGETING Chapter 11. Wardrobe Requirements 178 12. Planning a Wardrobe 192 13. When a Girl Marries 204 Construction Three — Making a Coat 222 PART IV-CONSUMER INFORMATION Chapter 14. Textiles Used for Clothing 236 15. Buying Ready mades 271 16. Altering Readymades and Remodeling Old Clothes 288 PART V-CARE OF CLOTHING Chapter 17. Routine Matters 296 18. "A Stitch in Time . . ." 313 19. "Cleanliness Is Next ..." 326 SEWING TECHNIQUES Technique 1. Sewing Equipment 344 2. The Sewing Machine 352 3. Basic Sewing Techniques and Hand Stitches 365 4. The Pattern 372 5. Altering the Pattern and Fitting the Garment 379 6. Materials That Require Special Handling 394 7. Laying the Pattern on the Cloth 402 8. Cutting and Marking 408 9. Staylines and Interfacings 412 10. Seams and Seam Finishes 414 11. Darts, Pleats, Tucks, and Gathers 426 12. Pressing 433 13. Neck Finishes 43 14. Sleeves 455 15. Pockets 462 16. Waistlines 468 17. Plackets 472 18. Fastenings 478 19. Hems 492 PART VI-CAREERS IN CLOTHING Chapter 20. Careers in Clothing and Fashion 504 Bibliography 523 Index 527 Digitized by Google Books.

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