258 STATE BOARD OF AGRI'CULTURE. 



REI»ORT OF CLOTHING SPECIALIST. 



BY HELEN ARMS, 



The clothing work in Michigan during the past year has consisted of 

 two principle projects: that of the dress form which has carried over 

 from last year as strong as ever, and the millinery work which has grown 

 very rapidly and become most popular. 



The dress form work has been carried into sixteen counties this year 

 following the same plan of organization of last year, i, e,, local Jeadere 

 from different communities in the counties were taught how to make 

 the dress forai, these women in turn went back to their own communities 

 and taught other women. In this way it has spread more rapidly and 

 reached many more people. At least three thousand dress forms have 

 been made this year. The women have placed a value of at least ^10 on 

 the dress forms, making the total value of |30,000, 



Thirty-four local leader millinery groups have been held this year. 

 These have also been worked out on the same plan as the dress form 

 meetings. Local leaders have been trained to carry on the work. The 

 work has consisted of making new hats as well as the renovating of old 

 hats. At tliese training schools 217 hats were made with a saving of 

 |60±,16, Definite reports have not come in as yet from many of the 

 local leaders as to the number having been made in the different commu- 

 nities, although one leader did report twenty hats made. 



From one community the report came back that the women are now 

 wearing the best looking hats they ever had and with less expense. Special 

 training work in millinery was given the home demonstration agents at 

 their conference in January by the Specialist. Since that time nearly 

 every home demonstration agent has carried on the work in her county 

 as a main project. Man^^ talks and demonstrations have been given by 

 the Specialist on clothing topics such as textiles, color and line, alteration 

 of patterns, etc, especially in the counties without home demonstration 

 agents. 



During Fai-mers' Week in Februaiy an exliibit of children's clothing 

 was put on each afternoon by the Specialist in co-operation with the 

 Household Arts Department. An exhibit was also selected and prepared 

 for the mid-winter meeting in Menominee, 



Every home demonstration agent has endeavored this j'ear to spread 

 the work in her county more efficiently and more effectively through the 

 efforts of trained local leaders. Many more meetings have been held by 

 the State Specialist for the purpose of training local leaders than ever 

 before. The women are beginning to understand why it is necessary to 

 carry on the work through local leaders, and there has been some rivalry 

 as to w^ho would be elected by the local j)eople to go for such training. 

 It is now considered an honor and a privilege to be sent to such a meet- 

 ing for advanced work. 



